Cellular and Molecular Biology

Structural and functional studies on cells, also in real time.

What do we do?

The laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge instrumentation for cell dissociation, isolation and study of nucleic acids and proteins from different types of biological samples (e.g. blood, cells, tissues, saliva etc).

Researchers can perform single-cell tissue dissociation preserving epitopes with the GentleMACS, isolate circulating tumour cells using the Parsortix PR1 (Angle), quantify RNA/DNA with the Nanodrop (Thermofisher) and subsequently evaluate transcript expression using the QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems) or study rare variants or perform absolute quantifications using the QuantStudio 3D Digital PCR System (Applied Biosystems), perform protein extractions and electrophoretic separations using SDS-PAGE or Western Blotting and acquisitions using Chemidoc XRS (Bio-Rad).

The laboratory studies the cell both from a morphological point of view through structural study (e.g. nucleus, organelles, ribosomes) and through the study of functional activities (e.g. cell cycle and death).

The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation to carry out multiple research activities in the cellular field: from the culture of immortalised and primary cells in 2D to the culture of organoids and spheroids in 3D, both in normoxia and hypoxia.

Real-time monitoring of experiments can be performed on cells, organoids and spheroids directly in culture using the Incucyte S3 platform.

Manager

Dr. Debora La Mantia

Manager of the Cellular Biology Facility

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Dr. Maria Mazzarini

Manager of the Molecular Biology Facility

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