IBBC Seminar September 18th 2025 time 14.30
Speaker
Simone Di Paola, PhD
Researcher, Institute of Endotypes in Oncology, Metabolism and Immunology (IEOMI) “G. Salvatore”, CNR – National Research Council of Italy
Title
Novel insights into the mechanisms involving PARP16 in cell proliferation and survival
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are versatile mechanisms that regulate the stability and function of proteins. In mammals, numerous interconnected PTMs exist, enabling a single protein to acquire diverse functions. One such modification is mono-ADP-ribosylation (MARylation), a reversible PTM involving the transfer of an ADP-ribose moiety from b-NAD⁺ to specific target substrates. Protein MARylation has emerged as a key regulator of multiple cellular processes and plays a significant role in human pathophysiology. In this talk, I will outline the main characteristics of MARylation and introduce a family of enzymes responsible for this modification, known as PARPs. The focus will be on PARP16, a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), best known for its role in modulating the unfolded protein response during ER stress. I will present recent results obtained through the integration of bioinformatics and cell biology approaches, which suggest a novel function for PARP16 in regulating cell proliferation and survival. These insights position PARP16 as a promising therapeutic target for drug development.
Biography
Simone is a cellular biologist with over 15 years of experience in basic research. He graduated in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Naples “Federico II”. In 2012, he earned his Ph.D. in Life and Biomolecular Sciences by the Open University under the mentorship of Dr. Mariella Di Girolamo at Consorzio Mario Negri Sud in Chieti, working on the first characterization of the human mono-ADP-ribosyl-transferase PARP16. In 2013, he joined the research group of Dr. Diego Luis Medina at TIGEM, where he contributed to key studies in the field of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis and acquired competences in the development of image-based cellular assays and High-Content Screening (HCS). Since 2020, Simone has held the position of Research Scientist at IBBC CNR. In 2023, he established his independent research group at IEOMI CNR, launching research lines on the role of MARylation in human pathophysiology and the application of HCS to address diverse biological questions