Education
1987, Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Milano.
1979, Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Milano.

Professional experiences
2007-present, Full professor in Biology, San Raffaele University, Milano.
1992-present, Group Leader, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano
1988-1992, Postdoctoral fellow in molecular neurobiology, University of
California, San Francisco.
1985-1988, Postdoctoral fellow in cell biology, European Molecular Biology
Laboratory, Heidelberg

Cell migration requires the dynamic coordination of adhesion, actin
organization, and membrane traffic at the leading edge of the cell. Similar
mechanisms are involved in developing neurons during the migration of growth
cones and the establishment of synapses. Our major interest is the
identification and the analysis of the molecular mechanisms coordinating the
protrusive activity at the edge of migrating normal and tumor cells, as well
as during neuronal development. We are characterizing protein networks
identified in the laboratory that are implicated in these cellular
processes. These networks include regulators and effectors of small GTPases
of the Rho and Arf families, which regulate cytoskeletal reorganization and
membrane traffic in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. By using both in vitro
and in vivo approaches, we are aiming at identifying fundamental molecular
mechanisms underlying cell motility events in both physiological and
pathological conditions.

Astro V, Asperti C, Cangi MG, Doglioni C, de Curtis I. (2011)
Liprin-α1 regulates breast cancer cell invasion by affecting cell motility,
invadopodia and extracellular matrix degradation.
Oncogene 30(15):1841-9.

Asperti C, Astro V, Pettinato E, Paris S, Bachi A, de Curtis I. (2011)
Biochemical and Functional Characterization of the Interaction between
Liprin-α1 and GIT1: Implications for the Regulation of Cell Motility. PLoS
ONE 6(6): e20757.

de Curtis I. (2011)
Host-pathogen interactions: cheating the host by making new connections.
Curr Biol. 21(5):R192-4.

Basso V, Corbetta S, Gualdoni S, Tonoli D, Poliani PL, Sanvito F, Doglioni
C, Mondino A, de Curtis I. (2011)
Absence of Rac1 and Rac3 GTPases in the nervous system hinders thymic,
splenic and immune-competence development.
Eur J Immunol.41(5):1410-9.

de Curtis I. (2011)
Function of liprins in cell motility.
Exp Cell Res. 317(1):1-8.

Asperti C, Pettinato E, de Curtis I. (2010)
Liprin-alpha1 affects the distribution of low-affinity beta1 integrins and
stabilizes their permanence at the cell surface.
Exp Cell Res. 316(6):915-26.

Gavina M, Za L, Molteni R, Pardi R, de Curtis I. (2010)
The GIT-PIX complexes regulate the chemotactic response of rat basophilic
leukaemia cells.
Biol Cell. 102(4):231-44.

Asperti C, Astro V, Totaro A, Paris S, de Curtis I. (2009)
Liprin-alpha1 promotes cell spreading on the extracellular matrix by
affecting the distribution of activated integrins.
J Cell Sci. 122(Pt 18):3225-32.

Corbetta S, Gualdoni S, Ciceri G, Monari M, Zuccaro E, Tybulewicz VL, de
Curtis I. (2009)
Essential role of Rac1 and Rac3 GTPases in neuronal development.
FASEB J. 23(5):1347-57.

No projects are available to students for the current accademic year.