Luigi Casella
Luigi Casella
e-mail:
affiliation: Università di Pavia
research area(s): Chemical Biology, Neuroscience
Course: Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
University/Istitution: Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori, Pavia
Academic position:
Full professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry

Educational profile:
- 1973, University of Milano (Italy), Degree in Chemistry
- 1978-1979, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (U.S.A.),Post-doc
The main research interests of Luigi Casella are in the chemistry of metal enzymes involved in biological oxidation processes and containing heme or copper metal cofactors. These studies have different objectives, including mechanistic and structural aspects and applications in chemical and biological catalysis, and typically involve a multidisciplinary approach. More recently, his research interest has been directed to the understanding of the molecular basis of diseases, that often involve the activation of oxidative processes causing damages of various types to key components of cellular material.
- S. Nicolis, M. Zucchelli, E. Monzani, L. Casella (2008)Myoglobin modification by enzyme-generated dopamine reactive species,Chem. Eur. J., 14, 8661-8673.

- L. Zecca, C. Bellei, P. Costi, A. Albertini, E. Monzani, L. Casella, M. Gallorini, L. Bergamaschi, A. Moscatelli, N. J. Turro, M. Eisner, P. R. Crippa, S. Ito, K. Wakamatsu, W. D. Bush, W. C. Ward, J. D. Simon, F. A. Zucca (2008) New melanic pigments in the human brain that accumulate in aging and block environmental toxic metals, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 17567-17572.

- I. Gamba, S. Palavicini, E. Monzani, L. Casella (2009) Catalytic sulfoxidation by dinuclear copper complexes,Chem. Eur. J., 15, 12932-12936.

- I. Garcia-Bosch, A. Company, J. R. Frisch, M. Torrent-Sucarrat, M. Cardellach, I. Gamba, M. Güell, L. Casella, L. Que Jr., X. Ribas, J. M. Luis, M. Costas (2010)O2 Activation and selective phenolate ortho hydroxylation by an unsymmetric dicopper mu-η1:η1-peroxido complex,Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 49, 2406-2409.
Project Title:
Oxidative stress and protein modification in diseases
Our project deals with the effects of reactive species generated under oxidative stress conditions in inducing chemical modification, loss of structure and aggregation of proteins. The reactive species investigated are typically those derived from partial reduction of molecular oxygen, but include also species derived from nitric oxide metabolism and catecholamines.