Flavia Valtorta - Curriculum Vitae#
EXPERTISE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The main topics of Valtorta’s lab research activity relate to the study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the processes of neuronal development and synaptic function, with emphasis on membrane trafficking, cytoskeletal dynamics and protein phosphorylation events. Among her main achievements the following appear particularly relevant:
- first identification of a specific component of the presynaptic plasma membrane (the alphalatrotoxin receptor)
- demonstration of the selectivity of synaptic vesicle endocytosis
- demonstration of a phosphorylation-dependent link, modulated by synapsin phosphorylation, between the synaptic vesicle membrane and the nerve terminal cytoskeleton and of its involvement in the regulation of neurotransmitter release and synapse development, with implications for human pathologies, such as epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability
- study of the role of the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin in neurotransmission and synaptic vesicle targeting
In the past 5 years a large effort has been devoted to the study of the pathogenic mechanisms of synaptopathies, using genetically altered mice lacking synaptic proteins. The long-term goal of this project is to decipher the molecular mechanisms through which mutations in genes coding proteins involved in neuronal membrane trafficking lead to neurological disorders, with an emphasis on epilepsy and other paroxysmal disorders.
Work in Valtorta’s laboratory has been funded by: European Union, Telethon, Harvard-Armenise Foundation, INSERM, Italian Ministry of Health, Italian Ministry of Education, CNR, Cariplo Foundation, Mariani Foundation for Child Neurology, San Paolo Foundation, Fondation Lejeune, Italian Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, etc.
Author of > 130 research papers in peer-reviewed international journals, including: Science (2), Nature (1), Neuron (3), Nature Genetics (1), J. Cell Biology (6), J. Clin. Invest. (1), EMBO J. (2), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (3).
