Prof. Gianni Valensin

Click here to display the Group's page

• Structural and functional studies of metal complexes (mainly Cu(II)) of
  synthetic peptides derived from proteins involved in several neurological
  disorders (Alzheimer, Parkinson, Spongiform Encephalopaties): NMR, EPR, CD,
  UV-vis, potentiometry, mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics.

• Cu(I), Cu(II), Mn(II), Mn(III), Zn(II) complexes with the recombinant
  prion protein from different species .

• Cu(I), Cu(II), Fe(II), Fe(III) complexes with the recombinant human
  alpha- and beta-synuclein. 
  
• Cu(I), Cu(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Zn(II) complexes with the synthetic beta-amyloid
  protein from different species
  
• NMR studies of the effects of Ca(II) and Lanthanides upon the
  peptide-protein interactions: cyclosporin, substance P, neurokinin etc

  
  
• NMR studies of herbicides or potential herbicides interacting with the
  bacterial photosyntehtic reaction center

  
  
• NMR and molecular dynamics studies of metal complexes of peptides
  inserted in micelles

  
  
• NMR metabonomics of biofluids (urine, blood, plasma) and cell or tissue
  extracts: correlation with pathological and environmental factors
  
• Theoretical and practical aspects of NMR

Department of Chemistry

• Spectrometer:  X-band EPR 200 DD-SRC BRUKER
• Cryostat:  BRUKER ER 411 VT (T range 100-500 K) 
• Hewlett-Packard 845x UV-Visible ChemStation
•  Orion pH-meter 420A equipped with SympHony Series pH Electrode with Ag/AgCl internal reference system
• Stirrer and heater HB520 Bibby

 NMR CENTRE

• Spectrometer Bruker DRX 600 
  The DRX 600 is one of the most recent system for NMR spectroscopy . It is an instrument of new conception in which all the electronics, comprised the of acquisition, is digital . It is equipped with an "Ultrashielded" Magnex magnet , three channels for acquisition, gradients on X, Y, Z axis (50 gauss/cm) and an host computer Silicon Graphics O₂ .  The instrument is equipped with the following probes:
• QNP 10 mm with automatic software nucleus selection (¹H/¹³C/²³Na/³¹P) .
• TBI 5 mm (¹H/¹³C/³¹P/¹⁰⁹Ag) with X, Y, Z gradients . With this probe the water suppression specification (2 mM sucrose 90% H₂O e 10% D₂O) is excellent .
• BBO 10 mm ³⁹K-⁴¹K .
• BBO 5 mm  ³¹P-¹⁵N with Z gradient .

The DRX 600 can carry out measures for the study of molecular structures and metabolic measures of cells in perfusion .

• Spectrometer Bruker 400 MH
• Varian VXR 300
• Varian Gemini 200
• Vacum Pumps Edwards and Leybold Heraeus
• Analytical and technical balance
• Stirrer
• Liophilizator
• Liquid Nitrogen

 
 National

Samples preparation for the study of the interaction metals-ligands, ligands-macromolecules, metals-ligands-macromolecules, in deuterated and non-deuterated solvents and at different values of pH and concentration.  

Planning, acquisition and analysis of NMR, EPR and UV-Vis spectra.  

Molecular mechanics and dynamical simulations on the above mentioned systems.