Unipd coordinates the first international guidelines on cellular communication
25.06.2025
The University of Padua has coordinated the drafting of the first international guidelines on cellular communication, published in the journal «Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology» as an "Expert Recommendation". The team, consisting of Tito Calì from the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Marisa Brini from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, in collaboration with Rosario Rizzuto from the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Luca Scorrano from the Department of Biology at the University of Padua, with contributions from leading international experts, focused on Membrane Contact Sites (MCS), which are crucial for cellular signalling and the internal balance of cells.
MCS allow the direct exchange of ions, lipids, and metabolites between organelles, influencing cellular adaptation. The guidelines provide fundamental parameters for studying real-time communication between organelles, essential for developing innovative therapies for complex diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disorders.
"After more than ten years of development, our sensors have proven fundamental in opening a new field of study and intense research, allowing us to visualise the molecular proximity between the two membranes," explains Tito Calì, coordinator of the work and professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Padua. "This approach is proving crucial not only for a deeper understanding of new molecular mechanisms underlying diseases but also for the development of targeted and personalised drugs. The implications are enormous, from the possibility of precisely intervening on points of failed communication between organelles to designing innovative therapeutic strategies for complex diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and metabolic disorders."
"The scientific community has recognised our important role in this research field thanks to the results we have achieved with these sensors," adds Marisa Brini, coordinator of the work and professor at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Padua. "We are particularly proud that this prestigious journal has entrusted us with coordinating the drafting of an article in the 'Expert Recommendation' format."
The "Expert Recommendation" represents a milestone for the international community as it defines scientific reference standards according to the scientific tradition of the University of Padua.
