Mariarosaria De Falco
Role: Researcher
Section: Researchers and Technologists
Division: Naples
Tel: (39) 081-6132550-081-6132281
E-mail: mariarosaria.defalco@ibbr.cnr.it
URL: http://www.cnr.it/people/mariarosaria.defalco
Dr Mariarosaria De Falco has been working since her graduation on the enzymology of DNA. Her main research interests have been in molecular mechanisms of DNA replication and recombinational repair in Archaea, the third domain of life. She also devoted her interest to the specialized human enzymes. The maintenance of genomic stability is critical for the normal growth and development of any living organism. Indeed, genomic stability can be defined as the ability of a cell to pass its genetic information to the progeny, without either loss or duplication of genome sequences. To maintain genome integrity, cells have developed a highly orchestrated process to ensure accurate inheritance of genetic information to one generation to the next and a single duplication of the entire genome during each round of cell division. Moreover, DNA is a chemical entity subject to assault from the environment, and any resulting damage, if not repaired, leads to mutation and possibly disease. DNA is also subject to oxidative damage from products of metabolism, such as free radicals. DNA repair processes exist in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, and many of the proteins involved have been highly conserved throughout evolution. In fact, cells have evolved a number of mechanisms to detect and repair the various types of damage that can occur to DNA, no matter whether this damage is caused by the environment or by errors in replication. The study of these mechanisms in hyperthermophilic Archaea can be very useful because they arguably have a great need for efficient DNA repair. Moreover, DNA replication/repair proteins from Archaea have been considered a good experimental model, due to their simpler subunit composition and ease of purification, coupled to their functional and structural similarity with the eukaryotic homologs.
Selected Publications
(full list available at CNR People)
CRISPR-Cas assisted diagnostics: A broad application biosensing approach
Masi A, Antonacci A, Moccia M, Frisulli V, De Felice M, De Falco M, Scognamiglio V
Year: 2023
The Finely Coordinated Action of SSB and NurA/HerA Complex Strictly Regulates the DNA End Resection Process in Saccharolobus solfataricus
De Falco M, Porritiello A, Rota F, Scognamiglio V, Antonacci A, del Monaco G, De Felice M
Year: 2022
Isothermal amplification-assisted diagnostics for COVID-19
De Felice M, De Falco M, Zappi D, Antonacci A, Scognamiglio V
Year: 2022
Next-generation diagnostics: augmented sensitivity in amplification-powered biosensing
Mariarosaria De Falco a, Mariarita De Felice a, Federica Rota a, Daniele Zappi b, Amina Antonacci b, Viviana Scognamiglio b
Year: 2022
The Sulfolobus solfataricus RecQ-like DNA helicase Hel112 inhibits the NurA/HerA complex exonuclease activity
De Falco M, Massa F, Rossi M, De Felice M
Year: 2018
Triclosan and bisphenol a affect decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells
Forte M, Mita L, Cobellis L, Merafina V, Specchio R, Rossi S, Mita DG, Mosca L, Castaldi MA, De Falco M, Laforgia V, Crispi S
Year: 2016
NurA Is Endowed with Endo- and Exonuclease Activities that Are Modulated by HerA: New Insight into Their Role in DNA-End Processing
De Falco M, Catalano F, Rossi M, Ciaramella M, De Felice M
Year: 2015