Simona Polo Lab

Simona Polo

Dr. Simona Polo, an expert in molecular and cell biology, is the director of the Molecular Machines in Signaling Pathways research program at IFOM since 2005.

Dr. Polo was born in Milan in 1968 and studied biological sciences at the University of Milan under the supervision of Prof. Daniela Ghisotti, graduating cum laude in 1991 and honorable mention. Her thesis on bacteriophage P4 received the price for the best thesis in genetics in 1991 from the AGI association.

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Molecular Machines in Signalling Pathways

Signaling networks are complex and robust, and they are based on macromolecular complexes with fine-grained structure-function modularity. At the cellular level, signaling networks are spatiotemporally regulated by post-translational modifications that render the systems highly dynamic. Our main research interest is focus on the characterization of protein complexes that are modulated by ubiquitination at the physiological and pathological levels.

Laboratory location: Milan, Italy

Recent publications

Magistrati E, Maestrini G, Niño CA, Lince-Faria M, Beznoussenko G, Mironov A, Maspero E, Bettencourt-Dias M, Polo S.
Myosin VI regulates ciliogenesis by promoting the turnover of the centrosomal/satellite protein OFD1.
EMBO Rep. 2021, in press

Fajner V, Giavazzi F, Sala S, Oldani A, Martini E, Napoletano F, Parazzoli D, Cesare G, Cerbino R, Maspero E, Vaccari T, Polo S.
Hecw controls oogenesis and neuronal homeostasis by promoting the liquid state of ribonucleoprotein particles.
Nat Commun. 2021 Sep 16;12(1):5488. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25809-8. PMID: 34531401

Napoletano F, Ferrari Bravo G, Voto IAP, Santin A, Celora L, Campaner E, Dezi C, Bertossi A, Valentino E, Santorsola M, Rustighi A, Fajner V, Maspero E, Ansaloni F, Cancila V, Valenti CF, Santo M, Artimagnella OB, Finaurini S, Gioia U, Polo S, Sanges R, Tripodo C, Mallamaci A, Gustincich S, d'Adda di Fagagna F, Mantovani F, Specchia V, Del Sal G.
The prolyl-isomerase PIN1 is essential for nuclear Lamin-B structure and function and protects heterochromatin under mechanical stress.
Cell Rep. 2021 Sep 14;36(11):109694. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109694.

complete list PubMed Google Scholar

Group members

Staff Scientist

Maspero Elena

Post Doc

Menin Luca
Nino Suarez Carlos Alberto
Scotto di Perrotolo Rossella

PhD Student

Corbellini Margherita
Maestrini Giorgia
Taibi Vincenzo

Former Lab members

Sicari Daria (Assistant Scientific Direction, Pharma Line srl, Milan)
Magistrati Elisa (Post-doc, Turco lab, FMI, Basel)
Fajner Valentina (Scientific supervisor, Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan)
Oltrabella Francesca (Medical Scientific Liaison at Astellas, Milan)
Biancospino Matteo (Medical Science Liaison, Janssen, Milan)
Valentini Eleonora (Quality Assurance Assistant, Sintetica SA, Mendrisio)
Savio Michol (Medical Science Manager, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Turin)
Wollscheid Hans-Peter (Post-doc, Ulrich lab, IMB, Mainz)
Wossner Nadine (Clinical Monitor, IZKS, Mainz)
Mari Sara (Medical Science Liaison presso Janssen, Milan)
Maruwge Wessen (Grant Writer, IFOM, Milan)
Acconcia Filippo (Associate Professor, Università Roma Tre, Rome)
Penengo Lorenza (Associate Professor,University of Zurich)
Argenzio Elisabetta (Scientific Officer, Director's Office, Human Technopole)
Oldrini Barbara (Staff scientist, Squatrito Lab, CNIO, Madrid)
Woelk Bange Tanja (Project Leader, Biomedical Center Munich Molecular Biology, Munich)
Sigismund Sara (Associate Professor, Università degli Studi, Milan)

(update: Nov 2022)