Giuseppe GRASSO

University of Catana, Sicily - Italy
Visiting Scholar invited by research center BioCIS
Curriculum Vitae


Research project

New peptides as insulin degrading enzyme activators

This project is focused on the study of molecular interactions between biomolecules involved in
Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular, some metalloproteases involved with AD are studied and
the possibility of modulating the enzymatic activity of these biomolecules for therapeutic purposes
is investigated. In particular the dipeptide carnosine is capable to positively modulate the
proteolytic activity of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) towards the amyloid Beta (Aβ) peptide.
As the latter accumulates in AD patients’ brain, increasing Aβ catabolism represents a promising
therapeutic approach to tackle AD. Aim of this collaboration is to modify carnosine structure in
order to make the dipeptide resistant to carnosinase degradative action, so to reach the brain
unaltered. In particular, a set of carnosine fluorinated analogues will be synthesized in order to
modulate the pharmacokinetic profile and to improve the metabolic stability of this bioactive
molecule.