Francesco Bosica
I completed my studies in medicinal chemistry at the University of Turin, focusing on the modulation of enzymes involved in the epigenetic control of gene expression.
I attended one internship at the hospital pharmacy of the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and one at the University of Cambridge – Department of Chemistry, focusing on flow chemistry.
Project topic: PPI: 14-3-3 proteins and BAD/BAX
Diabetes is characterized by massive pancreatic cell death, resulting from enhanced pro-apoptotic signaling. An important role in this mechanism is played by the pro-apoptotic proteins BAD and BAX. These proteins are negatively regulated by 14-3-3 proteins. Hence small-molecule stabilization of the regulatory complexes of 14-3-3 with BAD/BAX is a plausible strategy to develop therapeutic agents that protect beta cells from apoptotic death during diabetes.