dario.piano

Profile

Profile profile for dario.piano

Photo: 
Job title: 
Researcher
Eurocaroten role: 
WG Participant
First name: 
Dario
Last name: 
Piano
Short research description: 

The research of our laboratories focuses on the identification, isolation and characterisation of new carotenoids from microbial sources. In particular, we are interested on the structural and functional characterisation of the main protein constituting the Surface(S)-layer of Deinococcus radiodurans, DR_2577 (or SlpA). This protein is interesting since it binds deinoxanthin, a carotenoid that was shown to be important in providing the exceptional properties of resistance that characterise this bacterium. Equivalent studies are currently being performed on the main S-layer protein of Thermus thermophilus and Haloferax volcanii, and on their related carotenoids, thermozeaxanthin and bacterioruberin, respectively. In this context we have developed (and we are implementing) a method that allows the industrial isolation of the S-layer proteins and their subsequent use as a matrix for carotenoids extraction. The final goal of these projects is the characterization of new carotenoids in order to exploit their properties in several industrial sectors.

Techniques routinely used: 
Plants cultivation; Bacterial cell cultures; Chemotaxis tests assays on bacteria; DNA extraction and purification; Purification of membrane proteins from homologous and heterologous systems; Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (Affinity Chromatography, Ion
Instrumentation/Facilities: 
Several types of Incubators and bioreactors for bacterial and plants cultures; FPLC systems; wide selection of chromatography resins and columns for protein purification; HPLC systems; wide selection of columns for small molecules separation; vertical and
Country: 
Italy
City: 
Cagliari
Institution: 
University of Cagliari
Department: 
Department of Environmental and Life Sciences
Address: 

Dario Piano, PhD 

Laboratories of Plant Physiology and Photobiology

V.le S. Ignazio da Laconi 13

09123

Cagliari (Italy)

Zip Code: 
09123
Phone: 
+390706753505
Matrix: 
Microorganisms
Plants
Gender: 
Male
WG option 1: 
WG1
WG option 2: 
WG4
Scientific approach: 
Fundamental
Applied
Industrial
Areas: 
Agro-food
Biochemistry
Biology
Industrial Biotechnology
Nutrition
Production
Other keywords: 
Applications
Engineering
Functional Foods
Industry
Market
STMS hosting: 
Any
Meetings hosting: 
Yes

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COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020.