Dr. Valerio Orlando

Principal Investigator

Professor of Bioscience

Current

Location:

Building 2/Level 4/ Room 4220

Social Profile:

Research Interests

The epigenome constitutes the chromosomal molecular interface that allows the genome to interact with the environment. The epigenome enables cells to learn, remember and maintain their functional states throughout life and enable organisms to integrate environmental signals.

Prof. Orlando's lab is interested in investigating the chromatin mediated fundamental mechanisms that control cell identity and plasticity. These include signaling to chromatin regulation and nuclear organization by Polycomb proteins, the role of ncRNA-protein interactions in transcriptional regulation, Epigenomics and how this relates for development, transdifferentiation and adaptation (e.g. Metabolism), in particular in stress conditions.

Furthermore, as part of the mechanistic plastic properties of the genome in response to developmental and environmental cues, Prof. Orlando's lab also investigates the epigenetic regulation of the expression and dynamics of transposable elements and their role in cell differentiation and epigenomic biodiversity.

Selected Publications

LINE-1 RNA triggers matrix formation in bone cells via a PKR-mediated inflammatory response.
TDP-43 Epigenetic Facets and Their Neurodegenerative Implications
Synaptic and transcriptomic features of cortical and amygdala pyramidal neurons predict inefficient fear extinction
Dynamic Interactome of PRC2-EZH1 Complex Using Tandem-Affinity Purification and Quantitative Mass Spectrometry
Epigenome changes in active and inactive Polycomb‐group‐controlled regions
Liver and muscle circadian clocks cooperate to support glucose tolerance in mice
Epigenetics and Brain Plasticity: Back to Function
Detecting Cell Compartment-Specific PRC2-RNA Interactions via UV-RIP
Behind the scenes: How RNA orchestrates the epigenetic regulation of gene expression
Lanzuolo C., Roure, V., Dekker, J., Bantignies F and Orlando V. (2007).
Polycomb Response Elements mediate the formation of chromosome higher order structures in the Bithorax Complex. Nature Cell Biology Oct;9(10):1167-74.
Faulkner GJ, Kimura Y, Daub CO, Wani S, Plessy C, Irvine KM, Schroder K, Cloonan N, Steptoe AL, Lassmann T, Waki K, Hornig N, Takahashi H, Kawai J, Forrest AR, Suzuki H, Hayashizaki Y, Hume DA, Orlando V*, Grimmond SM*, Carninci P*. (2009).
The regulated retrotransposon transcriptome of mammalian cells. Nature Genetics May;41(5):563-71-Cernilogar F, Onorati MC, Kothe G, Saxena A, Burrough A, Breiling A, Parsi M, Siomi H, Siomi, M, Carninci, P, Gilmour D, Corona D and Orlando V. (2011). Chromatin associated RNAi components affect transcriptional regulation in Drosophila. Nature Nov 6. 480(7377):391-5.
Lanzuolo C and Orlando V (2012).
Memories from Polycomb Group Proteins. Annual Review of Genetics; 46:561-89.
Lo Sardo F, Lanzuolo C, Comoglio F, De Bardi M, Paro R, Orlando V. (2013)-PcG-Mediated Higher-Order Chromatin Structures Modulate Replication Programs at the Drosophila BX-C. PLoS Genet. Feb;9(2):e1003283. Epub 2013 Feb 21.
FANTOM Consortium and the RIKEN PMI and CLST (DGT). A promoter level mammalian expression atlas. Nature. 2014 Mar 27;507(7493):462-70. doi: 10.1038/nature13182.
Andersson R, et al, FANTOM Consortium, Forrest AR, Carninci P, Rehli M, Sandelin A. An atlas of active enhancers across human cell types and tissues. Nature. 2014 Mar 27;507(7493):455-61. doi: 10.1038/nature12787.
A cytosolic Ezh1 isoform modulates a PRC2-Ezh1 epigenetic adaptive response in post-mitotic cells. Bodega B, Marasca F, Ranzani V, Cherubini A, Della Valle F, Neguembor MV, Wassef M, Zippo A, Lanzuolo C, Pagani M, Orlando V. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2017 May;24(5):444-452
How Polycomb-Mediated Cell Memory Deals With a Changing Environment Marasca F, Bodega B, Orlando V. Bioessays. 2018 Apr;40(4):e1700137

Education

Postdoctoral fellow, Zentrum fuer Molekulare Biologie (ZMBH) University of Heidelberg, Germany,1997
Ph.D. University "La Sapienza", Rome Italy, 1989