Mario C De Tullio

 

            Research interests

1.    Biochemistry and functions of vitamin C

2.    Redox regulation of plant development

3.    Science communication - Science and Literature

                                                                                                                                                                  

  1. Vitamin C

The name vitamin C was introduced by Funk around 1914 to indicate the still unknown factor able to prevent a deadly disease known as scurvy. Fifteen years later, Szent-Gyšrgyi and Haworth identified a 6-carbon sugar as vitamin C, and accordingly named it ascorbic acid (AsA). Although much renown for its antioxidant properties, AsA is very important in plant (and animal) biochemistry for its role in the activity of several 2-oxoacid dependent dioxygenases involved in the synthesis of, among others, hydroxyproline-containing proteins and plant hormones.

Related publications

Ÿ    De Tullio MC 2010 The Mystery of Vitamin C. Nature Education 3(9):48

Ÿ    De Tullio MC 2008 Vitamin C. SciTopics

Ÿ    De Tullio MC 2004 How does ascorbic acid prevent scurvy? A survey of the non-antioxidant functions of vitamin C. In Vitamin C, its functions and biochemistry in animals and plants, pp. 159-172, Smirnoff N., May J. and Asard H. (eds.), Bios Scientific Publishers, Oxford, U.K.

Ÿ    Arrigoni O, De Tullio MC 2002 Ascorbic acid: much more than just an antioxidant. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1569:1-9

Ÿ    Arrigoni O, De Tullio MC 2000 The role of ascorbic acid in cell metabolism: between gene-directed functions and unpredictable chemical reactions. J. Plant Physiol 157: 481-488

 

2. Redox regulation of plant development

The peculiar reactivity of oxygen can either be trouble, or an opportunity, and in most cases it is both. Biological systems evolved mechanisms able to use oxygen for the purpose of improving survival and efficiency, and at the same time protecting themselves from potentially harmful consequences. In parallel with the increased complexity of biological organisation, communication became crucial to coordinate activities occurring in different parts of a cell, or in different cells, tissues and organs. Redox components are largely involved in the regulation of different developmental processes.

Related publications

Ÿ    De Tullio MC 2010 Antioxidants and redox regulation: changing notions in a changing world. Plant Physiol Biochem 48:289-291

Ÿ    De Tullio MC, Jiang K, Feldman LJ 2010 Redox regulation of root apical meristem organization: connecting root development to its environment. Plant Physiol Biochem 48:328-336

Ÿ    Fotopoulos V, De Tullio MC, Barnes J, Kanellis AK 2008 Altered stomatal dynamics in ascorbate oxidase over-expressing tobacco plants suggest a role for dehydroascorbate signalling. J Exp Bot 59:729-737

Ÿ    Grano A, De Tullio MC 2007 Ascorbic acid as a sensor of oxidative stress and a regulator of gene expression: The Yin and Yang of vitamin C. Med Hypoth 69: 953-954

Ÿ    Barth C, De Tullio MC, Conklin P 2006 The role of ascorbic acid in the control of flowering time and the onset of senescence. J Exp Bot 57: 1657-1665

 

  1. Science communication – Science and Literature

In the last few decades, the lack of adequate communication on the newest achievements in (plant) biology raised a barrier between science and the general public. This made the already existing separation between science and other aspects of human knowledge (ÒThe two culturesÓ) even worse. IÕm trying to find different ways to tackle this problem, mainly by promoting contacts with school teachers and students, proposing new approaches to teaching. To this purpose, I started a collaboration with Scitable, the educational project of the Nature Publishing Group, as Lead Editor of the Cell Origins and Metabolism Topic Room. I also have a special interest in those Italian writers (such as Italo Calvino and Primo Levi) who also wrote about science.

 


Related publications

- De Tullio MC, 2011, GMOs, Primo Levi, ivory towers and communication. VIPCA Meeting ÒPlant Transformation Technologies IIÓ, Vienna, Austria

- De Tullio MC 2007 How literature can help science: a practical approach to bridging the Two Cultures. Plant Biology ASPB Meeting Chicago (IL, USA)

- De Tullio MC, Roberto R 2004 Informing the public on the risks and benefits of plant biotechnologies: the role of teacher training and the importance of new teaching tools. Plant Biology, ASPB Meeting , Orlando (FL, USA)

- De Tullio MC (2002) Disseminating plant biology: how and what for? FESPB alert n.2 (9)