Lello Zolla

Last updated
Lello Zolla
Prof. Zolla.jpg
Born1948
CitizenshipFlag of Italy.svg Italy
Known for Proteomics, Metabolomics, Chromatography, mass spectrometry
Scientific career
Institutions University of Tuscia, University of Camerino, Sapienza University of Rome

Lello Zolla (born 1948) is an Italian molecular biologist and researcher. He served as a professor at the Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB) at the University of Tuscia, Viterbo. He has worked in proteomics and metabolomics, particularly employing mass spectrometry and chromatography in the study of biological systems.

Contents

Academic career

Zolla began his scientific career in 1974 at the Sapienza University of Rome, collaborating with Eraldo Antonini and Maurizio Brunori, focusing on allosteric mechanisms in respiratory proteins such as hemoglobin and hemocyanin. [1]

In 1986, Zolla became a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Camerino, where he held the Chair of Biochemistry in Pharmacy and directed the High School of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry (1986–1991). [2] . He has also been a professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Tuscia, within the Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences. [3]

Scientific activity

Zolla is the author of scientific publications which focus on the application of omics technologies to human health and environmental studies. [4] In particular:

Zolla is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Proteomics and he guest-edited several special issues. He was among the founding members of the Italian Proteomic Society and the Italian Proteomic Association (ItPA). [10]

In the late 1990s, he started research on plant proteomics and the effects of heavy metals on plant metabolism [11] and the role of heat shock proteins, [12] employing two-dimensional gels and capillary electrophoresis. Since 2001, Zolla’s group has implemented advanced chromatographic methods (nanoLC, 2D-LC) coupled with mass spectrometry for omics studies. [13] His group has collaborated with the Italian National Blood Centre (Centro Nazionale Sangue) on research aimed at improving the quality and safety of stored blood for transfusion. [14] The outcome of this partnership is the review article “Classic and alternative red blood cell storage strategies: seven years of ‘omics’ investigations,” co-authored with Angelo D’Alessandro and Grazzini, which summarizes a seven‑year research effort into proteomic and metabolomic profiling of stored red blood cells to optimize storage protocols and mitigate oxidative damage. [15]

Research techniques

In his research, Zolla has employed proteomic and metabolomic approaches combined with techniques such as liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for the characterization of biological samples. [16]

References

  1. Amiconi, G.; Antonini, E.; Brunori, M.; Wyman, J.; Zolla, L. (1981-10-15). "Interaction of hemoglobin with salts: Effects on the functional properties of human hemoglobin". Journal of Molecular Biology. 152 (1): 111–129. doi:10.1016/0022-2836(81)90097-8. ISSN   0022-2836.
  2. Angeletti, Mauro. "Historical notes about the Biological Chemistry at the University of Camerino 1951-2001" (PDF). Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  3. "Prof. Lello Zolla". ResearchGate Lab Profile DEB Affiliation. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  4. "Lello Zolla Lab". ResearchGate. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  5. Zolla, Lello (2022). "On the Need to Distinguish between Insulin-Normal and Insulin-Resistant Patients in Testosterone Therapy". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23 (21): 12730. doi: 10.3390/ijms232112730 . PMID   36361519.
  6. D’Alessandro, Angelo; Zolla, Lello (2017). "Proteomic analysis of red blood cells and the potential for the clinic: what have we learned so far?". Expert Review of Proteomics. 14 (3): 243–252. doi:10.1080/14789450.2017.1291347.
  7. Gevi, Federica; Zolla, Lello; Gabriele, Stefano; Persico, Antonio M. (2016). "Urinary metabolomics of young Italian autistic children supports abnormal tryptophan and purine metabolism". Molecular Autism. 7 (1): 47. doi: 10.1186/s13229-016-0109-5 . PMC   5135666 . PMID   27904735.
  8. Michaletti, Anna; Gioia, Magda; Tarantino, Umberto; Zolla, Lello (2017-11-13). "Effects of microgravity on osteoblast mitochondria: a proteomic and metabolomics profile". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 15376. Bibcode:2017NatSR...715376M. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-15612-1. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   5684136 . PMID   29133864.
  9. Lana, Alessandro; Longo, Valentina; Dalmasso, Alessandra; D’Alessandro, Angelo; Bottero, Maria Teresa; Zolla, Lello (2015). "Omics integrating physical techniques: Aged Piedmontese meat analysis". Food Chemistry. 172: 731–741. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.09.146. PMID   25442615.
  10. Zolla, Lello; D'Alessandro, Angelo (2012). "Preface to the Special Issue: Integrated omics" . Journal of Proteomics. 76: 3–9. doi:10.1016/j.jprot.2012.10.007. PMID   23079073.
  11. Fagioni, Marco; Zolla, Lello (2009-05-01). "Does the Different Proteomic Profile Found in Apical and Basal Leaves of Spinach Reveal a Strategy of This Plant toward Cadmium Pollution Response?". Journal of Proteome Research. 8 (5): 2519–2529. doi:10.1021/pr8011182. ISSN   1535-3893.
  12. Timperio, Anna Maria; Egidi, Maria Giulia; Zolla, Lello (2008). "Proteomics applied on plant abiotic stresses: Role of heat shock proteins (HSP)" . Journal of Proteomics. 71 (4): 391–411. doi:10.1016/j.jprot.2008.07.005. PMID   18718564.
  13. Premstaller, Andreas; Oberacher, Herbert; Walcher, Wolfgang; Timperio, Anna Maria; Zolla, Lello; Chervet, Jean-Pierre; Cavusoglu, Nukhet; van Dorsselaer, Alain; Huber, Christian G. (2001-06-01). "High-Performance Liquid Chromatography−Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Using Monolithic Capillary Columns for Proteomic Studies" . Analytical Chemistry. 73 (11): 2390–2396. doi:10.1021/ac010046q. ISSN   0003-2700. PMID   11403277.
  14. D'Alessandro, A.; Zolla, L. (2010). "Proteomics for Quality‑Control Processes in Transfusion Medicine". Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 398 (1): 111–124. doi:10.1007/s00216-010-3799-0. PMID   20496175.
  15. D’Alessandro, Angelo; Grazzini, Grazini; Zolla, Lello (2015). "Classic and alternative red blood cell storage strategies: seven years of "‑omics" investigations". Blood Transfusion. 13 (1): 21–31. doi:10.2450/2014.0053-14 . Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  16. "Lello Zolla – Centro Interuniversitario di Biotecnologie". C.I.Biotech. Retrieved 1 July 2025.