Venerdì 24 Aprile 2026, ore 13
Edificio Asclepio U8 - Aula 1
> Streaming webex
Epithelial tissues retain a memory of prior insult that enhances responses to subsequent damage. In the context of wound memory, this program is encoded at the chromatin and transcriptional level. It extends beyond cells that directly participated in repair, priming stem cells (including those distant from the original injury) for faster activation. While beneficial for regeneration, this persistent epigenetic memory can predispose tissues to tumorigenesis. How these chromatin states are functionally executed at the cellular level remains an open question. In response to stress, epithelial stem and cancer cells polarise and form protrusions that enable migration and invasion. This process relies on the spatial localisation of specific mRNAs within these structures, supporting local organelle organisation and adhesion dynamics. Together, our data indicate that chromatin-mediated memory primes epithelial stem cells for rapid activation, while RNA localisation provides a spatial layer of control that enables execution of these responses. This chromatin–RNA axis links tissue repair to cancer-relevant cellular behaviours.
Giacomo Donati
Giacomo Donati is a Full Professor in Genetics at the University of Turin, where he leads his research group at the Molecular Biotechnology Centre “Guido Tarone” (www.donatilab.org). He trained in molecular biology and epigenetics at the University of Milan and carried out postdoctoral research at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and King’s College London. His lab combines in vivo omics approaches, including single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, WGBS, and spatial transcriptomics, with lineage tracing and pooled genetic screening to study adult epithelial stem cells in the context of wound healing, early tumorigenesis, and epithelial cancer invasion. His research focuses on identifying ECM, chromatin, and RNA regulators that control stem cell motility, plasticity, adaptation, and memory.