Laboratory PROtein&PEPtide (PROPEP)
Proteins, Peptides and Nutraceuticals
Coordinator
Prof. Luigia Pazzagli
Brief Biographical sketch of the Coordinator
1987: Master’s Degree (Laurea) in Biological Sciences (110/110 cum laude), University of Florence
1994: Ph.D. in Biochemistry
1995: Winner of the public competition for a position as Assistant Professor (Ricercatore Universitario) of Biochemistry (Academic Recruitment Field: E05/A)
1996: Postgraduate Specialization Degree in Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry (70/70 cum laude)
1998: Tenure achieved as Assistant Professor (Ricercatore Confermato) at the University of Florence
2003: Qualified for the position of Associate Professor (Scientific-Disciplinary Sector: BIO/10)
2005: Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, University of Florence
2017: Achieved the National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale - ASN) as Full Professor (I Fascia), Academic Recruitment Field 05/E1 (First session, 2017)
Member of the Scientific Board the Doctorate/Phd Program in
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BiBiM 2.0)
https://www.unisi.it/didattica/post-laurea/dottorati-ricerca/biochemistry-and-molecular-biology-bibim-20-2
Member of the following Scientific Societis
SIB (Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Member of editorial board of the following Journals
- Foods
- Frontiers in Nutrition
Research Team
Prof. Paolo Paoli
Dr. Simone Luti
Dr. Francesco Ranaldi
Dr. ssa Costanza Cicchi (post-doc)
Dr.ssa Rebecca Sodano (research grant)
Dr.ssa Azzurra Macchiarella (research grant)
Current research interest
- CHARACTERIZATION OF PEPTIDE FRACTIONS FROM SOURDOUGH TO PROCESS HEALTHY CEREAL FOODS. Sourdough fermentation is one of the oldest biotechnology methods to ferment cereals. Thank to this process leavened baked gods are enriched in peptides, polyphenols and other metabolites equipped with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity on cultured cells.
- CHARACTERIZATION OF CERATO-PLATANIN, a fungal protein that is the first member of a fungal protein family showing a double ψ/β barrel fold and equipped with immunomodulatory activity on both plant and animal cells
- BIOLOGICAL VALORIZATION OF PLANT BASED WASTE AND BY PRODUCTS. Through a combination of spontaneous and controlled fermentations, the study investigates how microbial metabolism can be harnessed to produce valuable bioactive compounds, (including bioactive peptides, organic acids, and phenolic compounds in by product from agriculture) to be tested on cultured cells and model organism.
Key words
PROTEIN- PEPTIDES - ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY - PLANT DEFENCE-
Current/recent sources of funding
PRIN 2022- The dark side of MIcro- and NAanoplastics in the soil: impact on CROP physiology and pathogen resistance (MINACROP)– CUP B53D23012110006 - codice progetto MUR 2022LF3SZE (Partecipante)
PRIN 2022- PNRR- Developing peptide molecules targeting the plant immune system to fight HERBicide resistant weeds (PEP-HERB)- P2022NEJ8K_002 (Partecipante)
PNRR_ECO_THE_SPOKE_2 – CUP n. B83C22003920001 - Traditional wheat varieties and diabetes P.I. Prof. Mannucci Edoardo (partecipante)
10 best publications of the last 5 years
- 2025 Cicchi C, Leri M, Bucciantini M, Galli V, Guerrini S, Jiménez-Ortas Á, Ceacero-Heras D, Martínez-Augustín O, Pazzagli L, Luti S. Sourdough Breads Made with Selected Lactobacillus Strains and Spelt Flour Contain Peptides That Positively Impact Intestinal Barrier. Foods. 14(18):3184. doi: 10.3390/foods14183184
- 2025 Dainelli M, Cicchi C, Baccelli I, Boutet S, Colzi I, Coppi A, Luti S, Pignattelli S, Pollastri S, Loreto F, Pazzagli L, Corso M, Gonnelli C. Microplastics in the Soil at Sub-Toxic Concentrations Cause Metabolic Changes Decreasing Fungal Pathogen Susceptibility in Arabidopsis thaliana. Physiol Plant. 177(3):e70312. doi: 10.1111/ppl.70312
- 2025 Cicchi C, Pazzagli L, Paoli P, Campigli S, Marchi G, Cardona F, Clemente F, Pavone S, Ferraroni M, Canovai A, Matassini C, Luti S. Molecular Basis of Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae Levansucrase Inhibition by a Multivalent Iminosugar. J Agric Food Chem. 73(25):15981-15992. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c0194
- 2024 Magi CE, Rasero L, Mannucci E, Bonaccorsi G, Ranaldi F, Pazzagli L, Faraoni P, Mulinacci N, Bambi S, Longobucco Y, Dicembrini I, Iovino P. Use of ancient grains for the management of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 34(5):1110-1128. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2024.03.005
- 2023 Cicchi C, Paoli P, Modesti A, Mannelli F, Scicutella F, Buccioni A, Fontanarosa C, Luti S, Pazzagli L. Effect of Bovine Milk Peptides on Cell Inflammation, Proliferation and Differentiation: Milk Potential Benefits Are Preserved in an Unconventional Cow Feeding Strategy. Biology (Basel).12(9):1162. doi: 10.3390/biology12091162
- 2023 Gallo M, Luti S, Baroni F, Baccelli I, Cilli EM, Cicchi C, Leri M, Spisni A, Pertinhez TA, Pazzagli L. Plant Defense Elicitation by the Hydrophobin Cerato-Ulmin and Correlation with Its Structural Features. Int J Mol Sci. 24(3):2251. doi: 10.3390/ijms24032251.
- 2023 Colzi, I.; Marone, E.; Luti, S.; Pazzagli, L.; Mancuso, S.; Taiti, C. Metabolic Responses in Leaves of 15 Italian Olive Cultivars in Correspondence to Variable Climatic Elements. Plants, 12, 1953. https://doi.org/10.3390/ plants12101953
- 2022 Genovese M; Luti S; Pardella I; Vivoli-Vega M; Pazzagli L; Parri M; Caselli L; Cirri P; Paoli P. Differential impact of cold and hot tea extracts on tyrosine phosphatases regulating insulin receptor activity: a focus on PTP1B and LMW-PTP. European journal of nutrition. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02776-w
- 2021 Luti S, Campigli S, Ranaldi F, Paoli P, Pazzagli L, Marchi G. Lscβ and lscγ, two novel levansucrases of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae biovar 3, the causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit, show different enzymatic properties. Int J Biol Macromol. 2021 May 15;179:279-291. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.189
- 2021 Baroni, F., Gallo, M., Pazzagli, L., Luti, S., Baccelli, I., Spisni, A., Pertinhez, T.A. A mechanistic model may explain the dissimilar biological efficiency of the fungal elicitors cerato-platanin and cerato-populin (2021) Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects, 1865 (5), art. no. 129843. doi=10.1016%2fj.bbagen.2021.129843
Previous research experiences
- Functional/structural characterization of low Molecular weight proteins: acylphosphatase, Low Molecular weight protein phosphatase, cerato-ulmin and cerato-platanin.
- Characterization of allergens from wasp venom; identification of anti-microbial peptides from wasp larvae
Main scientific contributions
- The isolation, characterization of biological activity and 3D structure determination of the fungal protein cerato-platanin allowed the creation of a new protein family called cerato-platanin family comprising biologically active proteins involved in activation of both plant and animal defence
- Characterization and identification of bioactive peptides breads from sourdough fermentation: molecular basis of the nutraceutical properties of fermented foods
Collaboration
Prof. Simona Guerrini (DAGRI, UNIFI)
Prof. Guido Marchi (DAGRI, UNIFI)
Prof. Cristina Gonnelli (Dip. Biologia, UNIFI)
Prof. Ilaria Colzi (Dip. Biologia, UNIFI)
Prof. Olga Martínez-Augustín, School of Pharmacy, Ibs.Granada and CIBERehd, University of Granada, Spain
Dr. Ivan Baccelli, CNR, Istituto per la protezione sostenibile delle piante, sezione di Firenze.
Ultimo aggiornamento
15.07.2026