Curriculum
Curriculum Vitae
Adriano Setti
1. Personal information
Name: Adriano
Surname: Setti
Scopus ID: 57216631022
2. Education
In 2016, I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology (L-270 - Ordinamento 2010) from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. My thesis focused on epigenetics and was titled: “Ruolo della metilazione del DNA nella regolazione della transizione epitelio/mesenchima nelle cellule mesoteliali” (“The role of DNA methylation in regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in mesothelial cells”).
In 2019, I completed a Master’s degree in Genetic and Molecular Biology (LM - Ordinamento 2017) at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. For my master’s thesis, I investigated the role of long non-coding RNAs in muscle biology with a dissertation entitled: “lncSMART, un lncRNA muscolare che regola la traduzione di RNA messaggeri mediante interazione con sequenze capaci di formare strutture secondarie note come G-Quadruplex” (“lncSMART, a muscle-specific lncRNA that regulates mRNA translation through interaction with sequences capable of forming secondary structures known as G-Quadruplexes”).
In 2023, I earned a PhD in Life Sciences (DOT06) from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. My doctoral research focused on the functional role of RNA molecules in development and disease, with a thesis titled: “Role of RNA interactions in neuro-muscular development and pathology”.
Honours Programme in Genetics and Molecular Biology
During my final year of my Master's degree (2019), I took part in the “Honours programme”, where I focused in depth on RNA-RNA interaction.
3. Appointments
Academic Appointments:
From February 1st, 2023 to November 1st, 2023, I have been engaged in academic research at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. I held a post-doctoral research position, working on a project entitled “Analisi computazionali di dati di RNA-Sequencing per la caratterizzazione di RNA non codificanti” (“Computational analysis of RNA-Sequencing data for the characterization of non-coding RNAs”).
Following this, starting on November 2nd, 2023, I was appointed as a Researcher (RTDA) at the same institution, a position I currently hold.
4. Research Activities
During my Bachelor and Master's studies, I gained experience in both molecular and cellular biology techniques. I became proficient in a range of experimental methodologies including protein and nucleic acid extractions, PCR, Western blotting, nucleo-cytoplasm fractionation, protein co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), CLIP, RNA pulldown assays, luciferase assays, molecular cloning, cell culture techniques, and transfections.
During my Master's thesis and PhD, I extensively developed my skills in Bioinformatics, particularly in the analysis of RNA-Seq data. I worked with a wide range of RNA-Seq applications, such as bulk RNA-Seq, single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq), CLIP-Seq, RIP-Seq, and RNA pulldown-Seq. My involvement spanned all analytical phases—from the technical steps of data preprocessing and importing data into repositories (like GEO), to the interpretation and contextualization of results in the framework of research questions. Additionally, I focused on the computational study of RNA secondary structure and RNA-RNA interactions, employing both thermodynamic modeling and machine learning approaches.
Throughout my Master's and PhD projects, I focused deeply on non-coding RNAs. I applied various -omics approaches to identify and characterize long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs), with an emphasis on unraveling their mechanisms of action at the molecular level.
During my PhD, I studied the differentiation of motor neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells using single-cell RNA sequencing. Moreover, I investigated the formation and role of membraneless organelles known as Stress Granules (SGs), both during my PhD and in my post-doctoral research. I particularly explored the involvement of SGs in the aggregation of the RNA-binding protein FUS, in relation to the ALS-associated P525L mutation, shedding light on the molecular pathology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
5. Patents
The patent application number IT102023000022302, currently under review, was submitted by Sapienza University of Rome and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) Foundation. The inventors are Irene Bozzoni, Gaia Di Timoteo, Andrea Giuliani, and Adriano Setti. This patent covers the use of METTL3 inhibitors in the treatment of protein aggregation diseases.
6. Conference posters and oral presentations:
• I participated in the “RNA Meeting” in Edinburgh, England, from May 28 to June 2, 2024, presenting a poster titled “ALS-associated FUS mutation reshapes the RNA and protein composition of Stress Granules.”
• I participated in the “EMBO Workshop” in Akersberga, Sweden, from June 27 to July 1, 2022. My oral presentation was titled “A multifunctional locus controls motor neuron differentiation through short and long noncoding RNAs.”
• I participated in the “SIBBM: Frontiers in Molecular Biology” in Rome, Italy, from June 20 to June 22, 2022.
7. Awards and Recognitions
I won the “RNA SOCIETY Poster Presentation Prize” at the 2024 RNA meeting in Edinburgh, England, presenting the poster titled: “ALS-associated FUS mutation reshapes the RNA and protein composition of Stress Granules.”
8. Publications
List of publications in chronological order
First author=*
SERTM2: a neuroactive player in the world of micropeptides.
Lisi M., Santini T., D'Andrea T., Salvatori B., Setti A., Paiardini A., Nutarelli S., Nicoletti C., Pellegrini F., Fucile S., Bozzoni I., Martone J.
(2025) EMBO Reports, DOI: 10.1038/s44319-025-00404-w
ALS-associated FUS mutation reshapes the RNA and protein composition of stress granules.
Mariani D*, Setti A*, Castagnetti F, Vitiello E, Stufera Mecarelli L, Di Timoteo G, Giuliani A, D'Angelo A, Santini T, Perego E, Zappone S, Liessi N, Armirotti A, Vicidomini G, Bozzoni I.
(2024) Nucleic Acids Res, Nov 27;52(21):13269-13289. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkae942. PMID: 39494508; PMCID: PMC11602144.
BRCA1 levels and DNA-damage response are controlled by the competitive binding of circHIPK3 or FMRP to the BRCA1 mRNA
Grelloni C*, Garraffo R, Setti A, Rossi F, Peruzzi G, Cinquanta M, Di Rosa MC, Pierotti MA, Beltran M, Bozzoni I.
(2024) Molecular Cell, Nov 7;84(21):4079-4094.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.09.016. Epub 2024 Oct 9. PMID: 39389065.
A tripartite circRNA/mRNA/miRNA interaction regulates glutamatergic signaling in the mouse brain
Silenzi V*, D'Ambra E*, Santini T, D'Uva S, Setti A, Salvi N, Nicoletti C, Scarfò R, Cordella F, Mongiardi B, Cavezza D, Liessi N, Ferrucci L, Ragozzino D, Armirotti A, Di Angelantonio S, De Leonibus E, Bozzoni I, Morlando M..
(2024) Cell Reports. Oct 22;43(10):114766. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114766. Epub 2024 Sep 24. PMID: 39321023.
CyCoNP lncRNA establishes cis and trans RNA-RNA interactions to supervise neuron physiology
Desideri F*, Grazzi A*, Lisi M, Setti A, Santini T, Colantoni A, Proietti G, Carvelli A, Tartaglia GG, Ballarino M, Bozzoni I.
(2024) Nucleic Acids Res. Sep 9;52(16):9936-9952. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkae590. PMID: 38989616; PMCID: PMC11381359.
M6A reduction relieves FUS-associated ALS granules
Di Timoteo G*, Giuliani A*, Setti A, Biagi MC, Lisi M, Santini T, Grandioso A, Mariani D, Castagnetti F, Perego E, Zappone S, Lattante S, Sabatelli M, Rotili D, Vicidomini G, Bozzoni I. (2024) Nature Communications. Jun 12;15(1):5033. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49416-5. PMID: 38866783; PMCID: PMC11169559.
The m6A reader YTHDC1 and the RNA helicase DDX5 control the production of rhabdomyosarcoma-enriched circRNAs
Dattilo, D.*, Di Timoteo, G.*, Setti, A.*, Giuliani, A., Peruzzi, G., Beltran Nebot, M., Centrón-Broco, A., Mariani, D., Mozzetta, C., Bozzoni, I.
(2023) Nature Communications, 14 (1), art. no. 1898. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37578-7
The long noncoding RNA Charme supervises cardiomyocyte maturation by controlling cell differentiation programs in the developing heart
Taliani, V*., Buonaiuto, G.*, Desideri, F., Setti, A., Santini, T., Galfrè, S., Schirone, L., Mariani, D., Frati, G., Valenti, V., Sciarretta, S., Perlas, E., Nicoletti, C., Musarò, A., Ballarino, M. (2023) eLife, 12, art. no. e81360. DOI: 10.7554/elife.81360
A KO mouse model for the lncRNA Lhx1os produces motor neuron alterations and locomotor impairment
Pellegrini, F.*, Padovano, V.*, Biscarini, S., Santini, T., Setti, A., Galfrè, S.G., Silenzi, V., Vitiello, E., Mariani, D., Nicoletti, C., Torromino, G., De Leonibus, E., Martone, J., Bozzoni, I. (2023) iScience, 26 (1), art. no. 105891. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105891
A multifunctional locus controls motor neuron differentiation through short and long noncoding RNAs
Carvelli, A.*, Setti, A.*, Desideri, F.*, Galfrè, S.G., Biscarini, S., Santini, T., Colantoni, A., Peruzzi, G., Marzi, M.J., Capauto, D., Di Angelantonio, S., Ballarino, M., Nicassio, F., Laneve, P., Bozzoni, I. (2022) EMBO Journal, 41 (13), art. no. e108918. DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108918
Lnc-SMaRT Translational Regulation of Spire1, A New Player in Muscle Differentiation Scalzitti, S.*, Mariani, D.*, Setti, A., Colantoni, A., Lisi, M., Bozzoni, I., Martone, J.
(2022) Journal of Molecular Biology, 434 (2), art. no. 167384. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167384 Citations: 0
Circular RNA ZNF609/CKAP5 mRNA interaction regulates microtubule dynamics and tumorigenicity.
Rossi, F.*, Beltran, M.*, Damizia, M., Grelloni, C., Colantoni, A., Setti, A., Di Timoteo, G., Dattilo, D., Centrón-Broco, A., Nicoletti, C., Fanciulli, M., Lavia, P., Bozzoni, I.
(2022) Molecular Cell, 82 (1), pp. 75-89.e9. DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.11.032
Trans-generational epigenetic regulation associated with the amelioration of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Martone, J.*, Lisi, M.*, Castagnetti, F.*, Rosa, A., Di Carlo, V., Blanco, E., Setti, A., Mariani, D., Colantoni, A., Santini, T., Perone, L., Di Croce, L., Bozzoni, I. (2020) EMBO Molecular Medicine, 12 (8), art. no. e12063. DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012063
SMaRT lncRNA controls translation of a G-quadruplex-containing mRNA antagonizing the DHX36 helicase
Martone, J.*, Mariani, D.*, Santini, T., Setti, A., Shamloo, S., Colantoni, A., Capparelli, F., Paiardini, A., Dimartino, D., Morlando, M., Bozzoni, I. (2020) EMBO Reports, 21 (6), art. no. e49942. DOI: 10.15252/embr.201949942