The scientific efforts of the MCAC Group are focusing on the understanding of the molecular-cellular basis of ageing and cancer. Particularly, MCAC focuses on proteome stability alterations during ageing and in age-related diseases, as well as in the discovery of natural compounds that reduce proteome aggregation and prolong proteome stability and longevity at either cell-based and/or at in vivo experimental models. Specifically, we focus on cell signalling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in proteome maintenance, stability and repair, including the main antioxidant responses (e.g. the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway), molecular chaperones (Clusterin, HSP70, HSF1) and main proteolytic systems (proteasome, lysosome), as well as on their functional alterations and implication in ageing and cancer. Additional areas of ageing- and/or cancer-related research involve the identification of natural and/or synthetic compounds with anti-ageing or anti-tumor activity. Main tools and experimental models include several normal or genetically modified cell lines of mouse or human origin, while for in vivo studies the group is employing Drosophila flies, transgenesis in mice or studies on selected human cohorts.

For the COST action CA15135 our main interest will be the selection of biological targets and assessment of biological data.