Education

Ph.D. Equivalent cell physiology/Molecular Biology, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research and Dibit San Raffaele, Milano

Current position

Head of Research Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, Dibit - San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy

Publications

1. Castelli, M., Boca, M., Chiaravalli, M., Ramalingam, H., Rowe, I., Distefano, G., Carroll, T. and Boletta, A. (2013). Polycystin-1 binds Par3/aPKC and controls convergent extension during renal tubular morphogenesis. Nat Commun 4: 2658.
   
2. Rowe, I., Chiaravalli, M., Mannella, V., Ulisse, V., Quilici, G., Pema, M., Song, X. W., Xu, H., Mari, S., Qian, F., Pei, Y., Musco, G. and Boletta, A. (2013). Defective glucose metabolism in polycystic kidney disease identifies a new therapeutic strategy. Nat Med 19(4): 488-493.
   
3. Foy, R. L., Chitalia, V. C., Panchenko, M. V., Zeng, L., Lopez, D., Lee, J. W., Rana, S. V., Boletta, A., Qian, F., Tsiokas, L., Piontek, K. B., Germino, G. G., Zhou, M. I. and Cohen, H. T. (2012). Polycystin-1 regulates the stability and ubiquitination of transcription factor Jade-1. Hum Mol Genet 21(26): 5456-5471.
   
4. Steigelman, K. A., Lelli, A., Wu, X., Gao, J., Lin, S., Piontek, K., Wodarczyk, C., Boletta, A., Kim, H., Qian, F., Germino, G., Geleoc, G. S., Holt, J. R. and Zuo, J. (2011). Polycystin-1 is required for stereocilia structure but not for mechanotransduction in inner ear hair cells. J Neurosci 31(34): 12241-12250.
   
5. Wodarczyk, C., Distefano, G., Rowe, I., Gaetani, M., Bricoli, B., Muorah, M., Spitaleri, A., Mannella, V., Ricchiuto, P., Pema, M., Castelli, M., Casanova, A. E., Mollica, L., Banzi, M., Boca, M., Antignac, C., Saunier, S., Musco, G. and Boletta, A. (2010). Nephrocystin-1 forms a complex with polycystin-1 via a polyproline motif/SH3 domain interaction and regulates the apoptotic response in mammals. PLoS One 5(9): e12719.
   
6. Woodward, O. M., Li, Y., Yu, S., Greenwell, P., Wodarczyk, C., Boletta, A., Guggino, W. B. and Qian, F. (2010). Identification of a polycystin-1 cleavage product, P100, that regulates store operated Ca entry through interactions with STIM1. PLoS One 5(8): e12305.
   
7. Torres, V. E., Boletta, A., Chapman, A., Gattone, V., Pei, Y., Qian, Q., Wallace, D. P., Weimbs, T. and Wuthrich, R. P. (2010). Prospects for mTOR inhibitor use in patients with polycystic kidney disease and hamartomatous diseases. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 5(7): 1312-1329.
   
8. Boletta, A. (2009). Emerging evidence of a link between the polycystins and the mTOR pathways. Pathogenetics 2(1): 6.
   
9. Wodarczyk, C., Distefano, G., Rowe, I., Gaetani, M., Bricoli, B., Muorah, M., Spitaleri, A., Mannella, V., Ricchiuto, P., Pema, M., Castelli, M., Casanova, A. E., Mollica, L., Banzi, M., Boca, M., Antignac, C., Saunier, S., Musco, G. and Boletta, A. (2010). Nephrocystin-1 forms a complex with polycystin-1 via a polyproline motif/SH3 domain interaction and regulates the apoptotic response in mammals. PLoS One 5(9): e12719.
   
10. Distefano, G., Boca, M., Rowe, I., Wodarczyk, C., Ma, L., Piontek, K. B., Germino, G. G., Pandolfi, P. P. and Boletta, A. (2009). Polycystin-1 regulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent phosphorylation of tuberin to control cell size through mTOR and its downstream effectors S6K and 4EBP1. Mol Cell Biol 29(9): 2359-2371.
    
11. Boca, M., D'Amato, L., Distefano, G., Polishchuk, R. S., Germino, G. G. and Boletta, A. (2007). Polycystin-1 induces cell migration by regulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent cytoskeletal rearrangements and GSK3beta-dependent cell cell mechanical adhesion. Mol Biol Cell 18(10): 4050-4061.
    
12. Ikeda, M., Fong, P., Cheng, J., Boletta, A., Qian, F., Zhang, X. M., Cai, H., Germino, G. G. and Guggino, W. B. (2006). A regulatory role of polycystin-1 on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator plasma membrane expression. Cell Physiol Biochem 18(1-3): 9-20.
    
13. Boca, M., Distefano, G., Qian, F., Bhunia, A. K., Germino, G. G. and Boletta, A. (2006). Polycystin-1 induces resistance to apoptosis through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. J Am Soc Nephrol 17(3): 637-647.
    
14. Hooper, K. M., Boletta, A., Germino, G. G., Hu, Q., Ziegelstein, R. C. and Sutters, M. (2005). Expression of polycystin-1 enhances endoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake and decreases capacitative calcium entry in ATP-stimulated MDCK cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 289(3): F521-530.
    
15. Boletta, A. and Germino, G. G. (2003). Role of polycystins in renal tubulogenesis. Trends Cell Biol 13(9): 484-492.
    
16. Qian, F., Boletta, A., Bhunia, A. K., Xu, H., Liu, L., Ahrabi, A. K., Watnick, T. J., Zhou, F. and Germino, G. G. (2002). Cleavage of polycystin-1 requires the receptor for egg jelly domain and is disrupted by human autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease 1-associated mutations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99(26): 16981-16986.
    
17. Bhunia, A. K., Piontek, K., Boletta, A., Liu, L., Qian, F., Xu, P. N., Germino, F. J. and Germino, G. G. (2002). PKD1 induces p21(waf1) and regulation of the cell cycle via direct activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in a process requiring PKD2. Cell 109(2): 157-168.
    
18. Boletta, A., Qian, F., Onuchic, L. F., Bragonzi, A., Cortese, M., Deen, P. M., Courtoy, P. J., Soria, M. R., Devuyst, O., Monaco, L. and Germino, G. G. (2001). Biochemical characterization of bona fide polycystin-1 in vitro and in vivo. Am J Kidney Dis 38(6): 1421-1429.
    
19. Hanaoka, K.*, Qian, F.*, Boletta, A.*, Bhunia, A. K., Piontek, K., Tsiokas, L., Sukhatme, V. P., Guggino, W. B. and Germino, G. G. (2000). Co-assembly of polycystin-1 and -2 produces unique cation-permeable currents. Nature 408(6815): 990-994. * These authors contributed equally to the work
    
20. Boletta, A., Qian, F., Onuchic, L. F., Bhunia, A. K., Phakdeekitcharoen, B., Hanaoka, K., Guggino, W., Monaco, L. and Germino, G. G. (2000). Polycystin-1, the gene product of PKD1, induces resistance to apoptosis and spontaneous tubulogenesis in MDCK cells. Mol Cell 6(5): 1267-1273.
    
21. Foglieni, C., Bragonzi, A., Cortese, M., Cantu, L., Boletta, A., Chiossone, I., Soria, M. R. and Monaco, L. (2000). Glomerular filtration is required for transfection of proximal tubular cells in the rat kidney following injection of DNA complexes into the renal artery. Gene Ther 7(4): 279-285.
    
22. Bragonzi, A., Boletta, A., Biffi, A., Muggia, A., Sersale, G., Cheng, S. H., Bordignon, C., Assael, B. M. and Conese, M. (1999). Comparison between cationic polymers and lipids in mediating systemic gene delivery to the lungs. Gene Ther 6(12): 1995-2004.
    
23. Boletta, A., Benigni, A., Lutz, J., Remuzzi, G., Soria, M. R. and Monaco, L. (1997). Nonviral gene delivery to the rat kidney with polyethylenimine. Hum Gene Ther 8(10): 1243-1251.
    
24. Boccardo, P., Melacini, D., Rota, S., Mecca, G., Boletta, A., Casiraghi, F. and Gianese, F. (1997). Individualized anticoagulation with dermatan sulphate for haemodialysis in chronic renal failure. Nephrol Dial Transplant 12(11): 2349-2354.