Leader: Anna Napoli (UNICAL); Other collaborator(s): Vincenzo Lettera
Metaproteomics analyses identified 232 individual proteins whose plasma concentration and proteo-forms are significantly associated with aging. PTMs play a fundamental role in the biology of aging and aging-related diseases. Mass spectrometry has become the standard for the characterization of proteomes and metabolism. The incorporation of isobaric tags to multiplex samples (cohorts) for both identification and quantification allow differential proteomic studies. We will perform: (i) molecular profiling by MALDI MS to establish the most efficient enrichment strategy; (ii) iTRAQ labeling for both identification and quantification by MS/MS; (iii) statistical and bioinformatic treatment of spectral data.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results: Differential proteomic analysis on populations of young adult and elderly mice, in comparison with those of long-lived mice (corresponding to human ultracentenarians) on membrane-related proteins of whole blood cells. Determination of protein clusters differentially expressed as a function of age and sex of individuals. purification and characterization of rMnSOD to be supplied for in vitro analysis on INRCA cell cultures. Start of enrollment of human individuals for blood tests on a population of Unical employees
During this time window the analysis of clusters identified by differentiated proteomics and the reconstruction of potential patterns related to aging processes have been carried out. Analysis of further samples from additional individuals are underway in order to increase the data and the significance of the results.
We use data from a preliminary survey that we run on individual preferences over pension policy to study how the perception of the policy is influenced by political priming. We used answers to open-ended questions to collect the respondents’ individual perceptions about a well-known pension policy – Quota 100 – that has been largely criticized for not being fair towards younger generations. The political priming consisted of mentioning that the pension reform was proposed by one political party, the League. Respondents were randomly assigned to either the question with no mentioning of the political party (our control group) or to the question that mentioned the political party. Our results show political polarization. Respondents who reported voting for the League were more in favor of Quota 100 when politically primed, while the opposite occurred for respondents supporting other parties. These results suggest that the support for pension policy may not depend on the content of the policy, but rather on the political affiliation.
Report of the activities in the period October-December 2024:
Coming soon