Davide Trotti, PhD

Dr. Trotti's research is focused on the role of glutamate transporters in health and neurodegenerative disease states. Malfunction of the glutamate transport system is involved in both acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, impairment of glutamate uptake because of loss of the glutamate transporter GLT1 (EAAT2) have been described in ALS. We have provided evidence for a molecular link between the inactivation of the glial glutamate transporter GLT1 (EAAT2) and the superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutations associated to the familial form of ALS (FALS).

Dr. Trotti's hypothesis is that impairment of GLT1 mediated by FALS-linked SOD1 mutations leads to loss of the glutamate transporter GLT1 (EAAT2) and, therefore, to neurotoxic accumulation of extracellular glutamate following its release at glutamatergic synapses and death of motor neurons. We are testing this hypothesis using electrophysiological, protein chemistry and cellular biology techniques. Another important aspect of my work is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of regulation of glutamate transporters and the potential applications to drug therapy.