People

Dr Filippo Prischi

Visiting Fellow
School of Life Sciences
Dr Filippo Prischi
  • Email

  • Telephone

    +44 (0) 1206 873370

  • Location

    3SW.5.03, Colchester Campus

  • Academic support hours

    Open door policy

Profile

Biography

My main research interest is the characterisation of protein complexes that are part of signalling pathways, in normal and cancer cells. My goal is to understand how the molecular machines that compose signalling pathways work together to transfer information. In my group, we use a cutting-edge multi-disciplinary approach that combines biophysical, enzymatic and structural studies. We use X-ray crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Electron Microscopy to visualise macromolecules at atomic and near atomic resolution. At this scale we are able to dissect cellular processes at a molecular level and describe the details at the base of cancer formation or development, thereby providing a solid base for medical advance. The main focus of our research is the study of phosphorylation cascades and protein kinases.

Qualifications

  • PhD University of Siena and National Institute for Medical Research (MRC), (2010)

  • M.Sc. Molecular Biology (110 summa cum laude) University of Siena, (2005)

  • B.Sc. Biological Sciences (110 summa cum laude) University of Siena, (2003)

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Senior Lecturer, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London (3/4/2023 - present)

  • Visiting Fellow, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (3/4/2023 - present)

  • Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (1/10/2020 - 31/3/2023)

  • Director of Recruitment, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (1/9/2021 - 1/10/2022)

  • Deputy Director of Recruitment, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (4/11/2019 - 31/8/2021)

  • Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (1/6/2015 - 1/10/2020)

Other academic

  • Research Associate, Imperial College London (1/5/2010 - 30/4/2015)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Signalling pathways in lung and breast cancer

Key words: Kinase
Open to supervise

Drug Discovery

Key words: X-Ray crystallography
Open to supervise

Protein Phosphoregulation

Key words: kinase
Open to supervise

Structural Biology

Key words: X-Ray
Open to supervise

Ribosomal Kinases pathways

Open to supervise

Current research

Targeting RSK4 prevents both chemoresistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer

Understanding how RSKs regulate Transcription Factors in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

The role of 90kDa Ribosomal S6 Kinases in Steroid signalling

Flipping the switch; regulating protein synthesis in response to stress

Conferences and presentations

AtS6K2 regulates antioxidant capacity in response to salt and cold stress

88th Harden Conference - Beyond catalysis: kinases and pseudokinases 2022, Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, 2/11/2022

Targeting RSK4 prevents both chemoresistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer

Invited presentation, BCA/BACG Spring Meeting, 30/3/2021

Targeting RSK4 prevents both chemoresistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer

FEBS Congress 2019, Krakow, Poland, 10/7/2019

Targeting hnRNPA1 for the treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Invited presentation, 6th EEMaX Symposium, Norwich, United Kingdom, 12/12/2018

Purification of protein kinases for structural studies

Invited presentation, AKTA user day, Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 21/9/2018

The black sheep of the p90 ribosomal kinase family: RSK4

Invited presentation, 5th EEMaX Symposium, 5th EEMaX Symposium, Colchester, United Kingdom, 20/12/2016

Interaction of BiP and ER stress transducers is disrupted by unfolded proteins causing UPR activation.

16th International MST Meeting, 16th International MST Meeting, Munich, Germany, 18/6/2015

Phosphoregulation of human Ire1 RNase splicing activity.

CSB Open Day, CSB Open Day, London, United Kingdom, 6/6/2014

Phosphoregulation of human Ire1 RNase splicing activity.

Molecular Chaperones and Stress Responses, Molecular Chaperones and Stress Responses, Cold Spring Harbor, United States, 5/2014

Biochemical and Biophysical characterisation of c-IRE1 alpha

OPPF-MPL HTP Protein Production and Crystallization, Harwell, United Kingdom, 4/2011

Insights into the structure of an IscS/IscU/CyaY complex.

Invited presentation, Frataxin meeting, London, United Kingdom, 5/2010

Understanding the iron-sulphur cluster machinery: Characterization of the E. coli IscS/IscU complex.

IIX CCPN meeting, Penrith, United Kingdom, 8/2008

Key features of EF-HAND superfamily structure using paramagnetic probe.

XXXVII National NMR Congress, Verbania Pallanza, Italy, 9/2007

Dimerization of alpha-bungarotoxin monitored by paramagnetic probes: a new approach for protein-protein interaction studies.

Invited presentation, XXXVI National NMR Congress, Vietri Sul Mare, Italy, 9/2006

Teaching and supervision

Previous supervision

Kestutis Lapenas
Kestutis Lapenas
Thesis title: Of the Vulnerability of Orphan Proteins: The Case Study of the Arabidopsis Thaliana P70 Ribosomal S6 Kinase 2
Degree subject: Biochemistry
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 30/10/2023
Ryan James Cronin
Ryan James Cronin
Thesis title: A Mechanistic Approach to Understand the Role of P90 Ribosomal S6 Kinases in Prostate Cancer.
Degree subject: Biochemistry
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 21/8/2023
Ana Maria Isac
Ana Maria Isac
Thesis title: Characterisation of the Unfolded Protein Response in Prostate Cancer, and Investigation of the Atf6 Interactome Using a Modified Mammalian Expression System.
Degree subject: Cell and Molecular Biology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 20/4/2022
Billy Eric Murphy
Billy Eric Murphy
Thesis title: Arabidopsis Thaliana Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinase 1 (Ats6K1) Mediates Abiotic Stress Responses.
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 4/11/2021
Emma Gillian Linda Stanton
Emma Gillian Linda Stanton
Thesis title: Structural Studies of Nectin 4 in Complex with Bespoke Anti-Cancer Peptides.
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 1/7/2021
Georgia Taylor
Georgia Taylor
Thesis title: Development of Specific Inhibitors That Prevent Hnrnpa1-Mediated Therapy Resistance in Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 21/6/2021
Louise Elizabeth Dunnett
Louise Elizabeth Dunnett
Thesis title: Understanding and Targeting the Fgf2/S6K2 Signal Pathway in Small Cell Lung Cancer Towards the Development of Novel Anti-Cancer Treatments
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 3/7/2020
Ryan James Cronin
Ryan James Cronin
Thesis title: The Role of P90 Ribosomal S6 Kinases (Rsks) in Steroid Receptor Signalling
Degree subject: Biochemistry
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 28/6/2019

Publications

Publications (2)

Cronin, R., Azadova, A., Marco, A., Laissue, PP., Brooke, GN. and Prischi, F., (2024). The p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinases 2 and 4 promote Prostate Cancer cell proliferation in androgen-dependent and independent ways

Roucairol, M., Georgiou, A., Cazenave, T., Prischi, F. and Pardo, OE., (2024). DrugSynthMC: an atom based generation of drug-like molecules with Monte Carlo Search

Journal articles (35)

Roucairol, M., Georgiou, A., Cazenave, T., Prischi, F. and Pardo, OE., (2024). DrugSynthMC: An Atom-Based Generation of Drug-like Molecules with Monte Carlo Search. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling. 64 (18), 7097-7107

Prischi, F., Jarvis, J. and Conte, MR., (2024). Meeting reports. The Biochemist. 46 (4), 45-45

Barbera, S., Raucci, L., Tassone, G., Tinti, L., Prischi, F., Santucci, A., Mongiat, M., Tosi, GM., Galvagni, F., Dimberg, A., Pozzi, C. and Orlandini, M., (2023). Dimerization of the C-type lectin-like receptor CD93 promotes its binding to Multimerin-2 in endothelial cells.. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 224, 453-464

Hough, MA., Prischi, F. and Worrall, JAR., (2023). Perspective: Structure determination of protein-ligand complexes at room temperature using X-ray diffraction approaches. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 10, 1113762-

Trampari, E., Prischi, F., Vargiu, A., Abi-Assaf, J., Bavro, V. and Webber, M., (2023). Functionally distinct mutations within AcrB underpin antibiotic resistance in different lifestyles.. npj Antimicrobials and Resistance. 1 (1), 2-

Corrales-Guerrero, L., Prischi, F. and Díaz-Moreno, I., (2023). Editorial: Weak interactions in molecular machinery volume II. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 10, 1284353-

Galderisi, S., Milella, MS., Rossi, M., Cicaloni, V., Rossi, R., Giustarini, D., Spiga, O., Tinti, L., Salvini, L., Tinti, C., Braconi, D., Millucci, L., Lupetti, P., Prischi, F., Bernardini, G. and Santucci, A., (2022). Homogentisic acid induces autophagy alterations leading to chondroptosis in human chondrocytes: Implications in Alkaptonuria. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 717, 109137-109137

Obomighie, I., Lapenas, K., Murphy, BE., Bowles, AMC., Bechtold, U. and Prischi, F., (2021). The Role of Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases in Plant Homeostasis. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 8, 636560-

Deganutti, G., Prischi, F. and Reynolds, CA., (2021). Supervised molecular dynamics for exploring the druggability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design. 35 (2), 195-207

Prischi, F. and Filippakopoulos, P., (2021). Editorial: Structural Studies of Protein Complexes in Signaling Pathways. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 8, 641932-

Cronin, R., Brooke, GN. and Prischi, F., (2021). The role of the p90 ribosomal S6 kinase family in prostate cancer progression and therapy resistance. Oncogene. 40 (22), 3775-3785

Chrysostomou, S., Roy, R., Prischi, F., Thamlikitkul, L., Chapman, KL., Mufti, U., Peach, R., Ding, L., Hancock, D., Moore, C., Molina-Arcas, M., Mauri, F., Pinato, DJ., Abrahams, JM., Ottaviani, S., Castellano, L., Giamas, G., Pascoe, J., Moonamale, D., Pirrie, S., Gaunt, C., Billingham, L., Steven, NM., Cullen, M., Hrouda, D., Winkler, M., Post, J., Cohen, P., Salpeter, SJ., Bar, V., Zundelevich, A., Golan, S., Leibovici, D., Lara, R., Klug, DR., Yaliraki, SN., Barahona, M., Wang, Y., Downward, J., Skehel, JM., Ali, MMU., Seckl, MJ. and Pardo, OE., (2021). Repurposed floxacins targeting RSK4 prevent chemoresistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer. Science Translational Medicine. 13 (602), eaba4627-

Trezza, A., Iovinelli, D., Santucci, A., Prischi, F. and Spiga, O., (2020). An integrated drug repurposing strategy for the rapid identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 viral inhibitors. Scientific Reports. 10 (1), 13866-

Brooke, GN. and Prischi, F., (2020). Structural and functional modelling of SARS-CoV-2 entry in animal models. Scientific Reports. 10 (1), 15917-

Spiga, O., Cicaloni, V., Fiorini, C., Trezza, A., Visibelli, A., Millucci, L., Bernardini, G., Bernini, A., Marzocchi, B., Braconi, D., Prischi, F. and Santucci, A., (2020). Machine learning application for development of a data-driven predictive model able to investigate quality of life scores in a rare disease. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 15 (1), 46-

Zabet, NR., Catoni, M., Prischi, F. and Paszkowski, J., (2017). Cytosine methylation at CpCpG sites triggers accumulation of non-CpG methylation in gene bodies. Nucleic Acids Research. 45 (7), gkw1330-gkw1330

Prischi, F. and Pastore, A., (2017). Hybrid Methods in Iron-Sulfur Cluster Biogenesis. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 4 (12), 12-

Prischi, F. and Pastore, A., (2016). Application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Hybrid Methods to Structure Determination of Complex Systems. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR PROTEIN COMPLEX PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION. 896, 351-368

Carrara, M., Prischi, F., Nowak, PR., Kopp, MC. and Ali, MMU., (2015). Noncanonical binding of BiP ATPase domain to Ire1 and Perk is dissociated by unfolded protein CH1 to initiate ER stress signaling. eLife. 4 (4)

Popovic, M., Sanfelice, D., Pastore, C., Prischi, F., Temussi, PA. and Pastore, A., (2015). Selective observation of the disordered import signal of a globular protein by in‐cell NMR: The example of frataxins. Protein Science. 24 (6), 996-1003

Carrara, M., Prischi, F., Nowak, PR. and Ali, MMU., (2015). Crystal structures reveal transient PERK luminal domain tetramerization in endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling. The EMBO Journal. 34 (11), 1589-1600

Prischi, F., Nowak, PR., Carrara, M. and Ali, MMU., (2014). Phosphoregulation of Ire1 RNase splicing activity. Nature Communications. 5 (1), 3554-

Carrara, M., Prischi, F. and Ali, M., (2013). UPR Signal Activation by Luminal Sensor Domains. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 14 (3), 6454-6466

Bernini, A., Spiga, O., Venditti, V., Prischi, F., Botta, M., Croce, G., Tong, AP-L., Wong, W-T. and Niccolai, N., (2012). The use of a ditopic Gd(III) paramagnetic probe for investigating α-bungarotoxin surface accessibility. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. 112, 25-31

Prischi, F., Konarev, PV., Iannuzzi, C., Pastore, C., Adinolfi, S., Martin, SR., Svergun, DI. and Pastore, A., (2010). Structural bases for the interaction of frataxin with the central components of iron–sulphur cluster assembly. Nature Communications. 1 (1), 95-

Prischi, F., Pastore, C., Carroni, M., Iannuzzi, C., Adinolfi, S., Temussi, P. and Pastore, A., (2010). Of the vulnerability of orphan complex proteins: The case study of the E. coli IscU and IscS proteins. Protein Expression and Purification. 73 (2), 161-166

Prischi, F., Giannini, C., Adinolfi, S. and Pastore, A., (2009). The N‐terminus of mature human frataxin is intrinsically unfolded. The FEBS Journal. 276 (22), 6669-6676

Adinolfi, S., Iannuzzi, C., Prischi, F., Pastore, C., Iametti, S., Martin, SR., Bonomi, F. and Pastore, A., (2009). Bacterial frataxin CyaY is the gatekeeper of iron-sulfur cluster formation catalyzed by IscS. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. 16 (4), 390-396

Bernini, A., Venditti, V., Spiga, O., Ciutti, A., Prischi, F., Consonni, R., Zetta, L., Arosio, I., Fusi, P., Guagliardi, A. and Niccolai, N., (2008). NMR studies on the surface accessibility of the archaeal protein Sso7d by using TEMPOL and Gd(III)(DTPA-BMA) as paramagnetic probes. Biophysical Chemistry. 137 (2-3), 71-75

Venditti, V., Bernini, A., De Simone, A., Spiga, O., Prischi, F. and Niccolai, N., (2007). MD and NMR studies of α-bungarotoxin surface accessibility. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 356 (1), 114-117

Bernini, A., Spiga, O., Venditti, V., Prischi, F., Bracci, L., Tong, AP-L., Wong, W-T. and Niccolai, N., (2006). NMR Studies of Lysozyme Surface Accessibility by Using Different Paramagnetic Relaxation Probes. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 128 (29), 9290-9291

Spiga, O., Padula, MG., Scarselli, M., Ciutti, A., Bernini, A., Venditti, V., Prischi, F., Falciani, C., Lozzi, L., Bracci, L., Valensin, PE., Caudai, C. and Niccolai, N., (2006). Structurally Driven Selection of Human Hepatitis C Virus Mimotopes. Antiviral Therapy. 11 (7), 917-922

Bernini, A., Spiga, O., Venditti, V., Prischi, F., Bracci, L., Huang, J., Tanner, JA. and Niccolai, N., (2006). Tertiary structure prediction of SARS coronavirus helicase. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 343 (4), 1101-1104

Bernini, A., Spiga, O., Ciutti, A., Venditti, V., Prischi, F., Governatori, M., Bracci, L., Lelli, B., Pileri, S., Botta, M., Barge, A., Laschi, F. and Niccolai, N., (2006). NMR studies of BPTI aggregation by using paramagnetic relaxation reagents. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics. 1764 (5), 856-862

Spiga, O., Bernini, A., Ciutti, A., Chiellini, S., Menciassi, N., Finetti, F., Causarono, V., Anselmi, F., Prischi, F. and Niccolai, N., (2003). Molecular modelling of S1 and S2 subunits of SARS coronavirus spike glycoprotein. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 310 (1), 78-83

Conferences (2)

Prischi, F., Chrysostomou, S., Roy, R., Chapman, K., Mufti, U., Peach, R., Ding, L., Mauri, F., Bellezza, G., Cagini, L., Barbareschi, M., Ferrero, S., Abrahams, J., Ottaviani, S., Castellano, L., Giamas, G., Pascoe, J., Moonamale, D., Billingham, L., Cullen, M., Hrouda, D., Winkler, M., Klug, D., Yaliraki, S., Barahona, M., Wang, Y., Ali, M., Seckl, M. and Pardo, O., (2019). Targeting RSK4 prevents both chemoresistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer

Chrysostomou, S., Roy, R., Prischi, F., Chapman, K., Mufti, U., Mauri, F., Bellezza, G., Abrahams, J., Ottaviani, S., Castellano, L., Giamas, G., Hrouda, D., Winkler, M., Klug, D., Yaliraki, S., Barahona, M., Wang, Y., Ali, M., Seckl, M. and Pardo, O., (2019). Targeting RSK4 prevents both chemoresistance and metastasis in lung cancer

Reports and Papers (5)

Deganutti, G., Prischi, F. and Reynolds, CA., (2020). Supervised molecular dynamics for exploring the druggability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

Trezza, A., Iovinelli, D., Prischi, F., Santucci, A. and Spiga, O., (2020). An integrated drug repurposing strategy for the rapid identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 viral inhibitors

Brooke, GN. and Prischi, F., (2020). Structural and functional modelling of SARS-CoV-2 entry in animal models

Trampari, E., Holden, ER., Wickham, GJ., Ravi, A., Prischi, F., de Oliveira Martins, L., Savva, GM., Bavro, VN. and Webber, MA., (2019). Antibiotics select for novel pathways of resistance in biofilms

Bernini, A., Venditti, V., Spiga, O., Prischi, F., Botta, M., Tong, AP-L., Wong, W-T. and Niccola, N., (2011). The surface accessibility of α-bungarotoxin monitored by a novel paramagnetic probe

Dataset (11)

Spiga, O., Bernini, A., Ciutti, A., Chiellini, S., Prischi, F., Venditti, V. and Niccolai, N., Theoretical model of H4 influenza virus

Spiga, O., Bernini, A., Ciutti, A., Chiellini, S., Prischi, F., Venditti, V. and Niccolai, N., Human Influenza B virus trimer structure

Spiga, O., Bernini, A., Ciutti, A., Chiellini, S., Prischi, F., Venditti, V. and Niccolai, N., H5 influenza trimer structure

SPIGA, O., BERNINI, A., CIUTTI, A., CHIELLINI, S., Menciassi, N., Finetti, F., Causarono, V., Anselmi, F., PRISCHI, F. and NICCOLAI, N., S2 SUBUNIT MODEL OF SARS CORONAVIRUS S PROTEIN

Spiga, O., Bernini, A., Prischi, F., Venditti, V., Huang, JD. and Niccolai, N., Theoretical model of SARS Coronavirus helicase

Spiga, O., Bernini, A., Ciutti, A., Chiellini, S., Prischi, F. and Niccolai, N., S1 subunit model of SARS coronavirus S protein

Carrara, M., Prischi, F. and Ali, MMU., Crystal structures reveal transient PERK luminal domain tetramerization in ER stress signaling

Carrara, M., Prischi, F. and Ali, MMU., Crystal structures reveal transient PERK luminal domain tetramerization in ER stress signaling

Prischi, F. and Ali, MM., RSK4 N-terminal Kinase Domain in complex with AMP-PNP

Prischi, F. and Ali, MM., Phosphorylated RSK4 N-terminal Kinase Domain in complex with AMP-PNP

Prischi, F. and Ali, MM., RSK4 N-terminal Kinase Domain S232E in complex with AMP-PNP

Grants and funding

2019

Development of novel cancer treatments: structural studies of Nectin 4 in complex with bespoke anti-cancer peptides

Bicycle Therapeutics

Development of specific inhibitors that prevent hnRNPA1-mediated therapy resistance in small cell lung cancer.

University of Essex (EIRA/Research England)

2018

Flipping the switch; regulating protein synthesis in response to stress

Leverhulme Trust

2016

Phosphoregulation of Transcription Factors in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Wellcome Trust

Contact

fprischi@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 873370

Location:

3SW.5.03, Colchester Campus

Academic support hours:

Open door policy