A. Barca

Università Del Salento, DiSTeBA, senior researcher

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Dr. Barca graduated in Biological Sciences at University of Salento, with experimental training in the General Physiology Laboratory where, since 2002, he has been studying transport systems involved in solute translocation across cell membranes, and the fate of the transported substrates. He received his PhD degree in Biology and Biotechnologies (University of Salento) in 2007. As post-doc researcher, he investigated the cross-linking between solute uptake, gene expression and cytotoxicity triggered by extracellular stimuli. During 2012, he was visiting researcher at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT, Kochi, Kerala, India), as expert of gene expression/function in nutrient absorption processes through epithelial cell membranes. Currently, Dr. Barca is investigating homeostatic substrates i.e. small peptides and ions (and related carriers), which intertwined networking properties are crucial in degenerative/ageing onsets in mammalian cells. In this context, Dr. Barca’s research issues meet some translational targets such as CNS, PNS and osteochondral regeneration, by combining analysis of homeostatic dynamics with tissue-engineering approaches.

Research interests:

Molecular physiology of metabolic substrates (i.e. small peptides, metal ions)
Neurodegeneration and regeneration onsets
Regulatory mechanisms of gene expression
Vertebrate models and protocol design
Cytotoxicity and Cytocompatibility
Homeostasis balance/imbalance

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A rapid and inexpensive method to assay transport of short chain peptides across intestinal brush‐border membrane vesicles from the European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

ABSTRACT Membrane potential depolarization due to electrogenic peptide transport activity was exa... more ABSTRACT Membrane potential depolarization due to electrogenic peptide transport activity was examined in eel (Anguilla anguilla) intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) by monitoring the fluorescence quenching of the voltage-sensitive dye 3,3&#39;-diethylthiadicarbocyanine iodide. Our experimental approach consisted of generating an internal negative membrane potential mimicking in vivo conditions and measuring membrane potential depolarization due to different extravesicular dipeptides. Peptide-dependent membrane potential depolarization was observed in both the presence and absence of extravesicular Na+ and was inhibited by diethylpyrocarbonate, which is consistent with the involvement of electrogenic, Na+-independent, H+-dependent peptide transport activity. Kinetic analysis indicated that peptide-dependent membrane potential depolarization is a saturable process (K-m,K-app similar to 1.5 mmol L-1) and that within the 0.1-10 mmol L-1 peptide range a single carrier system is involved in the transport process. Our results suggest that a peptide transport activity, kinetically resembling the PepT1(Slc15A1)-type-mediated H+/peptide cotransport action, can be monitored in eel intestinal BBMV using an easy and inexpensive fluorescence assay.

The high-affinity peptide transporter PEPT2 (SLC15A2) of the zebrafish Danio rerio: functional properties, genomic organization and expression analysis

A. Barca

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