Assistant Professor, Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare ‘L. Califano’, Università di Napoli Federico II.

Research interests
The laboratory focuses on the mechanisms regulating the activation of the transcription factor NF-kB. The main interest is the molecular mechanism by which signals initiated by members of the TNF and IL-1/Toll receptor families are transmitted inside the cells. In particular, attempts are being made to identify the proteins that are involved in transmitting these signals to activate the NF-kB transcription factors. Using a yeast two-hybrid system the group identified CIKS, a new protein that physically and functionally interacts with NEMO to signal the IkB kinase complex.
Current research concerns the structural domains and the molecular mechanisms regulating the functions of CIKS. The group is also trying to elucidate the signaling pathway that originates from the endoplasmic reticulum, and activates a stress response.

Selected publications
Leonardi A, Chariot A, Claudio-Vasquez E, Cunningham K, Siebenlist U. CIKS, a novel connection to IkB-Kinase and Stress-activated Protein Kinase. Proc Natl Academ Science 2000;97:10494-9.

Leonardi A, Vito P, Mauro C, Pacifico F, Ulianich L, Consiglio E, Formisano S, Di Jeso B. Endoplasmic reticulum stress causes Thyroglobulin retention in this organelle and triggers activation of NF-kB via TNF-Receptor Associated Factor 2 (TRAF2). Endocrinology 2002;143:2169-77.

Leonardi A, Chariot A, Muller J, Bonif M, Brown K, Siebenlist U. Association of the adaptor TANK with the Ikappa B kinase (IKK) regulator NEMO connects IKK complexes with IKKepsilon and TBK1 kinases. J Biol Chem 2002;277:37029-36.

Stilo R, Liguoro D, Di Jeso B, Formisano S, Consiglio E, Leonardi A, Vito P. Physical and functional interaction of CARMA1 and 3 with NEMO/IKKÿJ Biol Chem 2004;279:34323-331.

Pacifico F, Mauro C, Barone C, Crescenzi E, Mellone S, Monaco M, Chiappetta G, Terrazzano G, Liguoro D, Vito P, Consiglio E, Formisano S, Leonardi A. Oncogenic and anti apoptotoc activity of NF-kB in human thyroid carcinomas. J Biol Chem 2004, in press.