Giovanni Pasquini

Mr. Giovanni Pasquini


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 October 2021 in Cell Stem Cell
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
EGElke Gabriel
Elke Gabriel
WAWalid Albanna
Walid Albanna
GPGiovanni Pasquini
Giovanni Pasquini
ARAnand Ramani
Anand Ramani
NJNatasa Josipovic
Natasa Josipovic
JGJay Gopalakrishnan
Jay Gopalakrishnan

17 May 2023 in Nature Protocols
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
EGElke Gabriel
Elke Gabriel
WAWalid Albanna
Walid Albanna
GPGiovanni Pasquini
Giovanni Pasquini
ARAnand Ramani
Anand Ramani
NJNatasa Josipovic
Natasa Josipovic
JGJay Gopalakrishnan
Jay Gopalakrishnan

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GPGiovanni Pasquini
Giovanni Pasquini
VCVirginia Cora
Virginia Cora
ASAnka Swiersy
Anka Swiersy
KEVIN ACHBERGERKEVIN ACHBERGER
KEVIN ACHBERGER
LALena Antkowiak
Lena Antkowiak
VBVolker Busskamp
Volker Busskamp
Mutations in more than 200 retina-specific genes have been associated with inherited retinal diseases. Genome editing represents a promising emerging field in the treatment of monogenic disorders, as it aims to correct disease-causing mutations within the genome. Genome editing relies on highly specific endonucleases and the capacity of the cells to repair double-strand breaks (DSBs). As DSB pathways are cell-cycle dependent, their activity in postmitotic retinal neurons, with a focus on photoreceptors, needs to be assessed in order to develop therapeutic in vivo genome editing. Three DSB-repair pathways are found in mammalian cells: Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ); microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ); and homology-directed repair (HDR). While NHEJ can be used to knock out mutant alleles in dominant disorders, HDR and MMEJ are better suited for precise genome editing, or for replacing entire mutation hotspots in genomic regions. Here, we analyzed transcriptomic in vivo and in vitro data and revealed that HDR is indeed downregulated in postmitotic neurons, whereas MMEJ and NHEJ are active. Using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we characterized the dynamics of DSB repair pathways in the transition from dividing cells to postmitotic retinal cells. Time-course bulk RNA-seq data confirmed DSB repair gene expression in both in vivo and in vitro samples. Transcriptomic DSB repair pathway profiles are very similar in adult human, macaque, and mouse retinas, but not in ground squirrel retinas. Moreover, human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived neurons and retinal organoids can serve as well suited in vitro testbeds for developing genomic engineering approaches in photoreceptors. Our study provides additional support for designing precise in vivo genome-editing approaches via MMEJ, which is active in mature photoreceptors.