Prof. Dr. Sebastiano Vasi
Dipartimento MIFT, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
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Academic Career Length
15Years (2012-Present)
(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)
Representative Publications
View All Publications8 March 2016 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Journal Article
Francesco Mallamace
Carmelo Corsaro
Domenico MallamaceSebastiano VasiCVCirino Vasi
Cirino Vasi
H. Eugene Stanley +3
We use 1H NMR to probe the energy landscape in the protein folding and unfolding process. Using the scheme
<mml:math><mml:mo>⇄</mml:mo></mml:math>⇄ reversible unfolded (intermediate) <mml:math><mml:mo>→</mml:mo></mml:math>→ irreversible unfolded (denatured) state, we study the thermal denaturation of hydrated lysozyme that occurs when the temperature is increased. Using thermal cycles in the range <mml:math><mml:mrow><mml:mn>295</mml:mn><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mi>T</mml:mi><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mn>365</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>295<T<365 K and following different trajectories along the protein energy surface, we observe that the hydrophilic (the amide NH) and hydrophobic (methyl CH3 and methine CH) peptide groups evolve and exhibit different behaviors. We also discuss the role of water and hydrogen bonding in the protein configurational stability.15 November 2014 in Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
Journal Article
Francesco MallamaceCarmelo CorsaroDomenico MallamaceSebastiano VasiCVCirino Vasi
Cirino Vasi
GDGiacomo Dugo
Giacomo DugoThe role the solvent plays in determining the biological activity of proteins is of primary importance. Water is the solvent of life and proteins need at least a water monolayer covering their surface in order to become biologically active. We study how the properties of water and the effect of its coupling with the hydrophilic moieties of proteins govern the regime of protein activity. In particular we follow, by means of Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, the thermal evolution of the amide vibrational modes of hydrated lysozyme in the temperature interval 180 K < T < 350 K. In such a way we are able to observe the thermal limit of biological activity characterizing hydrated lysozyme. Finally we focus on the region of lysozyme thermal denaturation by following the evolution of the proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra for 298 K < T < 366 K with the High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning probe. Our data suggest that the hydrogen bond coupling between hydration water and protein hydrophilic groups is crucial in triggering the main mechanisms that define the enzymatic activity of proteins.
8 April 2014 in Nature Communications
Journal Article
MDM. G. Donato
M. G. Donato
JHJ. Hernandez
J. HernandezAMAlfredo Mazzulla
Alfredo MazzullaCPC. Provenzano
C. Provenzano
RSR. Saija
R. Saija
GCGabriella Cipparrone
Gabriella Cipparrone +7
Chirality is one of the most prominent and intriguing aspects of nature, from spiral galaxies down to aminoacids. Despite the wide range of living and non-living, natural and artificial chiral systems at different scales, the origin of chirality-induced phenomena is often puzzling. Here we assess the onset of chiral optomechanics, exploiting the control of the interaction between chiral entities. We perform an experimental and theoretical investigation of the simultaneous optical trapping and rotation of spherulite-like chiral microparticles. Due to their shell structure (Bragg dielectric resonator), the microparticles function as omnidirectional chiral mirrors yielding highly polarization-dependent optomechanical effects. The coupling of linear and angular momentum, mediated by the optical polarization and the microparticles chiral reflectance, allows for fine tuning of chirality-induced optical forces and torques. This offers tools for optomechanics, optical sorting and sensing and optofluidics.
8 August 2012 in Optics Letters
Journal Article
MDM. G. Donato
M. G. DonatoSebastiano VasiRSR. Sayed
R. Sayed
Philip JonesFBFrancesco Bonaccorso
Francesco BonaccorsoOMOnofrio Marago
Onofrio Marago +2
We use laser beams with radial and azimuthal polarization to optically trap carbon nanotubes. We measure force constants and trap parameters as a function of power showing improved axial trapping efficiency with respect to linearly polarized beams. The analysis of the thermal fluctuations highlights a significant change in the optical trapping potential when using cylindrical vector beams. This enables the use of polarization states to shape optical traps according to the particle geometry, as well as paving the way to nanoprobe-based photonic force microscopy with increased performance compared to a standard linearly polarized configuration.
12 February 2015 in Natural Product Research
Journal Article
Nicola CiceroCarmelo Corsaro
Andrea SalvoSebastiano Vasi
Salvatore GiofrèGDGiacomo Dugo
Giacomo Dugo +3
We have studied by means of High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (HR-MAS NMR) the metabolic profile of the famous Sicilian lemon known as 'Interdonato Lemon of Messina PGI’. The PGI Interdonato Lemon of Messina possesses high organoleptic and healthy properties and is recognised as one of the most nutrient fruits. In particular, some of its constituents are actively studied for their chemo-preventive and therapeutic properties. In this paper, we have determined by means of HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy the molar concentration of the main metabolites constituent the juice of PGI Interdonato Lemon of Messina in comparison with that of the not-PGI Interdonato Lemon of Turkey. Our aim is to develop an analytical technique, in order to determine a metabolic fingerprint able to reveal commercial frauds in national and international markets.
1 October 2015 in Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry
Journal Article
Carmelo CorsaroDomenico MallamaceSebastiano VasiGCGaetano Cammilleri
Gaetano CammilleriGDGiacomo Dugo
Giacomo DugoNicola CiceroNMR spectroscopy has become an experimental technique widely used in food science. The experimental procedures that allow precise and quantitative analysis on different foods are relatively simple. For a better sensitivity and resolution, NMR spectroscopy is usually applied to liquid sample by means of extraction procedures that can be addressed to the observation of particular compounds. For the study of semisolid systems such as intact tissues, High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) has received great attention within the biomedical area and beyond. Metabolic profiling and metabolism changes can be investigated both in animal organs and in foods. In this work we present a proton HR-MAS NMR study on the typical vegetable foods of Mediterranean diet such as the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) cherry tomato of Pachino, the PGI Interdonato lemon of Messina, several Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) extra virgin olive oils from Sicily, and the Traditional Italian Food Product (PAT) red garlic of Nubia. We were able to identify and quantify the main metabolites within the studied systems that can be used for their characterization and authentication.
About Me
Sebastiano Vasi received a B.Sc., a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. degrees in Physics from the University of Messina, Italy, in 2010, 2013, and 2017, respectively. His expertise is on experimental physics of matter and applied physics ranging from the optical trapping of nanostructures to the thermodynamic study of the interaction between water and biological molecules, and from the characterization of cultural heritage for studies on their degradation and maintenance to the study of quality and geographical origin of foods. His current research interests include spectroscopic investigation of complex systems, the optimization of experimental setups aiming to improve their performances and the quality of scientific researches, environmental physics, materials' science, sensors, virtual learning environment of Physics and the creation of simplified and biologically plausible computational models that include astroglial dynamics.
He has authored and co-authored at least 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 3 book chapters. He has participated in several national and international conferences and schools, also organizing various events and participating in scientific dissemination activities.