Research Interests:

The overall goal of my research is the elucidation of the molecular details underlying Ca2+ regulation and dysregulation in muscle cells. Currently I am focusing on the structural and functional characterization of two key membrane proteins involved in muscle contraction and relaxation: phospholamban and sarcoplasmic Ca-ATPase. These proteins are heterologously expressed, purified and functionally reconstitued in detergent micelles or in lipid bilayers. Solution and Solid State NMR are the main techniques employed in these studies.

Education:

2005-present	Ph.D. Student, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Dr. Gianluigi Veglia, Advisor
2004-2005	M.S. Environmental Microbiology, University of Tuscia, Viterbo ( Italy ) Dr. Maurizio Petruccioli, Advisor
2000-2005	B.S. Environmental Science, University of Tuscia, Viterbo ( Italy )

Research Positions:

2005-present	Graduate Research Assistant University of Minnesota Twin Cities Department of Chemistry Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics
2004-2005	Graduate Research Assistant University of Tuscia, Viterbo (Italy) Department of Environmental Microbiology

Teaching Positions:

Fall 2007

Teaching Assistant Biol 1009: General Biology

Awards:

2008	Ross A. Gortner Award, BMBB, Unversity of Minnesota
2008	BMBB Travel Fellowship, Minneapolis, MN
2005-2006	INPDAP Ph.D. Fellowship, Rome (Italy)
2000-2004	A.di.s.u. Undergraduate Scholarship, Viterbo (Italy)

Publications:

Porcelli, F., Verardi, R., Shi, L., Henzler-Wildman, K.A., Ramamoorthy, A., Veglia, G., NMR Structure of the Cathelicidin-derived Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL37 in Dodecylphosphocholine Micelles, Biochemistry, 2008, 47, 20, 5565-72.

Traaseth, N.J., Ha, K.N., Verardi, R., Shi, L., Buffy, J.J, Masterson, L.R., Veglia, G., Structural and Dynamic Basis of Phospholamban and Sarcolipin Inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase, Biochemistry, 2008, 47, 1, 3-13.

Traaseth, N.J., Verardi, R., Veglia, G., Asymmetric Methyl Group Labeling as a Probe of Membrane Protein Homo-oligomers by NMR Spectroscopy, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130, 8, 2400-01.

Ha, K.N., Traaseth, N.J., Verardi, R., Zamoon, J., Cembran, A., Karim, C.B., Thomas, D.D., Veglia, G., Controlling the Inhibition of the Sarcoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase by Tuning Phospholamban Structural Dynamics,J. Biol. Chem., 2007, 282, 51, 37205-14.

Traaseth, N.J., Verardi, R., Torgersen, K.D., Karim, C.B., Thomas, D.D., Veglia, G., Spectroscopic Validation of the Pentameric Structure of Phospholamban, PNAS, 2007, 104, 37, 14676-81.

Posters:

High Resolution Structure of Penameric Phospholamban by Solution and Solid State Hybrid approach, Verardi R., Traaseth N. Shi L, Veglia G., ENC meeting, Pacific Grove, CA (Mar 2008)

High Resolution Structure of Penameric Phospholamban by Solution and Solid State Hybrid approach, Verardi R., Traaseth N. Shi L, Veglia G., Biophysical Society Meeting, Long Beach, CA (Feb 2008)

Spectroscopic Validation of the Pentameric Structure of Phospholamban, Verardi R, Traaseth NJ, Torgersen KD, Karim CB, Thomas DD, Veglia G., Keystone symposia, Steamboat, CO (Jan 2008)

Functional NMR Studies of the Structural Dynamics of Mutants of the Membrane Protein Phospholamban, Verardi R., Ha K., Traaseth N., Zamoon J., Veglia G., Biophysical Society Meeting, Baltimore, MD (2007)