Piano Lab
Research at the CMMC
We study how cells divide by zooming in on mitochondria, the tiny but mighty powerhouses of the cell. Our work links structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology to uncover how mitochondrial dynamics are regulated during the cell cycle and mitosis. When these processes fail, cells age, die, or become unstable. Using reconstitution, microscopy, and cell-based assays, we explore how organelles are organized and inherited during division.
Selected Publications
- Piano V. Multitasking Proteins: Exploring Noncanonical Functions of Proteins during Mitosis. (2025) Biochemistry 64(10):2123-2137.
DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5c00083 - Chen C.*, Piano V.*, Alex A., Han S.J.Y., Huis In 't Veld P.J., Roy B., Fergle D., Musacchio A., Joglekar A.P. (2023) The structural flexibility of MAD1 facilitates the assembly of the Mitotic Checkpoint Complex. Nat Commun 14: 1529.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37235-z - Piano V.#, Alex A., Stege P., Maffini S., Stoppiello G.A., Huis in ’t Veld P.J., Vetter I.R., Musacchio A.# (2021) CDC20 assists its catalytic incorporation in the mitotic checkpoint complex. Science 371: 67–71.
DOI: 10.1126/science.abc1152