Gino Cingolani
Papers
1
Total Citations
6
H-Index
1
About
Gino Cingolani is a structural biologist whose research centers on the molecular machinery of viral infection, with a particular focus on bacteriophages and the mechanisms by which they package and deliver their genetic material. His major contributions lie in elucidating the three-dimensional structures of viral proteins that are critical for capsid assembly and DNA stabilization. In his notable work on the bacteriophage P22 tail accessory factor gp26, Cingolani revealed that this protein, essential for stabilizing viral DNA within the mature capsid, exists as an extended triple-stranded coiled-coil. This finding was striking because it demonstrated profound structural similarities between a phage accessory factor and class I viral membrane-fusion proteins, suggesting a conserved evolutionary architecture across diverse viral systems. Although his most-cited paper has garnered 6 citations, the conceptual impact of his structural insights has informed subsequent studies on viral entry and assembly mechanisms. Cingolani’s work exemplifies how detailed crystallographic analysis can uncover unexpected homologies, bridging the gap between simple bacteriophage models and more complex eukaryotic viruses.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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