Duilio Cascio
Papers
1
Total Citations
120
H-Index
1
About
Duilio Cascio is a structural biologist whose work has profoundly illuminated the molecular mechanisms of ion transport and signaling. His research centers on X-ray crystallography, with key contributions to understanding calcium-binding proteins and membrane transporters. Cascio’s most notable achievement is the 2006 crystal structure of the primary Ca²⁺ sensor (CBD1) of the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger, a critical regulator of calcium homeostasis in cardiac myocytes. This landmark study, cited over 120 times, revealed a novel Ca²⁺ binding motif and explained how calcium binding triggers the exchanger’s activity, offering fundamental insights into heart muscle contraction and arrhythmia mechanisms. Beyond this, Cascio has made significant contributions to the structural biology of bacterial toxins, neurotransmitter transporters, and other membrane proteins. His work consistently provides atomic-level views that bridge biochemistry and physiology, earning him a reputation for solving challenging structures with high impact. For students and researchers, Cascio exemplifies how precise structural determination can unravel the mechanistic basis of essential biological processes, from cellular signaling to disease pathology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1