2022
Local coordinator of the PhD School in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology (UniFE-UniFI-UniPR)
2020
Full professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Ferrara
2014-2020
Coordinator of the degree Courses in Biotechnology at Uni-FE
2014
National Scientific Qualification as full professor (sector 05/A2, Plant Physiology)
2010-2013
Secretary of the Italian Society of Plant Biology
2009-2010
Member of the Committee for the evaluation of research programs funded by Uni-FE
2007-2011
Member of the Scientific Committee of the Agro-Industrial Technology Park of Ferrara
2004-2005
Member of the National Committee for the appointment of permanent researchers in Plant Physiology
2004
Confirmed as Associate Professor
2001-2005
Head of the Evolutionary Biology Section of the Department of Biology
2000-2020
Associate Professor of Plant Physiology, University of Ferrara
1993-2000
Postdoctoral fellow at the Dept of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia
1992
Head of the Microbiology laboratory in Biotecnologica Ltd, associated company of the ENI holding
1992
PhD degree, full marks.
1989-1991
PhD fellow at UniPV
1985
MSc Degree in Biological Sciences, cum laude, at the University of Pavia
He is the author of 115 research papers and 7 reviews and editorials on ISI-ranked journals, 4 research papers and 2 reviews on other journals, 4 book chapters and 131 reports and congress abstracts. Considering the 122 publications ranked by ISI, these sum to a total IF of 343, with a mean IF per publication of 2.84.
Until March 10th, 2022, his papers were cited 2945 times on Scopus (2911 on ISI); H-index 31. Concerning the indicators of scientific qualification used in the ASN procedure (2021-2023), during the last 10 years he published 54 papers, and in the last 15 years his publications were cited 1614 times, with H-index 22, where the minimum values for qualification as full professor (and member of qualification committee) are 12 (12), 425 (520) and 12 (12), respectively.
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY
Research interests
Dr G. Forlani specialized in the field of Plant Biochemistry, focusing on different aspect of amino acid metabolism, performing research in both basic and applied science. In detail, he dealt with:
• Studies on enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis in higher plants and bacteria (activity, purification, localization inside the cell and in differing tissues, regulation and expression during development or in response to environmental stimuli).
• Selection and characterization of mutants tolerant to specific inhibitors and herbicides which act by interfering with amino acid pathways.
• Characterization of proline accumulation in plants under various types of stress. Modulation of proline synthesis/catabolism to improve drought and salt tolerance in crops.
• Investigation on selected aspects of aromatic metabolism during the response to biotic stress conditions and their use as a tool to select plant varieties with increased resistance to fungal pathogens.
• Screening for new herbicides targeting novel metabolic aspects, endowed with low environmental impact. Cloning of microbial genes coding for detoxifying enzymes and transfer of the selected traits into crops. Development of bioremediation plants.
Concerning studies on proline metabolism, he purified and characterized -for the first time from a plant source- P5C dehydrogenase, the enzyme that catalyses the second and last step in proline catabolism; two forms of the enzyme were shown in tobacco, one of which specifically involved in the catabolism of arginine. In collaboration with Dr D. Funck in Konstanz, the role of P5C dehydrogenase in determining the phytotoxic effect caused by the exogenous administration of proline has been elucidated, pointing out an unexpected possible role of proline metabolism in the plant cell response to pathogens. A similar characterization was carried out for P5C reductase, the enzyme at the converging point of the two pathways for proline biosynthesis in plants, which revealed a complex pattern of post-translational regulation based on substrate ambiguity (NADPH vs NADH as the electron donor), product inhibition, salt sensitivity and inhibition by the NADP+/NADPH ratio. More recently, the role of proline metabolism and of selected antioxidant enzymes in conferring differential tolerance to salt stress has been investigated in rice. The genes coding for the rice enzymes involved in proline metabolism have been cloned and expressed in heterologous systems. This allowed a thorough functional characterization of their activity, and the study of post-translational regulatory mechanisms. In collaboration with Dr M. Ruszkowski (Argonne, IL, USA), the structure of plant P5C reductase was resolved for the first time, and the protein was studied from phylogenetic and structural perspectives.
On the other hand, in collaboration with Prof P. Kafarski in Wrocław, several dozens phosphonates endowed with a remarkable biological activity were screened and characterized, leading to the identification of P5C reductase as a new target for herbicides. The electronic and steric properties required for the optimization of the biological activity were defined. For some of them a possible antibiotic and/or chemotherapic activity was also investigated.
Project leadership
National research programs
2011-2013: RISINNOVA Integrated Genetic and Genomic Approaches for New Italian Rice Breeding Strategies (http://www.progettoager.it/); duration: 36 months; role: head of Research Unit; title of the project: Biochemical analysis of key enzymes controlling salt stress response. In the frame of the project, a 2y research position was granted (Dr M. Bertazzini).
2010-2012: ALISAL, Miglioramento delle proprietà igienico-sanitarie, salutistiche e funzionali di commodity per l'alimentazione dell'uomo e/o degli animali; project funded by the Italian MiPAF; duration: 30 months; role: head of Research Unit; title of the project: Biochemical characterization of key-enzymes involved in carotenoids and phenolics accumulation in durum wheat and peach. In the frame of the project a 1y research position was granted (Dr S. Giberti).
PRIN 2006: Molecular bases and systemic signals in the plant response to pathogens: the model Rice - Magnaporthe grisea; duration: 24 months; role: head of Research Unit.
Local research programs
FAR 2001-3, 2004-5, 2006-7, 2008, 2009-11, 2012, 2013-14, 205, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020: Projects funded by the University of Ferrara following peer-review; role: principal investigator.
Technological transfer
2017: Co-owner of the Brazilian patent BR 10 2017 022746 4 “Análogos de Abenquinas, Processo de Obtenção, Composição Farmacêutica e Usos”.
2011-2012: Transnational agreement funded by the Human Capital Operational Programme of the European Community, aimed at an increase of knowledge transfer and strengthening the connections in R & D sector through the use of validation methods based on patterns of the program partners: University of Opole (Poland), University of Ferrara (Italy), Zschimmer & Schwarz Mohsdorf GmbH & Co (Germany). Within the frame of the project "Science for industry – industry with science" he was a member of the international expert panel organizing three Workshops in Poland and two study visits in Ferrara.
2010: Signature of a Research and Commercialization Agreement with Makhteshim Agan Italia for the development and validation of new active ingredient mixtures for the control of phytopathogenic fungi on horticultural crops.
2009-2010: Project of industrial research, experimental development and technology transfer SPINNER 2013: "Anti Pro", aimed at evaluating the use of specific inhibitors of proline biosynthesis as new antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Protocol 626/09. Joint venture with Genzyme srl.
2008-2009: Project of industrial research, experimental development and technology transfer SPINNER 2013: "To bee or not to bee", for the investigation of variability for amino acid content in nectar in rapeseed and its relationship with honeybee productivity; protocol 420/08. Technological transfer to Conapi (consortium of honey producers).
2002-2004: Endorsement of a Material Transfer, Research and Commercialization Agreement with Athenix Corp., Durham, NC, aimed at the identification and cloning from Penicillium chrysogenum of genes able to confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.
Internationalization
In 2001 he endorsed an Erasmus agreement with the Wroclaw University of Technology (PL), and in 2005 with the University of Opole (PL). Within the frame of these programs, he hosted 9 Polish master students and 2 PhD students in his lab, in some cases acting as thesis promoter in Poland. In 2002 he promoted a Cooperation Agreement between the University of Ferrara and the Wrocław University of Technology (PL), where in 2005 he spent a short period as visiting professor. In 2006 he endorsed an Agreement of Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation with the University of Konstanz (D).
Membership of Scientific Societies
Member of
the Italian Society of Plant Biology (formerly of Plant Physiology) (from 1987)
the Federation of the European Societies of Plant Biology (from 1988)
the Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics (1988-2004)
the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists (2008-19)
the American Society of Plant Biologists (from 2010).
Offices Held in Scientific Societies
Member of the National Board of the Italian Society of Plant Biology (2004-7, 2008-9 and 2022-23), and then National Secretary (2010-3).
Supervisor of PhD students
Since 2001 member of the Teaching board of the Doctoral School in Evolutionary Biology, where he was coordinator of the curriculum in Biotechnology. Tutor of 8 PhD students: A. Campani (2001), E. Mazzucotelli (2002), S. Barilli (2003), D. Petrollino (2007), S. Giberti and M. Bertazzini (2011), M. Zarattini (2015), G. Sabbioni (2019).
Local coordinator of the PhD School in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology (UniFE-UniFI-UniPR)
2020
Full professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Ferrara
2014-2020
Coordinator of the degree Courses in Biotechnology at Uni-FE
2014
National Scientific Qualification as full professor (sector 05/A2, Plant Physiology)
2010-2013
Secretary of the Italian Society of Plant Biology
2009-2010
Member of the Committee for the evaluation of research programs funded by Uni-FE
2007-2011
Member of the Scientific Committee of the Agro-Industrial Technology Park of Ferrara
2004-2005
Member of the National Committee for the appointment of permanent researchers in Plant Physiology
2004
Confirmed as Associate Professor
2001-2005
Head of the Evolutionary Biology Section of the Department of Biology
2000-2020
Associate Professor of Plant Physiology, University of Ferrara
1993-2000
Postdoctoral fellow at the Dept of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia
1992
Head of the Microbiology laboratory in Biotecnologica Ltd, associated company of the ENI holding
1992
PhD degree, full marks.
1989-1991
PhD fellow at UniPV
1985
MSc Degree in Biological Sciences, cum laude, at the University of Pavia
He is the author of 115 research papers and 7 reviews and editorials on ISI-ranked journals, 4 research papers and 2 reviews on other journals, 4 book chapters and 131 reports and congress abstracts. Considering the 122 publications ranked by ISI, these sum to a total IF of 343, with a mean IF per publication of 2.84.
Until March 10th, 2022, his papers were cited 2945 times on Scopus (2911 on ISI); H-index 31. Concerning the indicators of scientific qualification used in the ASN procedure (2021-2023), during the last 10 years he published 54 papers, and in the last 15 years his publications were cited 1614 times, with H-index 22, where the minimum values for qualification as full professor (and member of qualification committee) are 12 (12), 425 (520) and 12 (12), respectively.
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY
Research interests
Dr G. Forlani specialized in the field of Plant Biochemistry, focusing on different aspect of amino acid metabolism, performing research in both basic and applied science. In detail, he dealt with:
• Studies on enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis in higher plants and bacteria (activity, purification, localization inside the cell and in differing tissues, regulation and expression during development or in response to environmental stimuli).
• Selection and characterization of mutants tolerant to specific inhibitors and herbicides which act by interfering with amino acid pathways.
• Characterization of proline accumulation in plants under various types of stress. Modulation of proline synthesis/catabolism to improve drought and salt tolerance in crops.
• Investigation on selected aspects of aromatic metabolism during the response to biotic stress conditions and their use as a tool to select plant varieties with increased resistance to fungal pathogens.
• Screening for new herbicides targeting novel metabolic aspects, endowed with low environmental impact. Cloning of microbial genes coding for detoxifying enzymes and transfer of the selected traits into crops. Development of bioremediation plants.
Concerning studies on proline metabolism, he purified and characterized -for the first time from a plant source- P5C dehydrogenase, the enzyme that catalyses the second and last step in proline catabolism; two forms of the enzyme were shown in tobacco, one of which specifically involved in the catabolism of arginine. In collaboration with Dr D. Funck in Konstanz, the role of P5C dehydrogenase in determining the phytotoxic effect caused by the exogenous administration of proline has been elucidated, pointing out an unexpected possible role of proline metabolism in the plant cell response to pathogens. A similar characterization was carried out for P5C reductase, the enzyme at the converging point of the two pathways for proline biosynthesis in plants, which revealed a complex pattern of post-translational regulation based on substrate ambiguity (NADPH vs NADH as the electron donor), product inhibition, salt sensitivity and inhibition by the NADP+/NADPH ratio. More recently, the role of proline metabolism and of selected antioxidant enzymes in conferring differential tolerance to salt stress has been investigated in rice. The genes coding for the rice enzymes involved in proline metabolism have been cloned and expressed in heterologous systems. This allowed a thorough functional characterization of their activity, and the study of post-translational regulatory mechanisms. In collaboration with Dr M. Ruszkowski (Argonne, IL, USA), the structure of plant P5C reductase was resolved for the first time, and the protein was studied from phylogenetic and structural perspectives.
On the other hand, in collaboration with Prof P. Kafarski in Wrocław, several dozens phosphonates endowed with a remarkable biological activity were screened and characterized, leading to the identification of P5C reductase as a new target for herbicides. The electronic and steric properties required for the optimization of the biological activity were defined. For some of them a possible antibiotic and/or chemotherapic activity was also investigated.
Project leadership
National research programs
2011-2013: RISINNOVA Integrated Genetic and Genomic Approaches for New Italian Rice Breeding Strategies (http://www.progettoager.it/); duration: 36 months; role: head of Research Unit; title of the project: Biochemical analysis of key enzymes controlling salt stress response. In the frame of the project, a 2y research position was granted (Dr M. Bertazzini).
2010-2012: ALISAL, Miglioramento delle proprietà igienico-sanitarie, salutistiche e funzionali di commodity per l'alimentazione dell'uomo e/o degli animali; project funded by the Italian MiPAF; duration: 30 months; role: head of Research Unit; title of the project: Biochemical characterization of key-enzymes involved in carotenoids and phenolics accumulation in durum wheat and peach. In the frame of the project a 1y research position was granted (Dr S. Giberti).
PRIN 2006: Molecular bases and systemic signals in the plant response to pathogens: the model Rice - Magnaporthe grisea; duration: 24 months; role: head of Research Unit.
Local research programs
FAR 2001-3, 2004-5, 2006-7, 2008, 2009-11, 2012, 2013-14, 205, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020: Projects funded by the University of Ferrara following peer-review; role: principal investigator.
Technological transfer
2017: Co-owner of the Brazilian patent BR 10 2017 022746 4 “Análogos de Abenquinas, Processo de Obtenção, Composição Farmacêutica e Usos”.
2011-2012: Transnational agreement funded by the Human Capital Operational Programme of the European Community, aimed at an increase of knowledge transfer and strengthening the connections in R & D sector through the use of validation methods based on patterns of the program partners: University of Opole (Poland), University of Ferrara (Italy), Zschimmer & Schwarz Mohsdorf GmbH & Co (Germany). Within the frame of the project "Science for industry – industry with science" he was a member of the international expert panel organizing three Workshops in Poland and two study visits in Ferrara.
2010: Signature of a Research and Commercialization Agreement with Makhteshim Agan Italia for the development and validation of new active ingredient mixtures for the control of phytopathogenic fungi on horticultural crops.
2009-2010: Project of industrial research, experimental development and technology transfer SPINNER 2013: "Anti Pro", aimed at evaluating the use of specific inhibitors of proline biosynthesis as new antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Protocol 626/09. Joint venture with Genzyme srl.
2008-2009: Project of industrial research, experimental development and technology transfer SPINNER 2013: "To bee or not to bee", for the investigation of variability for amino acid content in nectar in rapeseed and its relationship with honeybee productivity; protocol 420/08. Technological transfer to Conapi (consortium of honey producers).
2002-2004: Endorsement of a Material Transfer, Research and Commercialization Agreement with Athenix Corp., Durham, NC, aimed at the identification and cloning from Penicillium chrysogenum of genes able to confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.
Internationalization
In 2001 he endorsed an Erasmus agreement with the Wroclaw University of Technology (PL), and in 2005 with the University of Opole (PL). Within the frame of these programs, he hosted 9 Polish master students and 2 PhD students in his lab, in some cases acting as thesis promoter in Poland. In 2002 he promoted a Cooperation Agreement between the University of Ferrara and the Wrocław University of Technology (PL), where in 2005 he spent a short period as visiting professor. In 2006 he endorsed an Agreement of Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation with the University of Konstanz (D).
Membership of Scientific Societies
Member of
the Italian Society of Plant Biology (formerly of Plant Physiology) (from 1987)
the Federation of the European Societies of Plant Biology (from 1988)
the Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics (1988-2004)
the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists (2008-19)
the American Society of Plant Biologists (from 2010).
Offices Held in Scientific Societies
Member of the National Board of the Italian Society of Plant Biology (2004-7, 2008-9 and 2022-23), and then National Secretary (2010-3).
Supervisor of PhD students
Since 2001 member of the Teaching board of the Doctoral School in Evolutionary Biology, where he was coordinator of the curriculum in Biotechnology. Tutor of 8 PhD students: A. Campani (2001), E. Mazzucotelli (2002), S. Barilli (2003), D. Petrollino (2007), S. Giberti and M. Bertazzini (2011), M. Zarattini (2015), G. Sabbioni (2019).
