Mario C De Tullio 1. Vitamin C Related publications 2. Redox ...

Mario C De Tullio
Research interests
1. Biochemistry and functions of vitamin C
2. Redox regulation of plant development
3. Science communication - Science and Literature
1. Vitamin C
The name vitamin C was introduced by Funk around 1914 to indicate the still unknown factor able to prevent a deadly
disease known as scurvy. Fifteen years later, Szent-Györgyi and Haworth identified a 6-carbon sugar as vitamin C, and
accordingly named it ascorbic acid (AsA). Although much renown for its antioxidant properties, AsA is very important
in plant (and animal) biochemistry for its role in the activity of several 2-oxoacid dependent dioxygenases involved in
the synthesis of, among others, hydroxyproline-containing proteins and plant hormones.
Related publications
De Tullio MC 2010 The Mystery of Vitamin C. Nature Education 3(9):48
De Tullio MC 2008 Vitamin C. SciTopics
De Tullio MC 2004 How does ascorbic acid prevent scurvy? A survey of the non-antioxidant functions of
vitamin C. In Vitamin C, its functions and biochemistry in animals and plants, pp. 159-172, Smirnoff N., May J. and
Asard H. (eds.), Bios Scientific Publishers, Oxford, U.K.
Arrigoni O, De Tullio MC 2002 Ascorbic acid: much more than just an antioxidant. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1569:1-9
Arrigoni O, De Tullio MC 2000 The role of ascorbic acid in cell metabolism: between gene-directed functions and unpredictable
chemical reactions. J. Plant Physiol 157: 481-488
2. Redox regulation of plant development
The peculiar reactivity of oxygen can either be trouble, or an opportunity, and in
most cases it is both. Biological systems evolved mechanisms able to use oxygen
for the purpose of improving survival and efficiency, and at the same time
protecting themselves from potentially harmful consequences. In parallel with the
increased complexity of biological organisation, communication became crucial
to coordinate activities occurring in different parts of a cell, or in different cells,
tissues and organs. Redox components are largely involved in the regulation of
different developmental processes.
Related publications
De Tullio MC 2010 Antioxidants and redox regulation: changing notions in a changing world. Plant Physiol Biochem 48:289-291
De Tullio MC, Jiang K, Feldman LJ 2010 Redox regulation of root apical meristem organization: connecting root development to
its environment. Plant Physiol Biochem 48:328-336
Fotopoulos V, De Tullio MC, Barnes J, Kanellis AK 2008 Altered stomatal dynamics in ascorbate oxidase over-expressing
tobacco plants suggest a role for dehydroascorbate signalling. J Exp Bot 59:729-737
Grano A, De Tullio MC 2007 Ascorbic acid as a sensor of oxidative stress and a regulator of gene expression: The Yin and Yang
of vitamin C. Med Hypoth 69: 953-954
Barth C, De Tullio MC, Conklin P 2006 The role of ascorbic acid in the control of flowering time and the onset of senescence. J
Exp Bot 57: 1657-1665
3. Science communication – Science and Literature
In the last few decades, the lack of adequate communication on the newest achievements in (plant) biology raised a
barrier between science and the general public. This made the already existing separation between science and other
aspects of human knowledge (“The two cultures”) even worse. I’m trying to find different ways to tackle this problem,
mainly by promoting contacts with school teachers and students, proposing new approaches to teaching. To this
purpose, I started a collaboration with Scitable, the educational project of the Nature Publishing Group, as Lead Editor
of the Cell Origins and Metabolism Topic Room. I also have a special interest in those Italian writers (such as Italo
Calvino and Primo Levi) who also wrote about science.

Related publications
- De Tullio MC, 2011, GMOs, Primo Levi, ivory towers and communication. VIPCA Meeting “Plant Transformation Technologies
II”, Vienna, Austria
- De Tullio MC 2007 How literature can help science: a practical approach to bridging the Two Cultures. Plant Biology ASPB
Meeting Chicago (IL, USA)
- De Tullio MC, Roberto R 2004 Informing the public on the risks and benefits of plant biotechnologies: the role of teacher training
and the importance of new teaching tools. Plant Biology, ASPB Meeting , Orlando (FL, USA)
- De Tullio MC (2002) Disseminating plant biology: how and what for? FESPB alert n.2 (9)