Dr Barbara Ciani (she/her)

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Senior Lecturer in Biophysical Chemistry

Chemistry Biological Safety Officer

Barbara Ciani
Profile picture of Barbara Ciani
b.ciani@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 9438
C72, Dainton Building

Full contact details

Dr Barbara Ciani
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
C72
Dainton Building
13 Brook Hill
Sheffield
S3 7HF
Profile

Dr. Ciani obtained a Laurea in Chemistry at University "La Sapienza", Rome in 1997. This was followed by a DPhil in Biochemistry at the University of Sussex in 2001, after which she became a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Nottingham (2001-2003) and subsequently at the University of Manchester (2004-2008).

In 2008, she was appointed as a Lecturer in Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Sheffield. 

Qualifications
  • FHEA
  • MSRC
Research interests

How is function encoded in protein self-assembly?
In our laboratory, we study the mechanisms at the basis of protein self-assembly in solution and how they regulate biological processes. Such knowledge allows us to interact both with academic and industrial collaborators and have impact in both of these areas.

We focus on two main areas of interest, but any challenge that involves biophysical chemistry and biomolecular interactions spurs our curiosity and efforts!

1. Protein self-assembly proteins shape lipid membranes to maintain cellular compartmentalisation.

Compartmentalisation of chemical reactions is fundamental for the function of any biological cell. The confinement provided by membrane interfaces in intracellular organelles allows their contents to carry out specific tasks without the interference from other processes. Specifically, we focus on the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms of cellular membrane repair. Remodelling of phospholipid membranes underpins most cellular functions from membrane trafficking to viral infections and genome compartmentalisation.

STED imaging of membrane repair proteins ESCRT-III accumulating at a micronucleus in a HeLa cell (red:CHMP7; green:CHMP4B; blue:DAPI). Willan J, et al Oncogenesis. 2019 Apr 15;8(5):29. doi: 10.1038/s41389-019-0136-0.
STED imaging of membrane repair proteins ESCRT-III accumulating at a micronucleus in a HeLa cell (red:CHMP7; green:CHMP4B; blue:DAPI). Willan J, et al Oncogenesis. 2019 Apr 15;8(5):29. doi: 10.1038/s41389-019-0136-0.

Scientific Questions we are addressing –
•    What are the signals that lead proteins to assemble into larger structures to sculpt phospholipid membranes?
•    How does membrane integrity maintain the healthy state of a biological cell?
•    Can we repurpose these biological processes for novel functions?

We tackle these questions with a combination of biochemistry, cell biology and protein design approaches.

2. The physical chemistry that governs protein physical status in solution

We collaborate with industry partners to understand how to combine knowledge of protein-protein interactions with the development of specific biophysical/analytical methodologies to support prediction and faster optimisation of formulations. Such knowledge is crucial also for academics that study protein aggregation in the context of healthy and diseased states.

We tackle this challenge with a combination of biophysical and analytical chemistry techniques and structural biology approaches.

Our lab has expertise in:

  • Protein engineering and high-level recombinant peptide and protein expression for structural studies
  • De novo and rational design of peptides and proteins
  • Protein stability and protein-protein interaction measurements
  • Characterisation of self-assembly and aggregation of proteins
  • Characterisation of protein-membranes interactions
  • Mechanisms of nuclear envelope membranes repair
  • Endosomal membrane trafficking
Publications

Edited books

  • (Ed.) (1998) ..

Journal articles

  • Green LR, Issa R, Albaldi F, Urwin L, Thompson R, Khalid H, Turner CE, Ciani B, Partridge LJ & Monk PN (2023) . mBio, 14(4).
  • Grant E, Bucklain FA, Ginn L, Laity P, Ciani B & Bryant HE (2022) . PLoS ONE, 17(5).
  • Booth A, Marklew C, Ciani B & Beales PA (2021) . Faraday Discussions, 232, 188-202.
  • Thaller DJ, Tong D, Marklew CJ, Ader NR, Mannino PJ, Borah S, King MC, Ciani B & Lusk CP (2021) . Journal of Cell Biology, 220(3).
  • Booth A, Marklew CJ, Ciani B & Beales PA (2019) . iScience, 15, 173-184.
  • Willan J, Cleasby AJ, Flores-Rodriguez N, Stefani F, Rinaldo C, Pisciottani A, Grant E, Woodman P, Bryant HE & Ciani B (2019) . Oncogenesis, 8(5).
  • Chand S, Beales PA, Claeyssens F & Ciani B (2019) . Experimental Biology and Medicine, 244(4), 294-303.
  • Thompson MJ, Gotham V, Ciani B & Grasby JA (2018) . Nucleic Acids Research, 46(15), 7858-7872.
  • Teare P, Smith CF, Adams SJ, Anbu S, Ciani B, Jeuken LJC & Peacock AFA (2018) . Dalton Transactions, 47(31), 10784-10790.
  • Beales PA, Ciani B & Mann S (2018) . Interface Focus, 8(5).
  • Marklew CJ, Booth A, Beales PA & Ciani B (2018) . Interface Focus, 8(5).
  • Muthana M, Hawtree S, Wilshaw A, Linehan E, Roberts H, Khetan S, Adeleke G, Wright F, Akil M, Fearon U , Veale D et al (2015) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(37), 11618-11623.
  • Beales PA, Ciani B & Cleasby AJ (2015) . Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 17(24), 15489-15507.
  • Patel N, Exell JC, Jardine E, Ombler B, Finger LD, Ciani B & Grasby JA (2013) . J. Biol. Chem., 288, 34239-34248.
  • Hameed A, Bennett E, Ciani B, Hoebers LPC, Milner R, Lawrie A, Francis SE & Grierson AJ (2013) . PLoS One, 8(1), e54636.
  • Ciani B, Bjelic S, Honnappa S, Jawhari H, Jaussi R, Payapilly A, Jowitt T, Steinmetz MO & Kammerer RA (2010) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(46), 19850-19855.
  • Steinmetz MO, Gattin Z, Verel R, Ciani B, Stromer T, Green JM, Tittmann P, Schulze-Briese C, Gross H, van Gunsteren WF , Meier BH et al (2008) . J Mol Biol, 376(3), 898-912.
  • Matousek WM, Ciani B, Fitch CA, Garcia-Moreno B, Kammerer RA & Alexandrescu AT (2007) . J Mol Biol, 374(1), 206-219.
  • Macdonald PR, Progias P, Ciani B, Patel S, Mayer U, Steinmetz MO & Kammerer RA (2006) . J Biol Chem, 281(38), 28408-28414.
  • Cavey JR, Ralston SH, Sheppard PW, Ciani B, Gallagher TRA, Long JE, Searle MS & Layfield R (2006) . Calcif Tissue Int, 78(5), 271-277.
  • Cavey JR, Ralston SH, Hocking LJ, Sheppard PW, Ciani B, Searle MS & Layfield R (2005) . J Bone Miner Res, 20(4), 619-624.
  • Candi E, Schmidt R & Melino G (2005) . Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 6(4), 328-340.
  • Hocking LJ, Lucas GJA, Daroszewska A, Cundy T, Nicholson GC, Donath J, Walsh JP, Finlayson C, Cavey JR, Ciani B , Sheppard PW et al (2004) . J Bone Miner Res, 19(7), 1122-1127.
  • Layfield R, Ciani B, Ralston SH, Hocking LJ, Sheppard PW, Searle MS & Cavey JR (2004) . Biochem Soc Trans, 32(Pt 5), 728-730.
  • Searle MS & Ciani B (2004) . Curr Opin Struct Biol, 14(4), 458-464.
  • Searle MS, Platt GW, Bofill R, Simpson SA & Ciani B (2004) . Angewandte Chemie, 116(15), 2025-2028.
  • Searle MS, Platt GW, Bofill R, Simpson SA & Ciani B (2004) . Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 43(15), 1991-1994.
  • Ciani B, Layfield R, Cavey JR, Sheppard PW & Searle MS (2003) . J Biol Chem, 278(39), 37409-37412.
  • Ciani B, Jourdan M & Searle MS (2003) . J Am Chem Soc, 125(30), 9038-9047.
  • Ciani B, Hutchinson EG, Sessions RB & Woolfson DN (2002) . J Biol Chem, 277(12), 10150-10155.
  • Steinert PM, Candi E, Tarcsa E, Marekov LN, Sette M, Paci M, Ciani B, Guerrieri P & Melino G (1999) . Cell Death Differ, 6(9), 916-930.
  • Candi E, Melino G, Lahm A, Ceci R, Rossi A, Kim IG, Ciani B & Steinert PM (1998) . J Biol Chem, 273(22), 13693-13702.
  • ANTONIOLETTI R, CECCHINI C, CIANI B & MAGNANTI S (1995) IODOENOLCYCLIZATION .3. A GENERAL-APPROACH TO TETRASUBSTITUTED FURANS FROM 2-ALKENYL-1,3-DICARBONYL COMPOUNDS. TETRAHEDRON LETT, 36(49), 9019-9022.
  • Beales PA & Ciani B () . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 17(24), 15487-15488.

Conference proceedings

  • Mitchell DE & Ciani B (2017) . European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters, Vol. 46(Suppl 1) (pp S306-S306). Edinburgh, Scotland, 16 July 2017 - 16 July 2017.
  • Booth A, Marklew C, Ciani B & Beales PA (2017) . European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters, Vol. 46(Suppl 1) (pp S116-S116). Edinburgh, Scotland, 16 July 2017 - 16 July 2017.
  • Booth A, Marklew C, Ciani B & Beales PA (2017) Developing ESCRT-III as a toolkit for bottomup construction of eukaryote-like artificial cells. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS, Vol. 46 (pp S46-S46)
  • Muthana M, Davies H, Khetan S, Wright F, Hawtree S, Ciani B & Wilson A (2014) . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Vol. 73 (pp 361-361)
  • Muthana M, Khetan S, Hawtree S, Davies H, Gbadebo A, Akil M, Ciani B, Wright F & Wilson AG (2014) . Rheumatology, Vol. 53(suppl_1) (pp i147-i147)
  • Muthana M, Khetan S, Hawtree S, Davies H, Gbadebo A, Akil M, Ciani B, Wright F & Wilson AG (2014) BIOLOGICAL ROLES OF C5ORF30 IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SYNOVIAL FIBROBLASTS. RHEUMATOLOGY, Vol. 53 (pp 147-147)
  • Davies H, Muthana M, Khetan S, Adeleke G, Hawtree S, Morrow F, Ciani B & Wilson AG (2013) . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Vol. 72 (pp A190-A190)
  • Muthana M, Davies H, Khetan S, Adeleke G, Hawtree S, Wright F, Ciani B, Akil M & Wilson AG (2013) The biological role of C5orf30 in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. IMMUNOLOGY, Vol. 140 (pp 45-45)
  • Davies H, Muthana M, Khetan S, Adeleke G, Hawtree S, Morrow F, Ciani B & Wilson AG (2013) THE ROLE OF C5ORF30 IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATHOGENESIS. ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Vol. 72 (pp 190-190)
  • Muthana M, Davies H, Khetan S, Adeleke G, Hawtree S, Tazzyman S, Morrow F, Ciani B & Wilson G (2013) BIOLOGICAL ROLES OF C5ORF30 IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. RHEUMATOLOGY, Vol. 52 (pp 50-50)
  • Jackson MP, Louth J, Thompson MJ, Ciani B & Chen B (2013) Anti prion molecules and their interaction with amyloid β. PRION, Vol. 7 (pp 77-77)
  • Muthana M, Khetan S, Adeleke GA, Tazzyman S, Aynsley S, Morrow F, Hawtree S, Ciani B & Wilson AG (2012) Biological Roles of C5orf30 in Rheumatoid Arthritis. ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM, Vol. 64(10) (pp S767-S767)
  • Manoj N, Srinivas VR, Surolia A, Vijayan M, Suguna K, Ravishankar R, Suguna K, Surolia A, Vijayan M, Schwarzenbacher R , Zeth K et al (1999) . Journal of Biosciences, Vol. 24(S1) (pp 33-198)
  • Ciani B, Paci M, Idler W, Tarcsa E, Kartasova T, Melino G & Steinert PM (1997) Solution NMR structure of the human SPR3 protein.. J INVEST DERMATOL, Vol. 108(4) (pp 98-98)
  • ANTONIOLETTI R, CECCHINI C, CIANI B & MAGNANTI S (1996) . ChemInform, Vol. 27(13)
  • Sheera RS, Shakespeare T, Sheard TMD, Ciani B & Jayasinghe I () . Quantitative sub-cellular imaging with expansion microscopy

Patents

  • Monk P, Ciani B & Issa R (2021) ANTIMICROBIAL TARGET. WO2021175809A1 Appl. 10 Sep 2021.

Preprints

  • Shakespeare T, Seehra RS, Rodriguez NF, Atuanya N, Sheard TMD, Köhler R, Bose D, Woodman P, Ciani B & Jayasinghe I (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Green LR, Issa R, Albaldi F, Urwin L, Khalid H, Turner CE, Ciani B, Partridge LJ & Monk PN (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Willan J, Cleasby A, Flores-Rodriguez N, Stefani F, Rinaldo C, Pisciottani A, Grant E, Woodman P, Bryant H & Ciani B (2018) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Booth A, Marklew CJ, Ciani B & Beales PA (2018) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Teaching interests

Thermodynamics; Biological and biophysical chemistry; Bioinformatics; Toxicology; Protein design and Structural Biology

Teaching activities

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules

  • Thermodynamics, Equilibria and Electrochemistry (Level 1)
    This course introduces quantitative description of chemical and electrochemical equilibria and their energetics.
  • Skills for Success (Level 3)
    The Skills for Success Project aims to ensure that students identify and develop skills that will be of use to them in life, future study and employment and provide a basis from which they can undertake further training of a professional nature.
  • Biophysical Chemistry (Level 4)
    This lecture course provides a background to protein design and an overview of the classical methods employed to investigate the structure of biopolymers and their interactions.
  • Toxicology (MSc Drug Discovery Science)
    This segment concerns with basic concepts and methodology in Toxicology as applied to drug development. part of the Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design core module.
  • Bioinformatics (MSc Drug Discovery Science)
    This segment concerns with the use of online databases to retrieve genetic and structural information on protein targets. It also introduces the students to basic homology modelling of proteins using specialised software and servers.
  • Biopolymers and biomaterials (MSc Polymers)
    This segment concerns with the occurrence, structure and function of important types of biopolymers and their organisation into higher biological structures.
     

Support Teaching:

  • Tutorials: Level 1 General Chemistry, Level 2 Physical Chemistry
  • Level 3 and MSc Literature Review

Laboratory Teaching:

  • Level 1 Chemistry Laboratories
  • Level 2 Physical Laboratories
  • Level 4 Research Project
  • Level 6 Drug Discovery Science project
Professional activities and memberships

Active member of the RSC Biophysical Chemistry Interest Group.

Full member of the EPSRC review college.