Our major interest is to study the structural and functional properties of proteins related to iron metabolism and their role in patho-physiology of iron metabolism disorders. Genetic disorders of iron metabolism include hemochromatosis, iron loading anemias and neurodegenerative diseases, while alterations of iron homeostasis are associated to severe diseases such as cancer and inflammation. We are particularly interested in studying the neurodegenerative diseases characterized by brain iron accumulation with the aim to understand the relationship between iron and neurodegeneration. We use protein-engineering technique to produce recombinant proteins, their variants and specific antibodies for them. These reagents are used to study cellular and animal models developed with the aim to clarify, at molecular level, the mechanisms of interaction between the various iron proteins to maintain iron homeostasis. The understanding of these mechanisms is important for the development of new therapeutic approaches to cure the disorders of iron metabolism.