172
was compiled in an excellent monograph entitled Spectroscopic Methods published
by Academic Press in 1982 (Perlin and Casu 1982). During this stage in Canada,
Professor Casu was also introduced to biologically active natural substances such as
heparin (Perlin et al. 1969, 1970b).
After this experience, Professor Casu returned to Milan and abandoned his
research on cyclodextrins in the mid-1970s, although he continued to publish several articles on cyclodextrins (Crini and Torri 2017). Indeed, he focused his work on
heparin, which earned him greater international visibility for his contribution to the
chemistry and biochemistry of glycosaminoglycans (Casu 1993, 1994, 2005; Casu
and Torri 1999; Petitou et al. 2003; Harenberg and Casu 2009; Guerrini et al. 2009).
Professor Casu is also recognized as one of the pioneers in glycobiology and
glycochemistry and in the dissemination of the knowledge of heparin (Casu 1985b,
1986, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2005; Casu and Torri 1999; Casu and Lindahl 2001; Casu
et al. 2001, 2015; Casu and Naggi 2003; Petitou et al. 2003; Harenberg and Casu
2009; Guerrini et al. 2009). He introduced and experimentally validated the concept
that the unusual conformational properties of iduronic acid residues are determinant
in protein binding and associated biological activities of glycosaminoglycans (Casu
et al. 1986).
The 1980s saw the emergence of numerous scientific research collaborations on
heparin that almost always led to interpersonal relationships between Professor
Casu and eminent scientists working in this field (Torri and Cassinelli 2018). We
mention a few of them because it is impossible to establish an exhaustive: e.g., the
collaborations with R. Rosenberg, D. Atkins, J. Scott, E. Conrad, and J. Vercellotti,
the one with the NIBSC of London in the person of E. Johnson, and mostly the
Connection Française with J. Choay, D. Ferro, G. Gatti, J. Fareed, M. Petitou, and
P. Sinaÿ.
Finally, we would like to mention the one that marked subsequent significant
developments in the non-anticoagulant activities of heparin and was based on the
deep mutual esteem in which Professor Casu and Professor Ulf Lindahl held each
other (Torri and Cassinelli 2018). Under his direction, the Ronzoni Institute’s
research units have acquired a high reputation in this field, contributing, among
other things, to the study of the binding mechanism of heparin to antithrombin, to
the development of heparin-based drugs and new active derivatives (Casu and
Lindahl 2001; Casu et al. 2001; Casu and Naggi 2003), and to the analytical insights
(Guerrini et al. 2008, 2010).
The following years saw the emergence of fruitful collaborations with
J. Harenberg, R. Sasisekharan, I. Vlodavsky and G.R. Sanderson, among others.
G.R. Sanderson, J.R. Vercellotti, R. Laine, M. Iacomini, M. Hricovίni, G. Crini
(Fig. 3.9), E.A. Yates, G. Sassaky, and C.K. Larive spent an enriching sabbatical
year with Professor Casu. More than a hundred foreign researchers have been
trained by Professor Casu through numerous International and European research
projects that he has coordinated.
G. Torri et al.
was compiled in an excellent monograph entitled Spectroscopic Methods published
by Academic Press in 1982 (Perlin and Casu 1982). During this stage in Canada,
Professor Casu was also introduced to biologically active natural substances such as
heparin (Perlin et al. 1969, 1970b).
After this experience, Professor Casu returned to Milan and abandoned his
research on cyclodextrins in the mid-1970s, although he continued to publish several articles on cyclodextrins (Crini and Torri 2017). Indeed, he focused his work on
heparin, which earned him greater international visibility for his contribution to the
chemistry and biochemistry of glycosaminoglycans (Casu 1993, 1994, 2005; Casu
and Torri 1999; Petitou et al. 2003; Harenberg and Casu 2009; Guerrini et al. 2009).
Professor Casu is also recognized as one of the pioneers in glycobiology and
glycochemistry and in the dissemination of the knowledge of heparin (Casu 1985b,
1986, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2005; Casu and Torri 1999; Casu and Lindahl 2001; Casu
et al. 2001, 2015; Casu and Naggi 2003; Petitou et al. 2003; Harenberg and Casu
2009; Guerrini et al. 2009). He introduced and experimentally validated the concept
that the unusual conformational properties of iduronic acid residues are determinant
in protein binding and associated biological activities of glycosaminoglycans (Casu
et al. 1986).
The 1980s saw the emergence of numerous scientific research collaborations on
heparin that almost always led to interpersonal relationships between Professor
Casu and eminent scientists working in this field (Torri and Cassinelli 2018). We
mention a few of them because it is impossible to establish an exhaustive: e.g., the
collaborations with R. Rosenberg, D. Atkins, J. Scott, E. Conrad, and J. Vercellotti,
the one with the NIBSC of London in the person of E. Johnson, and mostly the
Connection Française with J. Choay, D. Ferro, G. Gatti, J. Fareed, M. Petitou, and
P. Sinaÿ.
Finally, we would like to mention the one that marked subsequent significant
developments in the non-anticoagulant activities of heparin and was based on the
deep mutual esteem in which Professor Casu and Professor Ulf Lindahl held each
other (Torri and Cassinelli 2018). Under his direction, the Ronzoni Institute’s
research units have acquired a high reputation in this field, contributing, among
other things, to the study of the binding mechanism of heparin to antithrombin, to
the development of heparin-based drugs and new active derivatives (Casu and
Lindahl 2001; Casu et al. 2001; Casu and Naggi 2003), and to the analytical insights
(Guerrini et al. 2008, 2010).
The following years saw the emergence of fruitful collaborations with
J. Harenberg, R. Sasisekharan, I. Vlodavsky and G.R. Sanderson, among others.
G.R. Sanderson, J.R. Vercellotti, R. Laine, M. Iacomini, M. Hricovίni, G. Crini
(Fig. 3.9), E.A. Yates, G. Sassaky, and C.K. Larive spent an enriching sabbatical
year with Professor Casu. More than a hundred foreign researchers have been
trained by Professor Casu through numerous International and European research
projects that he has coordinated.
G. Torri et al.