Clemente Capasso

Clemente Capasso is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), part of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) in Naples. He has been affiliated with CNR since 1994, first at the Institute of Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology, and then at IBBR since 2014. His research focuses on protein biochemistry, particularly the structure-function relationships of enzymes from various organisms.

Capasso earned his Master's degree in Biology cum laude from the University of Naples "Federico II" in 1992. His academic journey included post-graduate training at the same university, followed by CNR fellowships and visiting scientist positions at institutions in France, the UK, and the United States.

Dr. Capasso's primary research interests center on carbonic anhydrases, particularly those from extremophilic microorganisms. His work has significant implications for biotechnology applications, including CO₂ capture. He has extensively studied metallothioneins and aspartic proteinases in marine organisms and Antarctic fish. His research combines protein purification techniques with kinetic, chemical-physical, and structural characterization methods, along with molecular biology approaches for cloning and expressing recombinant proteins. With over 150 peer-reviewed publications, his work has established him as a leading expert in carbonic anhydrase research.

Capasso serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry and is on the Editorial Boards of Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, Current Enzyme Inhibition, and International Journal of Molecular Science, reflecting his standing in the scientific community.

As Principal Investigator, Capasso leads research projects focused on "Evolution, adaptation, and biodiversity of carbonic anhydrases from Antarctic organisms" and "Capture of the CO₂ from flue gases by using enzymes from moderately thermophilic microorganisms." His work bridges fundamental biochemistry with potential industrial applications.