Professor Lorenzo Frigerio

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education)

Email: L.Frigerio@warwick.ac.uk

Phone: 024 765 23181

Office: C107 / D127 (University House)

Frigerio webpage

Research clusters

Plant, Insect & Agricultural Biosciences

Cells & Development

Research Interests

The majority of the plant proteins that humans and animals eat are produced and stored in the secretory pathway, which is a system of organelles found inside each plant cell, starting with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) 鈥� a network of membrane tubules that resembles a fishnet 鈥� and ending with the vacuole 鈥� a large container that can act as both a storage compartment or a dustbin, depending on the cell type.

We study how the endoplasmic reticulum gets its peculiar shape and how this shape relates to its function as a protein assembly factory. When pests or bacterial pathogens attack a plant, the ER changes shape very rapidly. We are trying to work out how this shape change helps the plant protect itself.

We also study how the vacuole changes its function from a site of degradation into a container of protein accumulation during the maturation of plant seeds. Understanding these processes is essential for exploiting the capacity of plants to produce and accumulate large amounts of nutritious, or high-value proteins.

Research: Technical Summary

We use a combination of plant genetics, biochemistry and live imaging to study the biogenesis of secretory pathway organelles in plant cells. In particular, we are interested in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphogenic proteins and how they affect ER architecture and function, especially under biotic stress.

We also study the biogenesis of protein storage vacuoles (PSV) in plant seeds. PSV are the main repository of proteins in seeds, therefore essential for human and plant nutrition. We have recently established that PSV arise from pre-existing embryonic lytic vacuoles during seed maturation. We are now elucidating the steps that convert a protease-rich, degradative organelle into a haven for seed storage proteins

Biography

PhD Plant Genetics. Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore 1995

Publications

Hauer, Lukas, Sporbeck, Katharina, McKenna, Joseph F., Puchkov, Dmytro, May, Alexander I., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Knorr, Roland L. and Bahrami, Amir H. (2026) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 123 (12). e2424126123. doi: ISSN 0027-8424.

Gaikwad, Trupti, Breen, Susan, Breeze, Emily, Stroud, Erin A., Hussain, Rana Muhammad Fraz, Kulasekaran, Satish, Kargios, Nestoras, Bennett, Fay, de Torres-Zabala, Marta, Horsell, David, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Kachroo, Pradeep and Grant, Murray R. (2026) Nature Plants, 12 . pp. 152-163. doi: ISSN 2055-026X.

Breeze, Emily, Vale, Victoria, McLellan, Hazel, Pecrix, Yann, Godiard, Laurence, Grant, Murray and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2023) Journal of Experimental Botany, 74 (10). pp. 3188-3202. doi: ISSN 1460-2431.

Dowson, Amanda J., Lloyd, Adrian J., Cuming, Andrew C., Roper, David I., Frigerio, Lorenzo and Dowson, Christopher G. (2022) Plant Physiology, 190 (1). pp. 165-179. doi: ISSN 1532-2548.

Cortese, Enrico, Moscatiello, Roberto, Pettiti, Francesca, Carraretto, Luca, Baldan, Barbara, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Vothknecht, Ute C., Szabo, Ildiko, De Stefani, Diego, Brini, Marisa and Navazio, Lorella (2022) The Plant Journal, 109 (4). pp. 1014-1027. doi: ISSN 0960-7412.

Kusumaatmaja, Halim, May, Alexander I., Feeney, Mistianne, McKenna, Joseph F., Mizushima, Noboru, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Knorr, Roland L. (2021) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (36). e2024109118. doi: ISSN 0027-8424.

Breeze, Emily, Vale, Victoria, McLellan, Hazel, Godiard, Laurence, Grant, Murray and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2020) Working Paper. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Demurtas, Olivia Costantina, de Brito Francisco, Rita, Diretto, Gianfranco, Ferrante, Paola, Frusciante, Sarah, Pietrella, Marco, Aprea, Giuseppe, Borghi, Lorenzo, Feeney, Mistianne, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Coricello, Adriana, Costa, Giosu猫, Alcaro, Stefano, Martinoia, Enrico and Giuliano, Giovanni (2019) Plant Cell, 31 (11). pp. 2789-2804. doi: ISSN 1040-4651.

Footitt, Steven, Clewes, Rachel, Feeney, Mistianne, Finch-Savage, William E. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2019) Plant, Cell & Environment, 42 (8). pp. 2325-2339. doi: ISSN 0140-7791.

Lonoce, Chiara, Marusic, Carla, Morrocchi, Elena, Salzano, Anna Maria, Scaloni, Andrea, Novelli, Flavia, Pioli, Claudio, Feeney, Mistianne, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Donini, Marcello (2019) Biotechnology Journal, 14 (3). 1800081. doi: ISSN 1860-6768.

Chow, Michael, Sklepari, Meropi, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Dixon, Ann M. (2018) Protein Expression and Purification, 152 . pp. 31-39. doi: ISSN 1046-5928.

Kriechbaumer, Verena, Breeze, Emily, Pain, Charlotte, Tolmie, Frances, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Hawes, Chris (2018) New Phytologist, 219 (3). pp. 990-1004. doi: ISSN 1469-8137.

Demurtas, Olivia Costantina, Frusciante, Sarah, Ferrante, Paola, Diretto, Gianfranco, Azad, Noraddin Hosseinpour, Pietrella, Marco, Aprea, Giuseppe, Taddei, Anna Rita, Romano, Elena, Mi, Jianing, Al-Babili, Salim, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Giuliano, Giovanni (2018) Plant Physiology, 177 (3). pp. 990-1006. doi: ISSN 0032-0889.

Feeney, Mistianne, Kittelmann, Maike, Menassa, Rima, Hawes, Chris and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2018) Plant Physiology, 177 (1). pp. 241-255. doi: ISSN 0032-0889.

Dzimitrowicz, Natasha, Breeze, Emily and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2018) In: Hawes, C. and Kriechbaumer, V., (eds.) The Plant Endoplasmic Reticulum. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1691 . Humana Press, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 67-74. ISBN 9781493973897

Brown, Daniel, Feeney, Mistianne, Hamadi, Mathin, Lonoce, Chiara, Sajari, Roslinda, Di Cola, Alessandra and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2017) Journal of Experimental Botany, 68 (18). pp. 5045-5055. doi: ISSN 0022-0957.

Breeze, Emily, Dzimitrowicz, Natasha, Kriechbaumer, Verena, Brooks, Rhiannon, Botchway, Stanley W., Brady, Jacob P., Hawes, Chris, Dixon, Ann M., Schnell, Jason R., Fricker, Mark D. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2016) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113 (39). pp. 10902-10907. doi: ISSN 0027-8424.

Lopez, David, Amira, Maroua Ben, Brown, Daniel, Muries, Beatriz, Brunel-Michac, Nicole, Bourgerie, Sylvain, Porcheron, Benoit, Lemoine, Remi, Chrestin, Herv茅, Mollison, Ewan, Di Cola, Alessandra, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Julien, Jean-Louis, Gousset-Dupont, Aur茅lie, Fumanal, Boris, Label, Philippe, Pujade-Renaud, Val茅rie, Auguin, Daniel and Venisse, Jean-St茅phane (2016) Plant Molecular Biology, 91 (4). pp. 375-396. doi: ISSN 0167-4412.

Reinhardt , Hagen , Hachez , Charles , Bienert, Manuela D茅sir茅e, Beebo , Azeez , Swarup , Kamal , Voss , Ute, Bouhidel , Karim , Frigerio, Lorenzo, Schjoerring, Jan K. , Bennett , Malcolm J. and Chaumont , Francois (2016) Plant Physiology, 170 (3). pp. 1640-1654. 01635.2015. doi: ISSN 0032-0889.

Kriechbaumer, Verena, Botchway, Stanley W., Slade, Susan E., Knox, Kirsten, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Oparka, Karl J. and Hawes, Chris (2015) Plant Physiology, 169 (3). pp. 1933-1945. doi: ISSN 0032-0889.

Knox, Kirsten, Wang, Pengwei, Kriechbaumer, Verena, Tilsner, Jens, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Sparkes, Imogen, Hawes, C. R. and Oparka, Karl J. (2015) Plant Physiology, 168 (4). pp. 1563-1572. doi: ISSN 0032-0889.

Brandizzi, Federica, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Howell, Stephen H. and Sch盲fer, Patrick (2014) Frontiers in Plant Science, Volume 5 . pp. 1-2. doi: ISSN 1664-462X.

Battelli, Riccardo, Lombardi, Lara, Picciarelli, Piero, Lorenzi, Roberto, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Rogers, Hilary J. (2014) Plant Science, Volume 214 . pp. 38-46. doi: ISSN 0168-9452.

Feeney, Mistianne, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Kohalmi, Susanne E., Cui, Yuhai and Menassa, Rima (2013) Frontiers in Plant Science, Volume 4 . Article number 493. doi: ISSN 1664-462X.

Feeney, Mistianne, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Cui, Y. and Menassa, Rima (2013) Plant Physiology, Volume 162 (Number 4). pp. 1881-1896. doi: ISSN 0032-0889.

Lee, Hannah, Ph.D., Sparkes, Imogen, Gattolin, Stefano, Dzimitrowicz, Natasha, Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.), Hawes, C. R. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2012) New Phytologist, Volume 197 (Number 2). pp. 481-489. doi: ISSN 0028-646X.

Denecke, J., Aniento, F., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Hawes, C., Hwang, I., Mathur, J., Neuhaus, J.-M. and Robinson, D. G. (2012) The Plant Cell, Volume 24 (Number 4). pp. 1316-1326. doi: ISSN 1040-4651.

Sorieul, Mathias, Langhans, Markus, Guetzoyan, Lucie J., Hillmer, Stefan, Clarkson, Guy J., Lord, Mike, Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.), Robinson, David G., Spooner, Robert A. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2011) Traffic, Vol.12 (No.11). pp. 1552-1562. doi: ISSN 13989219.

Scheuring, David, Viotti, Corrado, Kruger, Falco, Kunzl, Fabian, Sturm, Silke, Bubeck, Julia, Hillmer, Stefan, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Robinson, David G., Pimpl, Peter and Schumacher, Karin (2011) Plant Cell, Vol.23 (No.9). pp. 3463-3481. doi: ISSN 1040-4651.

Wang, Pengwei, Hummel, Eric, Osterrieder, Anne, Meyer, Andreas J., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Sparkes, Imogen and Hawes, C. R. (2011) Plant Journal, Vol.66 (No.4). pp. 613-628. doi: ISSN 0960-7412.

Sparkes, Imogen, Hawes, C. R. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2011) Current Opinion in Plant Biology, Vol.14 (No.6). pp. 658-665. doi: ISSN 1369-5266.

Gattolin, Stefano, Sorieul, Mathias and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2011) Molecular Plant, Volume 4 (Number 1). pp. 180-189. doi: ISSN 1674-2052.

Scabone, Camila Mar铆a, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Petruccelli, Silvana (2011) Plant Cell Reports, Vol.30 (No.10). pp. 1823-1833. doi: ISSN 0721-7714.

Tolley, Nicholas, Sparkes, Imogen, Craddock, Christian P., Eastmond, Peter J., Runions, John, Hawes, C. R. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2010) Plant Journal, Volume 64 (Number 3). pp. 411-418. doi: ISSN 0960-7412.

Gattolin, Stefano, Sorieul, Mathias and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2010) Biochemical Society Transactions, Vol.38 (No.3). pp. 769-773. doi: ISSN 0300-5127.

Marshall, Richard S., Frigerio, Lorenzo and Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) (2010) Biochemical Journal, Vol.427 (No.Part 3). pp. 513-521. doi: ISSN 0264-6021.

Sparkes, Imogen, Tolley, Nicholas, Aller, Isabel, Svozil, Julia, Osterrieder, Anne, Botchway, Stanley, Mueller, Christopher, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Hawes, C. R. (2010) Plant Cell, Vol.22 (No.4). pp. 1333-1343. doi: ISSN 1040-4651.

Frigerio, Lorenzo and Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) (2010) In: Toxic Plant Proteins. Plant Cell Monographs, Vol.18 . Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 191-205. ISBN 978-3-6421-2175-3

Vladimirou, Elina, Li, Michael, Aldridge, Cassie P., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Kirkilionis, Markus A. and Robinson, Colin (2009) FEBS Letters, Volume 583 (Number 22). pp. 3690-3696. doi: ISSN 0014-5793.

Gattolin, Stefano, Sorieul, Mathias, Hunter, P. R. (Paul R.), Khonsari, Roman H. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2009) BMC Plant Biology, Vol.9 . Article 133. doi: ISSN 1471-2229.

Sparkes, Imogen A., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Tolley, Nicholas and Hawes, C. R. (2009) Biochemical Journal, Vol.423 (No.2). pp. 145-155. ISSN 0264-6021 doi:

Marusic, Carla, Vitale, Alessandro, Pedrazzini, Emanuela, Donini, Marcello, Frigerio, Lorenzo, Bock, Ralph, Dix, Philip J., McCabe, Matthew S., Bellucci, Michele and Benvenuto, Eugenio (2009) Transgenic Research, Vol.18 (No.4). pp. 499-512. ISSN 0962-8819 doi:

Marshall, Richard S., Jolliffe, Nicholas A., Ceriotti, Aldo, Snowden, Christopher J., Lord, Mike, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) (2009) Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol.283 . pp. 15869-15877. doi: ISSN 0021-9258.

Bouchekhima, A. -N., Frigerio, Lorenzo and Kirkilionis, Markus (2009) Journal of Microscopy, Vol.234 (No.2). pp. 158-172. doi: ISSN 0022-2720.

Chamberlain, Kerry L., Marshall, Richard S., Jolliffe, Nicholas A., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Ceriotti, Aldo, Lord, Mike and Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) (2008) Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol.283 (No.48). pp. 33276-33286. doi: ISSN 0021-9258.

Frigerio, Lorenzo, Hinz, Giselbert and Robinson, David G. (2008) Traffic, Vol.9 (No.10). pp. 1564-1570. ISSN 1398-9219 doi:

Aldridge, Cassie, Spence, Edward M., Kirkilionis, Markus, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Robinson, Colin (2008) Molecular Microbiology, Volume 70 (Number 1). pp. 140-150. doi: ISSN 0950-382X.

Frigerio, Lorenzo and Hawes, C. R. (2008) Traffic, Vol.9 (No.10). p. 1563. ISSN 1398-9219 doi:

Irons, Sarah L., Nuttall, J. (James), Floss, Doreen M., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Kotzer, Amanda M. and Hawes, C. R. (2008) Plant Biotechnology Journal, Vol.6 (No.7). pp. 649-662. doi: ISSN 1467-7644.

Barbante, Alessandra, Irons, Sarah, Hawes, C. R., Frigerio, Lorenzo, Vitale, A. (Alessandro) and Pedrazzini, Emanuela (2008) Plant Biotechnology Journal, Volume 6 (Number 6). pp. 560-575. doi: ISSN 1467-7644.

Sparkes, Imogen, Tolley, Nicholas, Hawes, C. R. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2008) In: Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Experimental-Biology, Marseille, France, Jul 06-10, 2008. Published in: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Vol.150 (No.3 Suppl. S). S141-S141. doi: ISSN 1095-6433.

Craddock, Christian P., Hunter, Paul R., Szakacs, Erika, Hinz, Giselbert, Robinson, David G. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2008) Traffic, Vol.9 (No.3). pp. 408-416. doi: ISSN 1398-9219.

Frigerio, Lorenzo (2008) Plant Physiology, Vol.146 (No.3). pp. 1026-1027. ISSN 0032-0889 doi:

Tolley, Nicholas, Sparkes, Imogen, Hunter, P. R. (Paul R.), Craddock, Christian P., Nuttall, J. (James), Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.), Hawes, C. R., Pedrazzini, Emanuela and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2008) Traffic, Vol.9 (No.1). pp. 94-102. doi: ISSN 1398-9219.

Hunter, Paul R., Craddock, Christian P., Di Benedetto, Sara, Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2007) Plant Physiology, Vol.145 (No.4). pp. 1371-1382. doi: ISSN 0032-0889.

Paul, Matthew J. and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2007) Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, Vol.18 (No.4). pp. 471-478. ISSN 1084-9521 doi:

Marusic, Carla, Nuttall, James, Buriani, Giampaolo , Lico, Chiara, Lombardi, Raffaele , Baschieri , Selene, Benvenuto, Eugenio and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2007) BMC Biotechnology, Vol.7 (No.12). doi: ISSN 1472-6750.

Maggio, Caterina, Barbante, Alessandra, Ferro, Flavia, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Pedrazzini, Emanuela (2007) Journal of Experimental Botany, Volume 58 (Number 6). pp. 1365-1379. doi: ISSN 0022-0957.

Jolliffe, Nicholas A., Di Cola, Alessandra, Marsden, Catherine J., Lord, Mike, Ceriotti, Aldo, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) (2006) JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 281 (33). pp. 23377-23385. doi: ISSN 0021-9258.

Obregon, Patricia, Chargelegue, Daniel, Drake, Pascal M.W., Prada, Alessandra, Nuttall, James, Frigerio, Lorenzo and Ma, Julian K.-C. (2006) Plant Biotechnology Journal, Vol.4 (No.2). pp. 195-207. doi: ISSN 1467-7644.

Hadlington, Jane L., Santoro, Aniello, Nuttall, James, Denecke, J. (Jurgen), Ma, Julian K.-C., Vitale, A. (Alessandro) and Frigerio, Lorenzo (2003) Molecular Biology of the Cell, Vol.14 (No.6). pp. 2592-2602. doi: ISSN 1059-1524.

Research Projects

Title	Funder	Award start	Award end
Doctoral Training Network: AGILE (Advanced Training for Next Generation Scientists in Spatio-Temporal Imaging of Plant Cells)	European Commission	01 March 2026	28 February 2030
A broadly accessible and versatile spinning disc microscope to probe biological processes across temporal and spatial scales (BBSRC Alert 2025)	BBSRC	01 August 2025	31 July 2026
Shapeshifting: how is plant ER architecture manipulated by pathogen effectors? - BBSRC standard research grant	BBSRC	01 June 2022	30 November 2025
21ENGBIO - Converting a cellular dustbin into a protein storing organelle	BBSRC	15 February 2023	31 March 2024
Phase separation drives the development of protein storage vacuoles	Leverhulme Trust	04 January 2021	30 November 2023
A broadly accessible facility microscope to probe nanoscale cellular dynamics by combined live cell super-resolution microscopy and photomanipulation (BBSRC ALERT 2021)	BBSRC	01 August 2022	31 July 2023
The cell biology of rubber biosynthesis - the endoplasmic reticulum connection	Leverhulme Trust	01 June 2016	31 May 2019
13 ERA-CAPS PER ASPERA Frigerio	BBSRC	01 July 2014	31 December 2017
GCRF IAA	BBSRC	17 October 2016	31 March 2017
Studentship for Daniel Brown, funded by TARRC. Project increasing latex yield in the rubber tree Hevea brasilensis by targeted expression of aquaporins.	Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC)	01 October 2012	30 September 2016
Tissue specific aquaporin expression for plant water stress resistance	BBSRC	01 October 2012	31 May 2016
A facility for 3D cellular imaging that bridges light and electron microscopy (BSRC ALERT 14 Equipment grant)	BBSRC	21 January 2015	20 January 2016
Studying the biogenesis of protein storage vacuoles by reprogramming leaf development	Leverhulme Trust	01 January 2012	31 December 2014
Developing interdisciplinary omics tools for organelle and cell type-specific analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana	New Phytologist Trust	01 September 2014	30 September 2014
BSCB Summer Vacation placement - Stephanie Rippon	British Society for Cell Biology	03 July 2013	14 August 2013
How are proteins sorted to storage vacuoles in plant seeds?	Leverhulme Trust	01 July 2007	30 June 2010
The role and impact of endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation in plant cells.	Leverhulme Trust	01 March 2007	28 February 2010
Analysis of Factors Regulating the plant Secretory Pathway	British Council	01 July 2008	30 June 2009
Maximising the yield of plant-made immunoglobulins	Wellcome Trust	01 October 2006	30 September 2008
Plant-derived pharmaceuticals for human health pharmaplant - FP6 (IP)	European Commission	01 February 2004	31 January 2008
Determination of the spatial & temporal parameters governing protein translocation pathways	BBSRC	01 January 2005	31 December 2007

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