Research
Selected Publications
(Tero Aittokallio)
(Eleanor Coffey)
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease are characterised by the irreversible loss of nerve cell function. The protein kinases JNK and GSK-3 are recognised as players in a broad range of diseases including stroke and neurodegenerative disease. However exactly how these proteins mediate cell death in the brain remains largely unknown. Although targeting of JNK and GSK-3 for drug-based therapy is already underway, our understanding of the physiological function of JNK in the brain is in its infancy. Understanding the molecular details of protein kinase effectors and their cellular functions is a pre-requisite to improved drug design.
(Michael Courtney)
Stress-activated protein kinase pathways are widely accepted to play a significant role in disease progression in and outside the nervous system. However, recent work indicates that these pathways also contribute to development, differentiation, and even survival and proliferation. This suggests that direct stress-activated protein kinase inhibitors may be of only limited therapeutic use. In order to exploit the pathways for the development of novel neuroprotective drugs, it will be necessary to elucidate the mechanisms that organise these pathways into pools with neurodegenerative or physiological functions within the complex structure of neuronal cells.
The Molecular Signalling Laboratory investigates signalling in neuronal cells, with particular emphasis placed on responses to stressful conditions, the impact of stress-signalling on neuronal cell death and the mechanisms cells use to organise signalling proteins thereby ensuring specificity of function and efficiency of signal propogation. The research combines biochemical and molecular biological approaches with single-cell fluorescence methods.
(John Eriksson)
Reversible protein phosphorylation is a key determinant in many fundamental cellular functions, such as survival, differentiation, structural organization, and stress responses. We are especially interested in phosphorylation-mediated signaling that maintains normal cellular and structural homeostasis, and how disturbances in the processing and integration of this type of signaling are reflected as alterations in cellular survival and organization. As model systems for signal processing and integration, we are studying apoptotic, stress-mediated, and cytoskeletal signaling, and their interrelationship.
(Johanna Ivaska)
Cancer progression involves uncontrolled proliferation and motility of cells. Integrins, transmembrane cell surface adhesion receptors, are proteins known to regulate cell behaviour by transducing extracellular signals to cytoplasmic protein complexes.
We have performed genome-wide screens to identify integrin-binding intracellular proteins and demonstrated that recruitment of specific protein complexes by the cytoplasmic domains of integrins is important in tumorigenesis. Our aim is to extend our studies on the novel integrin binding proteins to gain insight on the diverse biological roles of integrins.
(Panu Jaakkola)
The project investigates the consequences of reduced O2 tension (hypoxia) on cellular function as well as the mechanisms by which cells sense reduced O2 tension.
(Marko Kallio)
(Olli Kallioniemi)
(Päivi Koskinen)
We are studying the role of the oncogenic Pim-1 kinase in signaling mechanisms that control growth, differentiation as well as death in normal and in transformed hematopoietic cells. We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins that can physically interact with Pim-1 and have found several interesting proteins involved in T- or B-cell signaling that can act as adapters or substrates for the Pim-1 kinase. Several functional assays are under way to investigate the physiological relevance of the observed protein-protein interactions.
(Riitta Lahesmaa)
We are interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of immune mediated human diseases. The selective activation of functionally distinct subsets of human CD4+ lymphocytes plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergy and inflammatory diseases. Cytokine network selectively regulates the development and differentiation of lymphocytes to Th1 or Th2 subsets with restricted profile of cytokine production. Our studies aim at identification of key factors and molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte differentiation and activation in relation to human disease.
(Tassos Papageorgiou)
Our research is mainly focused on the general themes of signaling and immunology. We are particularly interested in biological molecules that mediate proliferative, metabolic or developmental signals amongst or inside the cells. In order to trigger the appropriate response, these signals must be correctly received and interpreted by the cell machinery, otherwise they can lead to cellular dysfunction and disease. Signaling is basically a problem of molecular recognition and protein-protein interactions. Our aim is to understand this process at molecular level by using X-ray crystallography and molecular biology techniques.
Targeting Strategies for Gene Therapy
(Mikko Savontaus)
(Lea Sistonen)
Heat shock response is one of the best known cellular responses of all organisms exposed to changes in their environmental conditions. Increased synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs) is triggered by a wide range of physical and chemical stresses, but also by non-stressful conditions, including certain stages of development and differentiation. Critical for regulation of the heat shock genes is the activity of the specific transcription factors HSFs. Our aim is to elucidate the signaling pathways, i.e. the mechanisms by which the cells sense stimuli and transduce them to the transcriptional machinery in activation of the distinct HSFs.
(Jukka Westermark)
The goal of our research group is to identify novel signalling mechanisms involved in malignant cell growth by isolating protein complexes associated with proteins previously demonstarted to have an important role in cancer progression. To identify protein complexes, we use tandem affinity purification (TAP) and Strep-tag purification methods, both proven to be suitable for purification of signalling protein complexes from mammalian cells in culture. Identification of novel proteins involved in malignant growth may also reveal novel possibilities for intervention in the therapy of cancer and other hyperproliferative diseases.
(Patrik Jones)
In order to improve human sustainability, it is important to utilize available resources as efficiently as possible. The overall aim of our research is to generate insight and solutions that may enhance the utilization of renewable energy production methods. The focus of our research is microbial metabolism in the context of biological energy production. Working in the interface between applied and fundamental sciences, we construct model systems and study fundamental questions of importance for fermentative and phototrophic H2-production.