Biozentrum Basel http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/ News en Biozentrum Basel http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/fileadmin/tt_news_article.gif http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/ News TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Mon, 21 May 2012 16:52:00 +0200 High Distinction: Urs Jenal elected as EMBO Member http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/high-distinction-urs-jenal-elected-as-embo-member/ The molecular biologist Prof. Urs Jenal from the Biozentrum at the University of Basel has been... Contact: Communications, Katrin Bühler]]> Home (3 Column) Related to Prof. Urs Jenal Bionews Mon, 21 May 2012 16:37:00 +0200 The Downside of Good Memory http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/the-downside-of-good-memory/ Experiencing distressing memories of a shocking experience characterizes posttraumatic stress... Neurobiological mechanism of human memory The project, “Neurobiological mechanism of human memory” is being led by Prof. Andreas Papassotiropoulos, Director of the Division of Molecular Neuroscience and Prof. Dominique de Quervain, Director of the Division of Cognitive Neurosciences at the University of Basel. Among the goals of this project are the identification of neurobiological and molecular mechanisms of human memory and the development of new strategies for the treatment of memory disorders. This interdisciplinary project is the scientific core of the transfaculty research platform “Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences” at the University of Basel. Original Article:
Dominique J.-F. de Quervain, Iris-Tatjana Kolassa, Sandra Ackermann, Amanda Aerni, Peter Boesiger, Philippe Demougin, Thomas Elbert, Verena Ertl, Leo Gschwind, Nils Hadziselimovic, Edveena Hanser, Angela Heck, Petra Hieber, Kim-Dung Huynh, Markus Klarhöfer, Roger Luechinger, Björn Rasch, Klaus Scheffler, Klara Spalek, Christoph Stippich, Christian Vogler, Vanja Vukojevic, Attila Stetak, and Andreas Papassotiropoulos (2012): PKCα is genetically linked to memory capacity in healthy subjects and to risk for posttraumatic stress disorder in genocide survivors. Published online on 14 May, 2012. Contact: Communications]]> Bionews Related to Life Sciences Training Facility Press Release Tue, 15 May 2012 09:56:00 +0200 Growth Regulator mTORC2 Linked to Diabetes http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/growth-regulator-mtorc2-linked-to-diabetes/ The signaling protein mTOR is a key regulator that controls cell growth. Dysfunction of mTOR... Diabetes due to mTORC2 deficiency In the healthy organism, insulin regulates blood glucose levels and activates the mTORC2 signaling pathway. Upon genetic inactivation of mTORC2 in the liver, blood glucose and insulin levels were elevated as soon as a few weeks after birth.  In addition, the loss of mTORC2 led to insulin resistance. Consequently, liver cells could no longer respond to nutrients supplied via the diet and continued to produce new carbohydrates despite rising blood glucose levels.
The scientists also demonstrated how insulin resistance, originally affecting only the liver, spread to the whole body with the increasing age of the animals. The mice developed the typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes. The cell biologist Dr. Marion Cornu commented, “We were excited to see that the inhibition of mTORC2 in the liver caused an imbalance in carbohydrate metabolism not only in the liver but also in the the whole organism.  This told us that mTORC2 in the liver controls metabolism of the whole body.”

Cancer treatment with side effects

mTOR inhibitors currently being developed for use against tumor growth usually inhibit both mTOR complexes. Through the use of newer, more specific mTORC2 inhibitors doctors hope to be able to prevent uncontrolled growth of tumor cells without affecting healthy cells. The new findings of Hall and his team provide evidence that such cancer treatments must take into account the development of diabetes as a possible side effect.

Original article:

Hagiwara A, Cornu M, Cybulski N, Polak P, Betz C, Trapani F, Terracciano L, Heim MH, Rüegg MA, Hall MN (2012). Hepatic mTORC2 Activates Glycolysis and Lipogenesis through Akt, Glucokinase, and SREBP1c. Cell Metabolism 15(5), 725-738
Contact: Communications, Katrin Bühler]]> Home (3 Column) Bionews Related to Prof. Michael Hall Mon, 14 May 2012 14:42:00 +0200 Newly Discovered Membrane Transport Mechanism http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/newly-discovered-membrane-transport-mechanism/ Scientists at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel have recently uncovered a new mechanism of... Cell membrane transport paradigm refuted To date it has been assumed that membrane antiporters alternate between two distinct conformations, each having high binding affinity to only one substrate type. That different substrates  bound simultaneously to the protein in a defined ratio has been demonstrated in Bernèche’s latest findings. With this he refutes a paradigm generally accepted for decades and has made a significant contribution to the understanding of membrane transport function.

New mechanism of function discovered

In collaboration with researchers form the Cornell Medical College in New York, the Bernèche group has been able to demonstrate this newly uncovered mechanism using the example of hydrogen-chloride transporters. By combining molecular mechanics simulations with structural data and thermodynamics measurements, they have shown that the binding of chloride and proton is synergistic with a 2:1 stoichiometry and sequential, i.e. that chloride binds first and promote the binding of a proton. Surprisingly, the reverse is not true since, in absence of chloride ions, the initial binding of a proton is impeded by the protein structure. This has an important functional consequence as it assures that the stoichiometry of transport is conserved even under extreme pH conditions, for example in the stomach.

Original article:
Alessandra Picollo, Yanyan Xu, Niklaus Johner, Simon Bernèche & Alessio Accardi (2012): Synergistic substrate binding determines the stoichiometry of transport of a prokaryotic H+/Cl− exchanger. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. Published online April 8, 2012.

Contact: Communications, Heike Sacher


]]> Bionews Related to Prof. Simon Bernèche Thu, 10 May 2012 11:18:00 +0200 Applications Now Open for «Opportunities for Excellence» http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/applications-now-open-for-opportunities-for-excellence/ The new applications round for «Opportunities for Excellence», a prestigious fellowship program... International PhD program at the Biozentrum The «Opportunities for Excellence» program gives successful applicants direct access to the international PhD program at the Biozentrum. This provides the unique chance to become acquainted with various research groups from the five research areas (Infection Biology, Growth & Development, Neurobiology, Structural Biology & Biophysics, Computational & Systems Biology) before deciding on a PhD project. Scientific meetings and courses as well as generous financial support are included in the program.

Admission and Application Procedure

Interested students are invited to apply online until 30th June, 2012. The best candidates will then be invited to the Biozentrum in the week from 28th to 31st August, 2012 to present themselves at personal interviews. Applications will be accepted from candidates who hold a university degree or equivalent (MSc, Diploma, DEA etc.), which qualifies them to enter a PhD program in their home country or who expect to have this degree by the time of enrolment. Further Information:
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/wsf
WSF Application form
FAQ WSF Application]]> Research News Bionews Home (3 Column) Wed, 02 May 2012 08:00:00 +0200 29.05.2012 / 14:00 -- CSI-Cell Biology: The Ethics of Digital Manipulation http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/29052012-1400-csi-cell-biology-the-ethics-of-digital-manipulation/ DOs and DON'Ts of scientific imaging Friday, 25.05.2012

14:00 in Hörsaal 2 / Pharmazentrum

CSI-Cell Biology: The Ethics of Digital Manipulation

Oliver Biehlmaier/Imaging Core Facility

The goal of this lecture is to provide you with some guidelines on what you are allowed to do with your scientific images and what you should never ever do. ]]> Imaging Core Facility (IMCF) Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:07:00 +0200 Science Slam No 2 – Biozentrum Scientists on the Stage http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/science-slam-no-2-biozentrum-scientists-on-the-stage/ Why do ingesting tuberculosis bacteria make immune cells sick? What about the relationships of a... Mycobacterium tuberculosis hides in host cells and takes advantage of the host’s signaling network to survive. The talk presented by Dr. Harald Witte is also about networks. As part of Prof. Peter Scheiffele’s group, he is investigating how billions of nerve cells find the right partner. Neurons seal their bond with synapses, which makes intensive communication between the partners possible. Nerve cells have a very active partnership, uncountable neurons are permanently dating in our brains, relationships end and new ones grow. However, only the one who can convincingly present their research to the Jury in eight entertaining minutes can become the Slam Champion and owner of the much coveted “Erlene” award, especially designed for this event.


Second Science Slam of the University Basel, Friday, 27th April, 2012, Theater Basel, “Kleine Bühne”, doors open at 7:15 pm, program starts at 8:00 pm. This event will take place in German. Contact: Communications]]> Bionews Related to Prof. Jean Pieters Related to Prof. Peter Scheiffele Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:37:00 +0200 The Biozentrum joins important EU partnership for drug discovery in autism http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/the-biozentrum-joins-important-eu-partnership-for-drug-discovery-in-autism/ An international consortium of scientists has launched an unprecedented research academic-industry... European Autism Interventions – A Multicentre Study for Developing New Medications (EU-AIMS) is the largest single grant for autism in the world and the largest in any mental health disorder in Europe. The aim of this collaboration is that patient organizations, academia and industry join forces to develop and assess novel treatment approaches for autism. EU-AIMS brings together top scientists from academic institutions with a wide range of expertise, and partners them with major global drug companies from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA). The Biozentrum is one of 14 European academic partners lead by King’s College London (UK) who participate in this important project in terms of expertise and research in the field of autism. Within this effort, researchers at the Biozentrum drive one of the major work streams on animal models of autism and the identification of abnormalities in neuronal networks that may underlie ASD. The research of EU-AIMS receives support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement n° 115300, resources of which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013), from the EFPIA companies’ in kind contribution and from the Autism Speaks resulting in a total of almost 30 million Euros. ASDs affect an estimated 1% of children worldwide and more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, juvenile diabetes and pediatric cancer combined.  With a wealth of knowledge and research findings related to ASD emerging every year, it has been hard to take these findings from the bench to the clinic. EU-AIMS will now focus on three areas:
a) development and validation of translational research approaches for the advancement of novel therapies for ASD;
b) identification, alignment, and development of expert clinical sites across Europe to run clinical trials; and
c) creation of an interactive platform for ASD professionals and patients.
By the end of the five year project EU-AIMS expects to provide novel validated cellular assays, animal models for drug discovery, new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PET imaging methods, as well as new genetic and proteomic biomarkers for patient-segmentation or individual response prediction. It will provide a research network that can then move on to testing the investigational treatments in humans.

Academic partners
Biozentrum, University of Basel (Switzerland), Birkbeck, University of London (UK), Cambridge University (UK), Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (Germany), Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et Aux Alternatives (France), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Germany), Institut Pasteur (France), Institute of Education (UK), Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), Max-Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine (Germany), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (The Netherlands), University "Campus Bio-Medico” (Italy), University Medical Centre (The Netherlands) and University Ulm (Germany). Industry partners and Charities
Roche, Eli Lilly, Institut de Recherches Servier, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Pfizer, and Vifor Pharma, and Autism Speaks (USA). Contact: Communications]]> Research News Related to Prof. Peter Scheiffele Bionews Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:42:00 +0100 Playful Learning at the tunBasel.ch http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/playful-learning-at-the-tunbaselch/ From 13th-17th April 2012, schools and families can immerse themselves in the invisible worlds of...
tunBasel.ch is aimed primarily at children aged 7 to 16 years of age. Its aim is to playfully bring them in contact and impress them with science and technology. In the present-day there are already missing skilled professionals in these areas and this is further increased by young school leavers not wanting to pursue these areas of study.

In 2010, 160 schools and numerous parents and their children already attended the first event tunBasel.ch. In order that school classes can make best possible use of the large range of projects on offer, teachers can access questions in advance online at the website tunBasel.ch, where they can put together a questionnaire especially suited for their individual classes. Therefore, for example, at the Biozentrum stand one can find out the answer to what is meant by “nano” and how big a nanometer is, or how one can develop with the use of a computer, new targeted drugs in the area of modern medical research. For school classes the access is free. Registration is required.

For more information visit: www.tunbasel.ch ]]> Bionews Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:56:00 +0100 Capturing Chromosomes during Cell Division http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news-events/news-details/article/capturing-chromosomes-during-cell-division/ Scientists of the Biozentrum, University of Basel, have been successful in elucidating a new... Aurora B determines the point in time and tensile strength During cell division, the spindle apparatus produces spindle fibres. They reach out from two poles and each attaches to one sister chromosome. These are then pulled apart in opposite directions and incorporated into two daughter cells. “How the spindle fibre attaches to a chromosome is critical for the whole process“, explains Dr. Anna Santamaria. She and her co-workers have investigated the mechanism regulating how chromosomes get captured by the spindle fibres. The team found that, by regulating the protein complex Ska, the enzyme Aurora B determines the strength of the bond as well as the timing for optimal adhesion of the spindle fibres. Both must be exactly right to ensure that all sister chromosomes are correctly transferred to the two new daughter cells.

Tumor cells through errors in cell division

Should an error occur in this control mechanism, it could result in a chromosome being mis-segregated. Such cells could then develop into tumor cells and lead to cancer. Hence, the findings offer also insights which may lead to new approaches in cancer research. In collaboration with Prof. Elena Conti’s research group at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried, Erich Nigg’s team is concentrating its efforts on elucidating the structure of the Ska complex. The results so far look very promising and this spring another publication is expected. Original article:
Ying Wai Chan, A. Arockia Jeyaprakash, Erich A. Nigg, and Anna Santamaria (2012): Aurora B controls kinetochore–microtubule attachments by inhibiting Ska complex–KMN network interaction. J Cell Biol, Published online February 27, 2012. Contact: Communications, Heike Sacher]]> Research group Erich Nigg Bionews Press Release Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:38:00 +0100