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SciLifeLab

SciLifeLab is a national infrastructure for research in Life Science based in Stockholm and Uppsala. On this page we collect articles on research at SciLifeLab conducted by research groups at Stockholm University.

Read more on SciLifeLab: www.scilifelab.se

Foto: Camilla Breiler

News

Arkeologiska utgrävningar av Sandby borg på Öland.

DNA from archaeological remains show exceptional migration to Scandinavia during the Viking era

A new study based on 297 ancient Scandinavian genomes analysed together with the genomic data of 16,638 present day Scandinavians resolve the complex relations between geography, ancestry, and gene flow in Scandinavia – encompassing the Roman Age, the Viking Age and later periods. A surprising increase of variation during the Viking period indicates that gene flow into Scandinavia was especially intense during this period.

DNA from archaeological remains show exceptional migration to Scandinavia during the Viking era - Read the full article
DNA Research - Theme page History, Archeology and Cultural Heritage - Theme page SciLifeLab - Theme page
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

New method for mapping cancer paves the way for treatment of incurable brain cancer in children

Children diagnosed with brain cancer often die within a year of their initial diagnosis because there are no effective treatments for this rare form of cancer. But by visualizing the cancer cells, researchers have now gained a better understanding of what the tumors look like. The hope is that it will lead to new treatment methods. This is shown by a study with researchers at, among others, Stockholm University and SciLifeLab, recently published in Nature Genetics.

New method for mapping cancer paves the way for treatment of incurable brain cancer in children - Read the full article
DNA Research - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page SciLifeLab - Theme page Life Science - Theme page
Arne Elofsson

AI will map proteins and increase understanding of how cells work

Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning are becoming increasingly important to map the proteins in our cells and how they interact with each other. In a new project, the researchers will develop tools to increase understanding of how cells work.

AI will map proteins and increase understanding of how cells work - Read the full article
Chemistry - Theme page Digitalization and AI - Theme page Life Science - Theme page SciLifeLab - Theme page
Provtagning av forntida DNA.

They map the meeting between modern humans and wild fauna in the northern hemisphere

With the help om advanced DNA technology, researchers will map the human encounter with the wild fauna in Eurasia. What happened when they interacted and how have they affected each other?

They map the meeting between modern humans and wild fauna in the northern hemisphere - Read the full article
DNA Research - Theme page History, Archeology and Cultural Heritage - Theme page Plants, Animals and Nature - Theme page SciLifeLab - Theme page
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Basic research for the benefit of ALS patients

By understanding why certain nerve cells and the muscles they control are resistant to fading in the deadly disease ALS, it is possible to create new possibilities for treatments. Researchers at Stockholm University are now trying to identify and transfer the properties of these resistant nerve cells.

Basic research for the benefit of ALS patients - Read the full article
SciLifeLab - Theme page Chemistry - Theme page Brain Research - Theme page Life Science - Theme page
Photo: Hyunho Kim

Mapping energy conversion in cells

Billions of years of evolution are behind the ingenious protein machinery in nature’s cells, which captures and converts energy. Professor Ville Kaila is conducting a detailed study of the structure and function of the proteins to learn more about the energy conversion process. That knowledge may eventually result in therapies for diseases where the powerhouses of the cells fall short.

Mapping energy conversion in cells - Read the full article
Life Science - Theme page SciLifeLab - Theme page Chemistry - Theme page
Science cover

Electron cryo-microscopy sheds light on how bioenergy makers are made in our body

Using advanced infrastructure at SciLifeLab and Stockholm University, scientists uncover how the body’s energy makers are made. A new paper published in Science by Alexey Amunts’ laboratory with an international team of researchers reports the molecular mechanism of membrane-tethered protein synthesis in mitochondria.

Electron cryo-microscopy sheds light on how bioenergy makers are made in our body - Read the full article
Life Science - Theme page SciLifeLab - Theme page
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Research projects

Cell Biology of nutrient regulated gene expression

Proteins with multiple membrane-segments (MS) initially insert into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of eukaryotic cells. Little is known how such proteins attain native functional structures. We study the ER membrane chaperone Shr3 that specifically facilitates the folding of all 18 members of the yeast amino acid permease family of proteins with 12 MS.

Research
Ecosystem mapping in the Central Arctic Ocean

The marine ecosystem around the North Pole, the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO), is in fast transition from a permanently to a seasonally ice-covered ocean as a result of global warming. The sea-ice loss will enable summer access to the CAO for non-icebreaking ships, including fishery vessels, in the near future and this project is assessing the impact.

Establishment of epigenetic landscapes

Epigenetic patterns of histone modifications contribute to the maintenance of tissue-specific gene expression, but little is known about how such patterns are initially formed during early embryo development. We study this process in Drosophila.

Metabolic regulation and spatio-temporal aspects of fungal virulence in situ

Amino acids are essential nutrients that serve as building blocks of proteins and some are efficiently metabolized for energy. Eukaryotic cells respond to extracellular amino acids by enhancing their uptake. We study the molecular mechanisms underlying this response and the role of amino acid metabolism in promoting virulent growth of human fungal pathogens.

The importance of the MEP pathway in the microbiome and its effect on behavior

Our main aim is to study the effects of bacterial phosphoantigens (HMBPP and IPP) on appetite. We introduced these into mice by gavage and followed the differences in weight gain and gene transcription from relevant tissues. An unexpected effect on male salivary glands focused our interest also on their effects on immune response.

Research
Transcription, coregulators and histone acetylation

Gene transcription is essential for cell identity and its misregulation causes disease. This project explores the connection between transcription and chromatin modifications that make genes accessible to the transcriptional machinery.

Research
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Research groups

Group Emami

We work on infectious-disease biology with a focus on host-pathogen-vector signalling-communication. We provide a fundamental/quantitative description of communication in infection-biology/behaviour plasticity, and genetics towards the design of novel scientific technologies.

Noushin Emami
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Group Faye

Our aim is to study the effects of bacterial phosphoantigens (HMBPP and IPP) on appetite. We introduced these into mice by gavage and followed the differences in weight gain and gene transcription from relevant tissues. An unexpected effect on male salivary glands focused our interest also on their effects on immune response.

Ingrid Faye
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Group Jonas

Our group studies how bacteria grow and reproduce in fluctuating environments. We use a combination of genetics, cell biology and biochemistry to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial growth and cell cycle progression and how these processes are regulated under changing environmental conditions to ensure bacterial survival.

Kristina Jonas
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Group Ljungdahl

Amino acids are essential nutrients that serve as building blocks of proteins and some are efficiently metabolized for energy. Eukaryotic cells respond to extracellular amino acids by enhancing their uptake. We study the molecular mechanisms underlying this response and the role of amino acid metabolism in promoting virulent growth of human fungal pathogens.

Per Ljungdahl
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Group Samakovlis

Branched tubular organs are found in most animals. They include tissues like the lung, kidney and the vascular system. Many of the basic principles of tube construction in these organs are conserved among species. We aim to describe the genetic programs leading to the formation of a functional epithelial tubular network.

Christos Samakovlis
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Group Theopold

We are interested in the innate immune system, its activation, development and interaction with other aspects of physiology. To understand innate immunity at the organismic level, we use the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Ulrich Theopold
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Group Visa

Our research aims at understanding the mechanisms by which RNA and RNA degradation by the exosome contribute to chromatin regulation, gene expression and genome integrity.

Neus Visa
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