Cell Biology Seminar

Mondays - 11:15

Room C161, IZB, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern

Monday, August 11th, 2025 - 10:15 - Baltzerstrasse 4, Room C159

Photo of Prof. Dr. Johannes Herrmann

Prof. Dr. Johannes Herrmann | University of Kaiserslautern | "A selectivity filter facilitates the sorting of mitochondrial proteins"

Mitochondria consist of hundreds of proteins. Most of these proteins are synthesized in the cytosol as precursors and imported into mitochondria. Our group studies the biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins which includes aspects such as their synthesis, targeting, import, folding, assembly and proteolytic degradation. These process are highly relevant for the cellular functionality. A decline in mitochondrial biogenesis is associated with many diseases as well as with aging, in some cases as cause in others more likely as a consequence.

Friday, September 12th, 2025 - 11:15 - Baltzerstrasse 4, Room C161

Photo of Dr. Bungo Akiyoshi

Dr. Bungo Akiyoshi | University of Edinburgh | "Understanding the mechanism of chromosome segregation in diplonemids and kinetoplastids "

The Akiyoshi Lab: We are interested in understanding the mechanism of how eukaryotic cells inherit their genetic material accurately at each round of cell division. We focus on the kinetochore, the macromolecular protein complex that drives chromosome segregation. Although it was widely believed that the structural core of kinetochores would be composed of proteins that are conserved in all eukaryotes (e.g. CENP-A, Ndc80), we discovered an unconventional class of kinetochore proteins (KKT1–25) in Trypanosoma brucei, an evolutionarily-divergent kinetoplastid parasite. Our current goal is to understand how they carry out conserved kinetochore functions such as binding to DNA or microtubules, as well as establishment of proper bi-oriented attachments. We also reconstitute kinetochore complexes and characterize them using various approach, including structural biology and biophysics. By understanding the unique kinetoplastid kinetochores, we aim to reveal fundamental principles of chromosome segregation mechanism in eukaryotes.