Professor Christiane Berger-Schaffitzel
MSc(Hannover), PhD(Zurich), Habiliation (E.T.H.Zurich)
Expertise
Current positions
Professor of Biochemistry
School of Biochemistry
Contact
Media contact
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Research interests
Current work in the lab ranges from eukaryotic translation initiation, via regulation of translation termination to co-translational translocation of membrane proteins via the bacterial holo-translocon. We are particularly interested in how cells recognize problems during protein synthesis and target the defective proteins and their encoding mRNAs to degradation. These processes are vital to all organisms, and even minor problems in mRNA or protein quality control mechanisms give rise to diseases. Our research is funded by the BBSRC and MRC and recently via a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award.
In all our projects, we rely on biochemical methods, using in vitro translation systems. Most projects in the lab also involve biophysics and structural biology, crystallography and cryo-EM. We have established a Wellcome Trust-funded GW4 Facility for high-resolution Cryo-EM with a 200kV Talos Arctica with energy filter and K2 Direct Electron Detector. Image processing is supported by a BBSRC-funded BlueCryo high-performance computing cluster.
Positions
University of Bristol positions
Professor of Biochemistry
School of Biochemistry
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Understanding how the NuRD complex assembles and functions in mouse embryonic stem celss (mESC's)
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of BiochemistryDates
01/05/2017 to 30/04/2022
Split Adenovirus Base Protein (SABIN) - next-generation protein scaffold for in vitro evolution of ultra-high affinity thermostable protein therapeutics
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of BiochemistryDates
01/12/2017 to 30/09/2021
Membrane protein insertion and quality control by the bacterial holo-translocon and FtsH chaperone/protease complex
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of BiochemistryDates
09/01/2017 to 08/07/2020
Publications
Recent publications
12/01/2021Structural biology in the fight against COVID-19
Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
Molecular Simulations suggest Vitamins, Retinoids and Steroids as Ligands binding the Free Fatty Acid Pocket of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
Angewandte Chemie
Production of Multi-subunit Membrane Protein Complexes
Multiprotein Complexes
Free fatty acid binding pocket in the locked structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
Science
New insights into no-go, non-stop and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay complexes
Current Opinion in Structural Biology