Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Karolinska Institutet is a nationally leading academic research center of high international standard where science comes first and foremost. CMB researchers publish regularly in the best international science journals, a result of a long-term in-house culture that promotes real impact and key breakthroughs.
Menu for this area
CMB News
Photo: Rickard KilströmResearching how fat cells impact disease in humans
Our fat cells not only store energy, they are also involved in many physiological processes. Kirsty Spalding researches how dysfunctional fat cells impact health and disease in humans.
Photo: Genis Valentin Gese.New Insights Into How Our Cells Process RNA for Energy Production
Researchers at the Department of Cell and Molacular Biology, Karolinska Institutet have made a major discovery in how human cells produce energy. Their study, published in the EMBO Journal, reveals the detailed mechanisms of how mitochondria process transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, which are essential for energy production.
Photo: Linda LindellCamilla Björkegren has been appointed Head of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), starting June 1, 2024.
The decision was signed by Vice President Martin Bergö on May 14, 2024. Camilla will take over as Head of the Department from András Simon on June 1, 2024, and the appointment is for five years.
"I am very happy and grateful for the appointment and look forward to working with colleagues within and outside CMB for the continuous development of the department and KI," says Camilla Björkegren.
Photo: Daniel HollScar formation after spinal cord injury is more complex than previously thought
New research reveals that scar formation after spinal cord injuries is more complex than previously thought. Scientists have identified two types of perivascular cells as key contributors to scar tissue, which hinders nerve regeneration and functional recovery. These findings are also relevant for other brain and spinal cord injuries and could lead to targeted therapies for reducing scarring and improving outcomes.
Photo: Christian Göritz lab, Karolinska InstitutetFibroblasts in the penis are more important for erectile function than previously thought
Regular erections could be important for maintaining erectile function, according to a new study on mice published in Science by researchers at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Karolinska Institutet. “We discovered that an increased frequency of erections leads to more fibroblasts that enable erection and vice versa, that a decreased frequency results in fewer of these cells,” says principal investigator Christian Göritz.
Latest publications
New technique developed for targeted protein degradation
A new publication in Nature Communications from researchers at The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology solves a long-standing problem by establishing a system that allows site-specific protein degradation within mitochondria, the cellular hubs for energy production and metabolism.
Understanding how cells work often requires manipulating protein function. Methods used to do this usually cause total ablation of protein function and cannot provide information about their specific roles within different cellular compartments. This is especially challenging for organelles like mitochondria. Addressing this, the researchers present, for the first time, a technique for targeted protein degradation within the mitochondria of yeast and human cells. They have also devised a way to control the induction of degradation, thereby allowing time-resolved analysis.
Understanding Liver Fibrosis: Insights from Alagille Syndrome
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Charles University studying liver fibrosis have made an exciting new discovery, now published in EMBO Molecular Medicine. Their latest findings could pave the way for innovative approaches to treating this challenging condition.
What influences the extent of scar tissue, or fibrosis, that develops in the liver when people suffer from liver disease? While a small amount of fibrosis is a normal part of the healing process, excessive fibrosis can occur, leading to complications and, ultimately, liver failure. Understanding the mechanisms that drive this escalation is essential in the fight against liver disease.
Targeting leukemia's survival route: a novel approach to overcoming leukemia recurrence
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have in collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland and Lund University a new publication in Genome Biology, demonstrated that targeting cell cycle and cell fate regulatory programs blocks non-genetic cancer evolution in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Findings from Olle Sangfelt's group at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology in collaboration with the group of Merja Heinäniemi, the University of Eastern Finland and Anna Hagström-Andersson, Lund University shed light on the intricate connections between gene regulation, cell cycle control, and cell fate, providing a rationale for combining WEE1 inhibitors with other targeted therapies to enhance treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects.
Gene expression influences the three-dimensional folding of chromosomes by altering the structure of the DNA helix
A new publication in Molecular Cell presents a collaborative study within the framework of the UTokyo-KI LINK program, headed by Camilla Björkegren from The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Karolinska Institutet, Kristian Jeppsson and Katsuhiko Shirahige from The University of Tokyo.
The study shows that a protein complex named Smc5/6 binds DNA structures called positive supercoils. These form when the chromosomal DNA double helix folds onto itself due to overtwisting caused by transcription, which is the first step in gene expression. The study presents in vivo data indicating that Smc5/6 binds to the base of chromosome loops in regions that contain high levels of transcription-induced positive supercoils.
News at CMB
Job opportunities at CMB
Events
CMB Calendar
More articles, news and events
News, articles and events from CMB, listed by year.