Personal Chair
- About
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- Email Address
- b.mueller@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 437536
- Office Address
Berndt Müller PhD
Institute of Medical Sciences (Room 4:35)
University of Aberdeen Foresterhill
Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
1978-1988: Berndt graduated with a Diploma in Natural Sciences (Biology) from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich. He then joined the group of Professor Theodor Koller at the Institute for Cell Biology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology for postgraduate studies. The degree of Dr. sc. nat. (PhD) was awarded for work on the DNA recombination protein RecA executed under the supervision of Professor Koller and Dr Andrzej Stasiak, and with Dr Elisabeth Di Capua.
1988-1993: Postdoctoral Researcher in the group of Dr Stephen West at the ICRF (now CRUK) Clare Hall Laboratories investigating DNA recombination enzymes.
1993-1999: Junior group leader in the Laboratory for Developmental Biology at the Institute for Cell Biology of Bern University led by Professor Daniel Schümperli, investigating the control of animal histone gene expression brought about by RNA 3' end formation.
since 1999: Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor at the University of Aberdeen leading work on RNA processing. We have developed a strong research program that focuses on understanding the molecular machinery involved in mRNA 5' end formation by spliced leader trans-splicing. Visit The Aberdeen Worm Laboratory site for more information.
Qualifications
- Privatdozent Molecular Cell Biology1999 - University of Bern
- PhD Cell Biology1988 - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich
- Diploma Natural Sciences1983 - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich
External Memberships
Member of the Biochemical Society
Member of the Genetics Society
Member of the RNA Society
- Research
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Research Overview
The lab has a long-standing interest in the control of gene expression at the level of mRNA. This started in 1993, when Berndt joined the University of Bern where he worked with Prof Daniel Schümperli.
Prior to that he did his PhD in the group of Prof Theo Koller at the Institute of Cell Biology of the ETH in Zürich, with Dr Andrzej Stasiak and Dr Elisabeth Di Capua, analysing the interaction of the recombination protein RecA protein with DNA. He then spent 5 years in the lab of Dr Stephen West at ICRF (now Cancer Research UK) studying the Biochemistry of Genetic Recombination.
Subsequently, at Bern University, he identified factors that turn histone pre-mRNAs into mRNA by a unique 3' end formation process. This work was continued at the University of Aberdeen and has led to insight into the molecular function of these factors.
At Aberdeen, he also linked the key translation factor eIF4E to autism, and explored how RNA stability is implicated in the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.
More recently he has focused on understanding the molecular mechanism of spliced leader trans-splicing in gene expression in nematodes. Have a look at https://www.aberdeenwormlab.org/ for latest news.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Biomedical Sciences.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Research Specialisms
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetic Engineering
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
The current research focuses on understanding the mechanism of spliced leader trans-splicing in gene expression in nematodes. This is an unusual RNA splicing reaction, dependent on a set of specialised RNAs and proteins. The function of these molecules is being investigated using genome engineering, RNAseq, proteomics and high resolution microscopy combined with biochemistry and molecular biology.
For more information visit The Aberdeen Worm Lab.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
Biochemistry Pogramme Coordinator
Course co-ordination of BC3503 (The Molecular Control of Cell Function) and BC4314 (Honours Biochemistry Option 2)
- Publications
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Page 4 of 6 Results 31 to 40 of 53
Assembly of U7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle and histone RNA 3 ' processing in Xenopus egg extracts
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 275, no. 32, pp. 24284-24293Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M003253200
Positive and negative mutant selection in the human histone hairpin-binding protein using the yeast three-hybrid system
Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 28, no. 7, pp. 1594-1603Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSpecificities of Caenorhabditis elegans and human hairpin binding proteins for the first nucleotide in the histone mRNA hairpin loop
RNA , vol. 6, no. 11, pp. 1539-1550Contributions to Journals: ArticlesA 5 '-3 ' exonuclease activity involved in forming the 3 ' products of histone pre-mRNA processing in vitro
RNA , vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 1034-1046Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe U7 snRNP and the hairpin binding protein: Key players in histone mRNA metabolism
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 567-576Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/scdb.1997.0182 |
Characterization of the calf thymus hairpin-binding factor involved in histone pre-mRNA 3' end processing
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 272, no. 16, pp. 10435-10441Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.272.16.10435
The gene for histone RNA hairpin binding protein is located on human chromosome 4 and encodes a novel type of RNA binding protein
EMBO Journal, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 769-778Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/emboj/16.4.769
Processing of Holliday Junctions by the Escherichia-Coli RuvA, RuvB, RuvC and RECG Proteins
Experientia, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 216-222Contributions to Journals: Literature ReviewsAn assay for in vitro recombination between duplex DNA molecules
DNA-Protein Interactions: Principles and Protocols. Kneale, G. (ed.). Humana Press, pp. 413-423Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersBranch Migration of Holliday Junctions Promoted by the Escherichia coli RuvA and RuvB Proteins: 2. Interaction of RuvB with DNA
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 268, no. 23, pp. 17185-17189Contributions to Journals: Articles