Professor Berndt Muller

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 Theo 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 Dr Andrzej Stasiak and 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.

External Memberships

Member of the Biochemical Society

Member of the Genetics Society

Member of the RNA Society

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.

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 Responsibilities

Biochemistry Pogramme Coordinator

Course co-ordination of BC3503 (The Molecular Control of Cell Function) and BC4314 (Honours Biochemistry Option 2)