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Professor Berndt Muller

Professor Berndt Muller
Professor Berndt Muller
Professor Berndt Muller

Personal Chair

Accepting PhDs

About
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
ORCiD
Personal Website

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 Biology 
    1999 - University of Bern 
  • PhD Cell Biology 
    1988 - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich 
  • Diploma Natural Sciences 
    1983 - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich 

External Memberships

Member of the Biochemical Society

Member of the Genetics Society

Member of the RNA Society

Research

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.

Email Me

Biomedical Sciences

Supervising
Accepting PhDs
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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

Courses

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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  • A nematode-specific ribonucleoprotein complex mediates interactions between the major nematode spliced leader snRNP and its target pre-mRNAs

    Eijlers, P., Al-Khafaji, M. I., Soto Martin, E., Fasimoye, R. Y., Stead, D., Wenzel, M., Müller, B. M., Pettitt, J.
    Nucleic Acids Research
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • CMTr mediated 2`-O-ribose methylation status of cap adjacent-nucleotides across animals

    DIX, T. C., Haussmann, I. U., Brivio, S., Nallasivan, M. P., HADZHIEV, Y., MÜLLER, F., Müller, B. M., Pettitt, J., Soller, M.
    RNA , vol. 28, no. 10, pp. 1377-1390
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A novel, essential trans-splicing protein connects the nematode SL1 snRNP to the CBC-ARS2 complex

    Fasimoye, R. Y., Spencer, R. E., Soto Martin, E., Eijlers, P., Elmassoudi, H., Brivio, S., Mangana, C., Sabele, V., Rechtorikova, R., Wenzel, M., Connolly, B., Pettitt, J., Müller, B. M.
    Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 50, no. 13, pp. 7591-7607
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A Bioluminescence Reporter Assay for Retinoic Acid Control of Translation of the GluR1 Subunit of the AMPA Glutamate Receptor

    Khatib, T., Müller, B. M., McCaffery, P.
    Bioluminescence: Methods and Protocols, Volume 1. Kim, S. (ed.). Humana Press, pp. 197-207, 11 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters (Peer-Reviewed)

  • SLIDR and SLOPPR: flexible identification of spliced leader trans-splicing and prediction of eukaryotic operons from RNA-Seq data

    Wenzel, M., Müller, B. M., Pettitt, J.
    BMC Bioinformatics, vol. 22, 140
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Resolution of polycistronic RNA by SL2 trans-splicing is a widely-conserved nematode trait

    Wenzel, M., Johnston, C. S., Müller, B. M., Pettitt, J., Connolly, B.
    RNA , vol. 26, no. 12, pp. 1891-1904
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Deep evolutionary origin of nematode SL2 trans-splicing revealed by genome-wide analysis of the Trichinella spiralis transcriptome

    Wenzel, M., Johnston, C., Müller, B., Pettitt, J., Connolly, B.
    bioRxiv
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A Bioluminescence Reporter Assay for Retinoic Acid Control of Translation of the GluR1 Subunit of the AMPA Glutamate Receptor

    Khatib, T., Whiting, A., Chisholm, D. R., Redfern, C., Muller, B., McCaffery, P.
    Molecular Neurobiology, vol. 56, no. 10, pp. 7074-7084
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A high-throughput screen for the identification of compounds that inhibit nematode gene expression by targeting spliced leader trans-splicing

    Pandarakalam, G. C., Speake, M., McElroy, S., Alturkistani, A., Philippe, L., Pettitt, J., Muller, B., Connolly, B.
    International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, vol. 10, pp. 28-37
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • An in vivo genetic screen for genes involved in spliced leader trans-splicing indicates a crucial role for continuous de novo spliced leader RNP assembly

    Philippe, L., Pandarakalam, G. C., Fasimoye, R., Harrison, N., Connolly, B., Pettitt, J., Muller, B.
    Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 45, no. 14, pp. 8474-8483
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Modelling Robust Feedback Control Mechanisms That Ensure Reliable Coordination of Histone Gene Expression with DNA Replication

    Christopher, A., Hameister, H., Corrigall, H., Ebenhoeh, O., Muller, B., Ullner, E.
    PloS ONE, vol. 11, no. 10, e0165848
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Mutation of genes controlling mRNA metabolism and protein synthesis predisposes to neurodevelopmental disorders

    Sartor, F., Anderson, J., McCaig, C., Miedzybrodzka, Z., Müller, B.
    Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 43, no. 6, pp. 1259-1265
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Full UPF3B function is critical for neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells

    Alrahbeni, T., Sartor, F., Anderson, J., Miedzybrodzka, Z., McCaig, C., Muller, B.
    Molecular brain, vol. 8, 33
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Operons Are a Conserved Feature of Nematode Genomes

    Pettitt, J., Philippe, L., Sarkar, D., Johnston, C., Gothe, H., Massie, D., Connolly, B., Muller, B.
    Genetics, vol. 197, no. 4, pp. 1201-1211
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Replication stress-induced alternative mRNA splicing alters properties of the histone RNA-binding protein HBP/SLBP: a key factor in the control of histone gene expression

    Rattray, A. M. J., Nicholson, P., Muller, B.
    Bioscience Reports, vol. 33, no. 5, e00066
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The control of histone gene expression

    Rattray, A. M., Muller, B. M.
    Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 880-885
    Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews

  • SL2-like spliced leader RNAs in the basal nematode Prionchulus punctatus: new insight into the evolution of nematode SL2 RNAs

    Harrison, N., Kalbfleisch, A., Connolly, B., Pettitt, J., Muller, B.
    RNA , vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 1500-1507
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The evolution of spliced leader trans-splicing in nematodes

    Pettitt, J., Harrison, N., Stansfield, I., Connolly, B., Müller, B.
    Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 1125-1130
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Deregulation of EIF4E: a novel mechanism for autism

    Neves-Pereira, M., Muller, B., Massie, D., Williams, J. H. G., O'Brien, P. C. M., Hughes, A., Shen, S., St Clair, D., Miedzybrodzka, Z.
    Journal of Medical Genetics, vol. 46, no. 11, pp. 759-765
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Treatment and Diagnosis of Behavioural Disorders

    Miedzybrodzka, Z. H., St Clair, D. M., Muller, B. M., Neves-Pereira, M. D. L., Massie, D.
    Patents: Patents

  • Post-transcriptional control of animal histone gene expression: not so different after all...

    Nicholson, P., Muller, B. M.
    Molecular BioSystems, vol. 4, no. 7, pp. 721-725
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Spliced leader trans-splicing in the nematode Trichinella spiralis uses highly polymorphic, noncanonical spliced leaders

    Pettitt, J., Muller, B. M., Stansfield, I., Connolly, B.
    RNA , vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 760-770
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • DNA-activated protein kinase functions in a newly observed S phase checkpoint that links histone mRNA abundance with DNA replication

    Muller, B. M., Blackburn, J., Feijoo, C., Zhao, X., Smythe, C.
    Journal of Cell Biology, vol. 179, no. 7, pp. 1385-1398
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Histone gene expression and histone mRNA 3' end structure in Caenorhabditis elegans

    Keall, R., Whitelaw, S., Pettitt, J., Muller, B.
    BMC Molecular Biology, vol. 8, 51
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Are multiple checkpoint mediators involved in a checkpoint linking histone gene expression with DNA replication?

    Muller, B., Blackburn, J., Feijoo, C., Zhao, X., Smythe, C.
    Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 1369-1371
    Contributions to Journals: Letters

  • The stem-loop binding protein stimulates histone translation at an early step in the initiation pathway

    Gorgoni, B., Andrews, S. C., Schaller, A., Schümperli, D., Gray, K., Muller, B. M.
    RNA , vol. 11, no. 7, pp. 1030-1042
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The human histone gene expression regulator HBP/SLBP is required for histone and DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression and cell proliferation in mitotic cells

    Zhao, X., McKillop-Smith, S., Muller, B. M.
    Journal of Cell Science, vol. 117, no. 25, pp. 6043-6051
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The Caenorhabditis elegans histone hairpin-binding protein is required for core histone gene expression and is essential for embryonic and postembryonic cell division

    Pettitt, J., Crombie, C., Schümperli, D., Muller, B. M.
    Journal of Cell Science, vol. 115, no. 4, pp. 857-866
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Structure of the histone mRNA hairpin required for cell cycle regulation of histone gene expression

    Zanier, K., Crombie, C., Muller, B. M., Schümperli, D., Linge, J. P., Nilges, M., Sattler, M., Luyten, I.
    RNA , vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 29-46
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Purified U7 snRNPs lack the Sm proteins D1 and D2 but contain Lsm10, a new 14 kDa Sm D1-like protein

    Pillai, R. S., Will, C. L., Lührmann, R., Schümperli, D., Muller, B. M.
    EMBO Journal, vol. 20, no. 19, pp. 5470-5479
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Assembly of U7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle and histone RNA 3 ' processing in Xenopus egg extracts

    Muller, B., Link, J., Smythe, C.
    The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 275, no. 32, pp. 24284-24293
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Positive and negative mutant selection in the human histone hairpin-binding protein using the yeast three-hybrid system

    Martin, F., Michel, F., Zenklusen, D., Muller, B. M., Schumperli, D.
    Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 28, no. 7, pp. 1594-1603
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Specificities of Caenorhabditis elegans and human hairpin binding proteins for the first nucleotide in the histone mRNA hairpin loop

    Michel, F., Schumperli, D., Muller, B.
    RNA , vol. 6, no. 11, pp. 1539-1550
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A 5 '-3 ' exonuclease activity involved in forming the 3 ' products of histone pre-mRNA processing in vitro

    Walther, T. N., Koning, T. H. W., Schumperli, D., Muller, B. M.
    RNA , vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 1034-1046
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The U7 snRNP and the hairpin binding protein: Key players in histone mRNA metabolism

    Muller, B. M., Schumperli, D.
    Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 567-576
    Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews

  • Characterization of the calf thymus hairpin-binding factor involved in histone pre-mRNA 3' end processing

    Schaller, A., Martin, F., Muller, B. M.
    The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 272, no. 16, pp. 10435-10441
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The gene for histone RNA hairpin binding protein is located on human chromosome 4 and encodes a novel type of RNA binding protein

    Martin, F., Schaller, A., Eglite, S., Schümperli, D., Muller, B. M.
    EMBO Journal, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 769-778
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Processing of Holliday Junctions by the Escherichia-Coli RuvA, RuvB, RuvC and RECG Proteins

    Muller, B. M., WEST, S. C.
    Experientia, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 216-222
    Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews

  • An assay for in vitro recombination between duplex DNA molecules

    Muller, B. M., West, S.
    DNA-Protein Interactions: Principles and Protocols. Kneale, G. (ed.). Humana Press, pp. 413-423
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Branch Migration of Holliday Junctions Promoted by the Escherichia coli RuvA and RuvB Proteins: 2. Interaction of RuvB with DNA

    Muller, B. M., TSANEVA, I. R., WEST, S. C.
    The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 268, no. 23, pp. 17185-17189
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Branch migration of Holliday junctions promoted by the Escherichia coli RuvA and RuvB proteins: I. Comparison of RuvAB- and RuvB-mediated reactions

    Muller, B. M., TSANEVA, I. R., WEST, S. C.
    The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 268, no. 23, pp. 17179-17184
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Unusual Stability of Recombination Intermediates made by Escherichia coli RecA Protein

    Muller, B. M., BURDETT, I., WEST, S. C.
    EMBO Journal, vol. 11, no. 7, pp. 2685-2693
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • ATP-dependent branch migration of Holliday junctions promoted by the RuvA and RuvB proteins of E. coli

    Tsaneva, I. R., Muller, B. M., West, S. C.
    Cell, vol. 69, no. 7, pp. 1171-1180
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Action of RecBCD enzyme on Holliday structures made by RecA

    Muller, B. M., Boehmer, P. E., Emmerson, P. T., West, S. C.
    The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 266, no. 28, pp. 19028-19033
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • RecA-mediated annealing of single-stranded DNA and its relation to the mechanism of homologous recombination

    Muller, B. M., Stasiak, A.
    Journal of Molecular Biology, vol. 221, no. 1, pp. 131-145
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • T7 endonuclease I resolves Holliday junctions formed in vitro by RecA protein

    Muller, B. M., Jones, C., West, S. C.
    Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 18, no. 19, pp. 5633-5636
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Characterization of the DNA binding activity of stable RecA-DNA complexes : Interaction between the two DNA binding sites within RecA helical filaments

    Muller, B. M., Koller, T., Stasiak, A.
    Journal of Molecular Biology, vol. 212, no. 1, pp. 97-112
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Enzymatic formation and resolution of Holliday junctions in vitro

    Muller, B. M., Jones, C., Kemper, B., West, S. C.
    Cell, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 329-336
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Intermediates in genetic recombination : formation and resolution of Holliday junctions in vitro

    West, S., Muller, B. M., Conley, E., Kemper, B., Parsons, C., Picksley, S.
    Structure and Methods: Volume I: Human genome initiative & DNA Recombination. Sama, R., Sama, M. (eds.). Adenine Press, pp. 193-202
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Molecular mechanism of post-replication repair

    Conley, E., Muller, B. M., West, S.
    Progress in Clinical & Biological Research, vol. 340A, pp. 121-133
    Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews

  • Molecular mechanism of post-replicational repair: formation and resolution of recombination intermediates

    Conley, E., Muller, B. M., West, S.
    Mutation and the Environment: 5th International conference on environmental mutagens : Papers. Mendelsohn, M., Albertini, R. (eds.). Wiley/Lyss Inc, pp. 121-133
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Resolution of Holliday Junctions Within RECA Helical Filaments

    Muller, B. M., JONES, C., WEST, S. C.
    Ionizing Radiation Damage to DNA: Molecular Aspects. Wallace, S. S., Painter, R. B. (eds.). Wiley-Liss, pp. 163-171, 9 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • The accessibility of DNA to dimethylsulfate in complexes with recA protein

    Di Capua, E., Muller, B. M.
    EMBO Journal, vol. 6, no. 8, pp. 2493-2498
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

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