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u u u did you miss this ERC awards Starting Grants AI creates “new” Beatles song n 8 September, the ERC announced the results lowMachines, the artificial intelligence software of its 2016 Starting Grants competition. 325 capable of professionally producing music and early-career researchers with a record number created by Advanced Grant and Proof of Concept of 42 different nationalities in 23 countries holder François Pachet has released its first songs. Oacross Europe have been awarded grants of up to €1.5 FThey are “Daddy’s car” in the style of The Beatles and “Mr million, for a total of €485 million. Funded projects include, Shadow” inspired by Americana which makes them the for example, improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy, first-ever entire songs composed by artificial intelligence. sustainable production of hydrogen fuel, establishing a new A full album release is planned in 2017. The research international law of citizenship and boosting the immune behind FlowMachines also inspired the story of Max system of crops. The success rate of the call was around Order, part of ERCcOMICS, which recently published it 11%. seventh episode. New Scientific Council members Proof of Concept: second round rofessors Kurt Mehlhorn and Nektarios his year’s second Proof of Concept call awarded Tavernarakis were appointed as new members grants to 45 ERC grant holders. The grants, of the ERC Scientific Council on 9 August, for a worth up to €150,000, support a wide array of four-year mandate. Kurt Mehlhorn is Professor of projects. For instance, a researcher in France PComputer Science at Saarland University and Director of Twill carry out clinical trials of a cure for a rare cancer; the Max Planck Institute for Informatics in Saarbrücken, a scholar in Germany will set up a phonetics laboratory Germany. Nektarios Tavernarakis is Professor of Molecular service to diagnose speech impairment via the web; a Systems Biology at the Medical School of the University of scientist in Austria will develop a method to eliminate Crete and Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology turbulence in oil pipelines; a grantee in the Netherlands and Biotechnology, at the Foundation for Research and will test neuroprotective therapy for stroke. Overall Technology in Heraklion, Greece. results of the 2016 Proof of Concept rounds will be published around January 2017. 18 ideas #3 - Autumn 2016 - ERC Newsletter.

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Autophagic Pathways in Health and Disease: Mitophagy and Neurodegeneration Nektarios Tavernarakis Institute of Molecular Biology
Autophagic pathways in health and disease: Mitophagy and neurodegeneration Nektarios Tavernarakis Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece Mitochondria, the main energy hub of the cell, are highly dynamic organelles, playing essential roles in fundamental cellular processes. Mitochondrial function impinges on several signalling pathways modulating cellular metabolism, cell survival and healthspan. Maintenance of mitochondrial function and energy homeostasis requires both generation of newly synthesized and elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria. Impaired mitochondrial function and excessive mitochondrial content are major characteristics of ageing and several human pathophysiological conditions, highlighting the pivotal role of the coordination between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. However, the cellular and molecular underpinnings of mitochondrial mass homeostasis remain obscure. We found that DCT-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of mammalian BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX, is a key mediator of mitophagy promoting longevity under stress. DCT-1 acts downstream of the PINK-1-PDR-1/Parkin pathway and is ubiquitinated upon mitophagy-inducing conditions to mediate the removal of damaged mitochondria. Accumulation of damaged mitochondria triggers SKN-1 activation, which initiates a bipartite retrograde signaling pathway stimulating the coordinated induction of both mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy genes. Taken together, our results unravel a homeostatic feedback loop that allows cells to adjust their mitochondrial population in response to environmental and intracellular cues. Age-dependent decline of mitophagy both inhibits removal of dysfunctional or superfluous mitochondria and impairs mitochondrial biogenesis resulting in progressive mitochondrial accretion and consequently, deterioration of cell function. .
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Nucleophagy: from Homeostasis to Disease
Cell Death & Differentiation (2019) 26:630–639 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-018-0266-5 REVIEW ARTICLE Nucleophagy: from homeostasis to disease 1,2 1,2 Margarita-Elena Papandreou ● Nektarios Tavernarakis Received: 7 November 2018 / Revised: 9 December 2018 / Accepted: 17 December 2018 / Published online: 15 January 2019 © The Author(s) 2019. This article is published with open access Abstract Nuclear abnormalities are prominent in degenerative disease and progeria syndromes. Selective autophagy of organelles is instrumental in maintaining cell homeostasis and prevention of premature ageing. Although the nucleus is the control centre of the cell by safeguarding our genetic material and controlling gene expression, little is known in relation to nuclear autophagy. Here we present recent discoveries in nuclear recycling, namely nucleophagy in physiology in yeast and nucleophagic events that occur in pathological conditions in mammals. The selective nature of degrading nuclear envelope components, DNA, RNA and nucleoli is highlighted. Potential effects of perturbed nucleophagy in senescence and longevity are examined. Moreover, the open questions that remain to be explored are discussed concerning the conditions, receptors and substrates in homeostatic nucleophagy. 1234567890();,: 1234567890();,: Facts: ● Are there different types of macronucleophagy depend- ing on the underlying triggering conditions and different ● Selective autophagy of nuclear components is termed mechanisms that would selectively degrade different nucleophagy nuclear
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Protein Metabolism and Homeostasis in Aging Series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
springer.com Nektarios Tavernarakis (Ed.) Protein Metabolism and Homeostasis in Aging Series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Illustrates that aging cells are characterized by alterations in the rate, level and accuracy of protein synthesis compared to young ones, and that mRNA translation is controlled at multiple levels Discusses paradoxical situation of autophagy up-regulation in models of premature aging Role of mitochondria in protein quality control and the influence of reactive oxygen species Aging is loosely defined as the accumulation of changes in an organism over time. At the cellular level such changes are distinct and multidimensional: DNA replication ceases, cells stop dividing, they become senescent and eventually die. DNA metabolism and chromosomal 2010, XXI, 249 p. maintenance, together with protein metabolism are critical in the aging process. The focus of this book is on the role of protein metabolism and homeostasis in aging. An overview is Printed book provided of the current knowledge in the area, including protein synthesis, accuracy and repair, Hardcover post-translational modifications, degradation and turnover, and how they define and influence 199,99 € | £179.99 | $249.99 aging. The chapters mainly focus on well-characterised factors and pathways, but new areas [1]213,99 € (D) | 219,99 € (A) | CHF are also presented, where associations with aging are just being elucidated by current 236,00 experimental data. Protein turnover, the balance between protein synthesis and protein Softcover degradation are carefully maintained in healthy cells. Chapters 1 and 2 illustrate that aging 186,90 € | £139.99 | $219.99 cells are characterised by alterations in the rate, level and accuracy of protein synthesis [1]199,98 € (D) | 205,59 € (A) | CHF compared to young ones, and that mRNA translation, essential for cell growth and survival, is 220,50 controlled at multiple levels.
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Assessment of De Novo Protein Synthesis Rates in Caenorhabditis Elegans
Materials List for Assessment of de novo Protein Synthesis Rates in Caenorhabditis elegans Margarita Elena Papandreou*1,2, Konstantinos Palikaras*1,2, Nektarios Tavernarakis1,2 1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece 2Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, 70013, Crete, Greece * These authors contributed equally Corresponding Author Citation Nektarios Tavernarakis Papandreou, M.E., Palikaras, K., Tavernarakis, N. Assessment of de novo Protein [email protected] Synthesis Rates in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Vis. Exp. (), e61170, doi:10.3791/61170 (2020). Date Published DOI URL September 12, 2020 10.3791/61170 jove.com/video/61170 Materials Name Company Catalog Number Comments Agar Sigma-Aldrich 5040 Agarose Biozym 8,40,004 Agarose pads 2% Calcium chloride dehydrate (CaCl2? Sigma-Aldrich C5080 2H2O) Cholesterol SERVA Electrophoresis 17101.01 cycloheximide Sigma-Aldrich C-7698 Dissecting stereomicroscope Nikon Corporation SMZ645 edc-3(ok1427);Ex[punc-119GFP, Tavernarakis lab Maintain animals at 20 °C pRF4] Epifluorescence microscope Zeiss Axio Imager Z2 Escherichia coli OP50 strain Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (CGC) Fluorescence dissecting Zeiss SteREO Lumar V12 stereomicroscope Greiner Petri dishes (60 x 15 mm) Sigma-Aldrich P5237 ife-2(ok306);Ex[pife-2GFP, pRF4] Tavernarakis lab Maintain animals at 20 °C image analysis software Fiji https://fiji.sc KH2PO4 EMD Millipore 1,37,010 K2HPO4 EMD Millipore 1,04,873 LB liquid medium
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Established by the European Commission Jean Pierre BOURGUIGNON ERC President © Art & Build Architect / Montois Partners / credits: S. Brison June 2019 The European Research Council Established by the European Commission ERC: Achievements and Perspectives Jean Pierre BOURGUIGNON ERC President © Art & Build Architect / Montois Partners / credits: S. Brison June 2019 What is the ERC? Established by the European Commission The ERC supports excellence in Frontier Research through a bottom-up, individual-based, pan-European competition Support for the individual scientists – no networks! Global peer-review No predetermined subjects (bottom-up) Strategy Support of frontier research in all fields of science and humanities Scientific governance: independent Scientific Council with 22 members including the ERC President; full authority over funding strategy and evaluation Support by the ERC Executive Agency (autonomous) Legislation Scientific quality as the only criterion aiming for excellence │ 3 ERC Scientific Council in the Lead Established by the European Commission • Prof. Manuel ARELLANO (Economics) • Prof. Jean-Pierre BOURGUIGNON (Mathematics), ERC President • Prof. Paola BOVOLENTA (Neurobiology) • Prof. Margaret BUCKINGHAM (Biology) • Prof. Eveline CRONE (Psychology) • Prof. Ben L. FERINGA (Organic Chemistry) • Prof. Andrzej JAJSZCZYK (Electronics and Communication Engineering) • Prof. Tomas JUNGWIRTH (Condensed Matter Physics) • Prof. Michael KRAMER (Astrophysics) • Prof. Kurt MEHLHORN (Computer Science) • Prof. Barbara ROMANOWICZ
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EXECUTION of NECROTIC-LIKE CELL DEATH in CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS REQUIRES CATHEPSIN D ACTIVITY Nektarios Tavernarakis*, Keli Xu
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Shechtman – Suresh Convocation & Honorary Symposium
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Chapter 2. the Role of Autophagy in Aging: Molecular Mechanisms
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Short Biography – Nektarios Tavernarakis
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Mitochondrial Homeostasis: the Interplay Between Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Biogenesis
EXG-09344; No of Pages 7 Experimental Gerontology xxx (2014) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Experimental Gerontology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/expgero Review Mitochondrial homeostasis: The interplay between mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis Konstantinos Palikaras, Nektarios Tavernarakis ⁎ Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece article info abstract Article history: Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles and their proper function is crucial for the maintenance of cellular Received 7 November 2013 homeostasis. Mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy are two pathways that regulate mitochondrial content Received in revised form 15 January 2014 and metabolism preserving homeostasis. The tight regulation between these opposing processes is essential Accepted 20 January 2014 for cellular adaptation in response to cellular metabolic state, stress and other intracellular or environmental Available online xxxx signals. Interestingly, imbalance between mitochondrial proliferation and degradation process results in progres- Keywords: sive development of numerous pathologic conditions. Here we review recent studies that highlight the intricate Ageing interplay between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, mainly focusing on the molecular mechanisms that Autophagy govern the coordination of these processes and their involvement in age-related pathologies and ageing. Mitochondria © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Mitophagy Parkin PGC-1α PINK1 1. Introduction ranging from yeast to mammals (Artal-Sanz and Tavernarakis, 2009; Bereiter-Hahn et al., 2008; Kaeberlein, 2010; H.C. Lee et al., 2002; T.M. Mitochondria are double membrane-bound organelles, essential Lee et al., 2002; Preston et al., 2008). However, the molecular mecha- for energy production and cellular homeostasis in eukaryotic cells.
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