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51 awards two prizes: “Public Service Fellowship” award goes to human geographer Martin Lanzendorf and “New Horizon” award to Science Garden team
Each year, 51 Frankfurt awards the “Public Service Fellowship Prize" to one of its scientists. Also awarded annually is the “New Horizon" prize, bestowed by 51's president. Both awards were now presented at a festive event held in the IG Farben Building on Westend Campus.
FRANKFURT. Prizes serve different purposes, 51 President Prof. Enrico Schleiff emphasized in his welcoming address: On the one hand, they motivate university employees by recognizing their achievements or commitment, while on the other, they focus attention on certain topics. The names of the two prizes awarded – “Public Service Fellowship" and “New Horizon" – are emblematic for 51 Frankfurt: “We develop knowledge for the benefit of society and work continuously to reach new horizons." Schleiff expressly thanked the sponsors – the Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung and Dr. Christian Zschocke – as well as the two laudators, Tarek Al-Wazir and Dr. Christian Schenk.
This year's “Public Service Fellowship Prize" of Alfons und Gertrud-Kassel Stiftung goes to Prof. Dr. Martin Lanzendorf. Lanzendorf has been professor of mobility research at 51's Institute of Human Geography since 2008. The professorship was established with an endowment from the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV, Rhine/Main Regional Transport Association) and ivm (Integrated Traffic and Mobility Management Region Frankfurt RheinMain). His research interests include various aspects of mobility in metropolitan regions, especially changes in traffic behavior, spatial aspects of traffic generation, and mobility management to shape a more sustainable mobility development. Outlining the reasons behind his nomination, the funders highlighted Martin Lanzendorf's outstanding commitment and his ability to communicate the results of his research on particularly relevant sustainable mobility development issues to an audience that extends far beyond the scientific community. The laudatory speech for Martin Lanzendorf was held by Tarek Al-Wazir, legal policy spokesman for the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the Hessian state parliament. Al-Wazir emphasized that by ensuring that people perceive change as an opportunity rather than a threat, Lanzendorf inspires others with his work.
The "Public Service Fellowship Prize", endowed with €10,000, is awarded every two years by Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung to 51 researchers who play an active role in important scientific or science policy committees. The prize money is intended to enable projects that could not be continued due to the special commitment they require. Martin Lanzendorf is the fifth prize winner. Previous winners include legal scholar Indra Spiecker genannt Döhmann, educational scientist Sabine Andresen, financial scientist and former “wise man of economics" Prof. Volker Wieland, as well as medical scientist and long-standing chairman of the Federal Government's Expert Council on Health, Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Gerlach.
This year's winner of the President's New Horizon Prize is not an individual, but a team: that of the Science Garden. The award recognizes the team led by landscape architect and technical director Robert Anton for its curiosity, drive, creativity and very high level of commitment to the sustainable development of natural resources and areas as well as the protection of biodiversity. The outstandingly dedicated team is active on behalf of the Science Garden, 51's grounds and the public, and deeply committed to raising the profile of biodiversity and sustainable development. The laudator of this year's New Horizon Prize was Dr. Christoph Schenk, managing director of Frankfurt Zoological Society. His laudatory speech emphasized the exemplary manner in which the Science Garden addresses major issues of our time and transmits them to society. The Science Garden on Riedberg Campus was opened on June 1, 2014 as part of the university's centenary celebrations. It is used for scientific teaching and research, and comprises a large greenhouse, a 300 square meter experimental greenhouse, eight climate chambers (under construction) and an outdoor area that currently covers around three hectares. The Science Garden is the university's third garden in its 100-year history and dates back to the garden established by Johann Christian Senckenberg and his foundation in 1763.
The President's "New Horizon" Prize, endowed with €5,000, honors a person or team at 51 who, in their academic work or other commitment to the university, are breaking new ground in their thinking and demonstrating curiosity, optimism, courage and openness. The New Horizon Prize was awarded to business education specialist Dr. Christin Siegfried in 2022 and to inclusion researcher Lukas Gerhard in 2023. Lawyer Dr. Christian Zschocke launched the New Horizon project in 2016 to encourage people with initiative and optimism.
The Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung was established in 2007 with the aim of promoting science, research and teaching at 51. It is based on an endowment bequeathed by its founder, Gertrud Kassel. The foundation supports numerous university projects.
Images for download:
Captions:
Award winners Lanzendorf (from left to right): Enrico Schleiff, Tarek Al-Wazir, Martin Lanzendorf and Gunther Ruppel (Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung)
Science Garden award winners (from left to right): Enrico Schleiff, Holger Schranz, Christian Schenk, Robert Anton, Christian Zschocke
Photos: Uwe Dettmar/51 Frankfurt
Editor: Dr. Dirk Frank, Press Officer/ Deputy Press Spokesperson, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel.: +49 (0)69/798-13753, frank@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
Researchers identify a mechanism that enhances the accuracy of protein precursor processing
An international research team has uncovered a new mechanism crucial to the production of cellular proteins. When this mechanism is disrupted, the blueprints used by the cell to produce proteins are inaccurately edited through a process called splicing. The study, led by 51 Frankfurt, sheds light on how specific mutations may lead to the retinal disease retinitis pigmentosa. Importantly, these findings could also open the door to new diagnostic tests and treatments for a range of other diseases, including certain cancers, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
FRANKFURT. Genes contain the essential building instructions for life, guiding cells on which amino acids to assemble in what sequence to produce specific proteins. The human genome codes for about 20,000 such instructions. “Nevertheless, our cells can produce several hundred thousand different proteins,” explains Prof. Ivan Đikić from the Institute of Biochemistry II at 51 Frankfurt.
This diversity is enabled by a process known as “splicing.” When a cell requires a protein, it generates a copy of the relevant instructions in the cell nucleus. During splicing, this transcript undergoes modification: a cellular editing complex, the spliceosome, removes certain segments. The outcome varies depending on which parts are cut out, resulting in distinct blueprints for different proteins.
Splicing accuracy enhanced
This process is crucial for the life of the cell. “The spliceosome is composed of multiple components that secure production of functional proteins controlling cellular life,” explains Đikić. “If this complex is disrupted, it can lead to the death of the affected cell. For this reason, spliceosome inhibitors are considered as potential anti-cancer drugs.” However, the downside is that a complete blockade of this "editing office" also affects healthy cells, resulting in significant side effects of any spliceosome inhibitor developed so far.
In an international study led by 51, researchers have now identified a mechanism that interferes with the splicing process in a more subtle way. It is related to a specific part of the spliceosome, composed of three subunits known as U4/U6.U5.
“We already knew that certain mutations in these subunits are linked to the eye disease retinitis pigmentosa,” says Dr. Cristian Prieto-Garcia from the Institute of Biochemistry II, the first author of the study. “What we didn’t yet understand was the exact impact of these mutations.”
Experiments on zebrafish combined with mathematical calculations
In experiments with zebrafish, the team has now managed to fill this knowledge gap. Their findings reveal that spliceosome subunits U4, U5 and U6 are normally stabilized as a complex by a protein called USP39. However, when subunits are mutated or USP39 is absent, the stability of the tripartite complex is compromised, causing the spliceosome to lose precision. During splicing, U4/U6.U5 normally ensures the immediate and correct re-joining of loose ends after a transcript has been cut. Without USP39, or when subunits are mutated, this re-joining is delayed.
“This increases the likelihood of incorrect connections, as we were able to show in computer simulations,” explains Prieto-Garcia. This results in incorrectly edited transcripts, on the basis of which the cell then produces dysfunctional proteins. These accumulate and can form aggregates inside the cell. Cells have a waste disposal system to clear out defective molecules, and this protective mechanism was activated in cells lacking USP39. Over time, however, this "garbage disposal" became overwhelmed by the protein aggregates, leading to cell death in the zebrafish retina.
Surprising discovery
“The discovery of this mechanism was unexpected,” emphasizes Prof. Đikić. “We suspect it may also explain why retinal cells in retinitis pigmentosa patients die. Defective splicing variants might also play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. On the other hand, this mechanism may be targeted by new therapeutic approaches for types of cancer that are highly dependent on the correct function of the spliceosome.”
Some highly aggressive tumors produce large amounts of USP39 and related splicing factors, likely due to their high division rate: To maintain constant protein production, they require highly precise splicing, a function that USP39 provides. “Blocking USP39 in these cancer cells could selectively kill them,” Đikić explains. “Healthy cells, on the other hand, with their much lower division activity, would be spared. This is an approach that we are currently investigating.”
Publication: Cristian Prieto-Garcia, Vigor Matkovic, Thorsten Mosler, Congxin Li, Jie Liang, James A. Oo, Felix Haidle, Igor Macinković, Alfredo Cabrera-Orefice, Rayene Berkane, Giulio Giuliani, Fenfen Xu, Anne-Claire Jacomin, Ines Tomaskovic, Marion Basoglu, Marina E. Hoffmann, Rajeshwari Rathore, Ronay Cetin, Doha Boutguetait, Süleyman Bozkurt, María Clara Hernández Cañás, Mario Keller, Jonas Busam , Varun Jayeshkumar Shah, Ilka Wittig, Manuel Kaulich, Petra Beli, Wojciech P. Galej, Ingo Ebersberger, Likun Wang, Christian Münch, Alexandra Stolz, Ralf P. Brandes, William Ka Fai Tse, Stefan Eimer, Didier Y. R. Stainier, Stefan Legewie, Kathi Zarnack, Michaela Müller-McNicoll, Ivan Dikic: Pathogenic proteotoxicity of cryptic splicing is alleviated by ubiquitination and ER-phagy. Science (2024);
Image for download:
Caption: USP39 stabilizes the spliceosome (green), which cuts out unneeded parts (grey and purple) of the mRNA. If USP39 is missing, some of the mRNA is poorly processed. This results in misfolded proteins, which lead to stress and cell death. Grahics: Molecular Signaling Group IBC2, 51
Further information
Professor Ivan Đikić
Head of "Molecular Signaling" Group
Institute of Biochemistry II
51 Frankfurt
Tel: +49 (0) 69 6301-5652
dikic@biochem2.uni-frankfurt.de
Homepage:
Twitter/X: @goetheuni @IBC2_GU
Editor: Dr. Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-12498, bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Ute Lewitzka appointed – Heightened focus on suicide prevention within the Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Ute Lewitzka has been appointed Germany’s first professor of suicide studies and suicide prevention. Her appointment at 51 Frankfurt took effect on November 1, 2024. One of her main objectives is the systematic recording and analysis of suicides and suicide attempts to derive effective prevention strategies. In her new role, she can draw on the strong network in the field that exists in Frankfurt. One long-term goal is to establish a German Center for Suicide Prevention here. The position is funded by the Crespo Foundation, Henryk Sznap Stiftung, and the Dr. Elmar und Ellis Reiss Stiftung.
FRANKFURT. More than 10,000 people took their own lives in Germany last year, a figure that is more than three times as great as the number of traffic accident fatalities. The number of attempted suicides is significantly higher, affecting people across all age groups. Suicide studies focus on the factors that lead to suicide and its prevention. This important field is now receiving special attention in Frankfurt, where the first-ever German professorship for suicide studies and suicide prevention has been set up at 51’s Faculty of Medicine.
Dr. Ute Lewitzka, who has been researching and working in this field for more than 25 years and currently serves as chair of the German Society for Suicide Prevention [Deutsche Gesellschaft für Suizidprävention], has been appointed to the position. “I’m very pleased to see suicide studies, which unfortunately still remain a niche topic, gain this level of recognition,” says Lewitzka, who transitions to Frankfurt from Dresden University Hospital, adding that a professorship can help further destigmatize mental illnesses. Her goals include the systematic tracking and analysis of suicide attempts and suicides to further develop effective preventive measures and potentially also implement these at the political level.
The professorship is based at University Hospital Frankfurt's Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, headed by Prof. Andreas Reif, which has long specialized in treating mood disorders, such as depression. The goal is to establish a German Center for Suicide Prevention in collaboration with the German Foundation for Depression Relief and Suicide Prevention [Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe und Suizidprävention] and the European Alliance against Depression. A well-developed regional network already exists, uniting various stakeholders who drive research and treatment of suicidality and engage in prevention work, including school-based programs. Alongside research, specialist education and training are set to play a central role.
The project has secured funding for the next five years, thanks to the support of Crespo Foundation, Henryk Sznap Stiftung, and Dr. Elmar und Ellis Reiss Stiftung, with the latter contributing the majority of funds. Dr. Elmar Reiss, who set up the foundation with his wife in 2018, explained that the professorship’s goals align closely with the foundation’s mission: “Our main goal in establishing the foundation was to help people with depression and alleviate their suffering. Depression is a condition that can increase suicide risk. Our foundation aims to help those affected find other paths and once again see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Developing effective prevention methods requires an extensive amount of data. As part of a pilot project in Saxony, Lewitzka demonstrated that the prompt recording and evaluation of suicide attempts by specially trained emergency dispatchers enables the creation of “heat maps” that visually represent the locations and frequencies of incidents. Combined with targeted monitoring of the methods used in suicide (and suicide attempts), this approach can prevent many suicides. Frequently chosen methods of self-harm can be regulated — for instance, by controlling access to specific buildings or sites. “Restricting methods is one of the most effective prevention measures,” Lewitzka explains.
About Prof. Dr. Ute Lewitzka
Born in 1972, Prof. Dr. med. Ute Lewitzka studied medicine in Berlin and Dresden and trained as a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy at Dresden’s Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital. Her doctoral thesis in 2004 and her habilitation in 2018 both focused on suicide studies. In 2017, she founded the Werner Felber Institute for Suicide Prevention and Interdisciplinary Research in Healthcare [Werner Felber Institut für Suizidprävention und interdisziplinäre Forschung im Gesundheitswesen], of which she remains the chair. Since 2018, she has also served as volunteer chair of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Suizidprävention (DGS) and the Suicide Studies Committee of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics [Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde, DGPPN].
German Help Resources for Those Affected and Their Families
Frankfurt Suicide Prevention Network (FRANS):
Telephone Counseling Service: 1110111,
“Nummer gegen Kummer” (for children and youth): 116111,
Image for download:
Caption: Prof. Dr. Ute Lewitzka, 51 Frankfurt (Photo: Maria Schlotte)
Further Information:
Prof. Dr. Ute Lewitzka
Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
University Hospital Frankfurt
lewitzka@med.uni-frankfurt.de
Editor: Dr. Phyllis Mania, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-13001, mania@physik.uni-frankfurt.de
Award ceremony honors long-standing sponsors
For the first time in six years, the number of Deutschlandstipendium scholarship holders at 51 Frankfurt has reached the 600 mark again – thanks to the higher amount of donations received from private individuals, companies and institutions. On Wednesday, November 13, scholarship holders and sponsors met at a social get-together.
FRANKFURT. Students who are eligible for a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship must have good grades and display social commitment. Having been selected by jurors from the university's 16 faculties, they receive a monthly stipend of €300 for a maximum of two years to support their studies. This allows them to study more intensively, since they can spend less time financing their studies. Thanks to the state-funded scholarship program, this is now possible for 600 students – that's 50 more scholarship holders than in 2023. At 40 percent, the proportion of Deutschlandstipendium scholars with a migration background is also higher than in previous years.
At the annual award ceremony held on November 13, numerous scholarship holders collected their documents in person, and also met their sponsor. 650 students and sponsors filled the Casino building on 51’s Westend Campus, whose stage was designed as a writing room, in keeping with the motto of Goethe's 275th birthday, and on which the evening unfolded like a literary program: In addition to 51’s Schreibzentrum, which presented its services as well as the student-run literary magazine “Jonny”, university archivist PD Dr. Michael Maaser delivered a witty lecture.
Making two out of one: That is the principle according to which the Federal Ministry of Education and Research each year doubles the sum raised by 51 for Deutschlandstipendium scholars. In 2024, a total of €1,080,000 was donated to 51 by 250 private sponsors, 61 non-profit organizations and 50 companies – €35,000 more than in the previous year. After applying the federal government's matching principle, the scholarship holders had €2,160,000 at their disposal. Donations from non-profit organizations (NPO) have accounted for more than half of the total volume of Deutschlandstipendium funds raised by 51 since the program was first set up in 2011.
Prof. Sabine Andresen, 51’s Vice President Equal Opportunities, Career Development & Advancement, Diversity and Gender Equality honored the thirteen most loyal NPO and company sponsors at this year's award ceremony. In thanking them, she emphasized that their decision to invest financially and ideally in the education of young people and provide equal opportunities to students regardless of their background deserves the utmost respect. Turning to the sponsors, Andresen said: “It is thanks to your active support that talented students can realize their full potential.”
In addition to financial support, Deutschlandstipendium’s Young Leadership Program gives scholarship holders the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally. The range of services extends from individual support in project teams to study-related programs and offers, such as seminars, workshops, best-practice lectures, and networks. Together with fellow students from different faculties and degree programs, the scholarship holders work on innovative ideas in project teams, and are accompanied by non-university mentors.
Since 2011, 6,752 Deutschlandstipendium scholarships have been awarded at 51 Frankfurt, corresponding to a funding amount of €12,153,600. According to the federal government's matching principle, 51 students have received around €25 million through the Deutschlandstipendium to date.
Images for download:
Caption: The 600 students, who have received a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship at 51 in 2024 have good grades and are socially engaged. This year, 361 private sponsors, non-profit organizations and companies donated a total of €1,080,000 to this cause (Photo: Uwe Dettmar/51 Frankfurt)
Editor: Pia Barth, Science Editor, PR & Communication Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel. +49 (0)69 798-12481, Fax +49 (0)69 798-763-12531, p.barth@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Newly discovered mechanism helps detach and recycle parts of cellular canal membranes as needed – models developed using supercomputer simulations
Inside cells, there exists an extensive system of canals known as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which consists of membrane-encased tubes that are partially broken down as needed – for instance in case of a nutrient deficiency. As part of this process, bulges or protrusions form in the membrane, which then pinch off and are recycled by the cell. A study by 51 Frankfurt has examined this protrusion process using computer simulations. Its finding: certain structural motifs of proteins in the ER membrane play a central role in this process. The study was carried out as part of the “SCALE - Subcellular Architecture of Life" cluster initiative.
FRANKFURT. The endoplasmic reticulum functions as a reservoir for calcium and carbohydrates and also serves as the site for the synthesis of various hormones. Cells adjust the expansion and networking of their internal canal system as needed. A process known as ER-phagy (“ER-eating") plays a central role here. During this process, a part of the membrane of an ER tube bulges out and eventually pinches off into a small vesicle. At the same time, a kind of internal cellular “trash bag", the autophagosome, forms around it. This then fuses with another container that contains highly reactive enzymes, which “shred" the contents of the “trash bag" and recycle it.
“We have known for several years that specific proteins, known as ER-phagy receptors, play a key role in this process," explains Dr. Ramachandra Bhaskara from 51's Institute of Biochemistry II. These receptors are located in the membrane of ER tubes and consist of an anchor that inserts into the membrane. Attached to this anchor are two long protein strands that extend outward from the membrane surface like flexible tentacles. “Using complex simulations in supercomputers, we were recently able to show, together with other research groups, that the anchor causes the membrane to curve," Bhaskara says, adding that “under certain conditions, this can result in a protrusion. In the current study, we have demonstrated that the filamentous structures increase the likelihood and significantly accelerate the formation of such a bulge."
Proteins form disordered “tentacles" from amino acids
Most proteins adopt a defined three-dimensional shape after they are produced: some parts form coiled, helical structures, while others fold back and forth like the bellows of an accordion. This gives them a compact, relatively rigid form, which also applies to the anchor region of ER-phagy receptors. The tentacles, however, consist of long chains of amino acids that oscillate back and forth in a largely disordered manner – which is also why they are referred to as “intrinsically disordered (protein) regions" or IDRs for short. These extensive movements require space, which they create by causing the membrane in which they are anchored to bulge. “Added to this is another effect," emphasizes Dr. Sergio Alejandro Poveda Cuevas, the study's first author: “The IDRs contain short sequences that can fold back under certain conditions. We were able to show that they do this during the formation of the bulges. They then nestle against the membrane like a scaffold, thereby reinforcing its curvature."
The pinching-off is thus the result of various finely orchestrated processes, as demonstrated by the simulation: initially, the anchor regions of various ER-phagy receptors approach each other. This clustering increases the curvature of the membrane caused by the receptors. Initially, the IDR tentacles are extended. They make contact with the autophagy machinery and direct it toward the membrane. The IDRs then condense into more compact structures, further enhancing the bulge until the membrane pinches off and the vesicle is packaged in the autophagosome (“trash bag").
Findings could prove important for the treatment of certain diseases
“In addition to offering a detailed insight into this important cellular process, our study also shows that receptor IDRs play a crucial role in ensuring smooth functioning," Bhaskara explains. These results are particularly interesting because some congenital neurological diseases are associated with disrupted ER-phagy. A better understanding of the membrane degradation process might one day enable targeted manipulation.
The study was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the framework of Collaborative Research Center 1177, and by the ENABLE cluster project funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Arts and Culture.
Publication:
Sergio Alejandro Poveda-Cuevas, Kateryna Lohachova, Borna Markusic, Ivan Dikic, Gerhard Hummer, Ramachandra M. Bhaskara: Intrinsically disordered region amplifies membrane remodeling to augment selective ER-phagy. PNAS (2024)
Movie/Image for download:
Image sequence:
Movie (19 MB):
Caption (image and movie): The ER-phagy receptor FAM134B is initially distributed via the membrane surface (left). Its IDRs move back and forth in a largely disordered manner, like tentacles. The formation of local clusters initiates the curvature of the membrane (2nd from left), which is further strengthened by the condensation of the tentacles into more compact structures (2nd from right). The pinching off of the membrane vesicle (not shown) is initiated by a targeted redistribution of proteins (sorting, right). Image: Bhaskara Group, 51 Frankfurt
Further information
Dr. Ramachandra M. Bhaskara
Head of “Computational Cell Biology" working group
Institute of Biochemistry II
51 Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0) 69 6303-2508
bhaskara@med.uni-frankfurt.de
Homepage:
Twitter/X: @goetheuni @IBC2_GU @RamBhaskara4 @HummerLab @DikicLab @EnableFrankfurt @sfb1177 @SCALE_Uni_FFM @MPIbp
Editor: Dr. Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-12498, bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de