Annual report 2012 Science for Life Laboratory Stockholm
2 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Science for Life Laboratory Stockholm
Annual report 2012
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 1
Acini of the mammary gland of normal human breast with OmniFluorBright (OFB) staining.
SciLifeLab in brief
Over the past three years, Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) has been built up in Stockholm and Uppsala to serve as a national infrastructure for high-throughput and technically advanced research in the life sciences, and to provide an attractive research environment for top-level research groups. SciLifeLab was established in 2010, with support from the Swedish government. It is a collaboration between the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Karolinska Institutet (KI), Stockholm University (SU) and Uppsala University (UU).
SciLifeLab’s vision is to be an internationally leading center in large-scale life science research. With the motto Health and Environment the research supported and performed is spanning a broad field, aiming not only for deeper knowledge about human diseases, improved health care, development of diagnostic tools and potential drugs, but also for mapping of microbial activities in sensitive ecosystems, engineering for biofuel production and plant biotechnology.
By combining a “tool box” of advanced instrumentation and expertise from a wide range of life science areas, interdisciplinary research involving highthroughput DNA sequencing, analysis of gene expression, protein profiling, cellular profiling, advanced bioinformatics, biostatistics and systems biology, is carried out. The two nodes in Stockholm and Uppsala will in the middle of 2013 merge into one organization. This report describes the activities of SciLifeLab Stockholm during 2012.
Photo: Prof. Laszlo Szekely, KI
SciLifeLab develops and provides access to advanced instrumentation and technical expertise in large-scale molecular biosciences. The objective is to enable Swedish researchers to carry out extensive and comprehensive analysis of genes, transcripts and proteins in humans, plants and relevant microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, and to cast light on the complex interplay between different
molecular components in living cells, tissues and organs related to human diseases or environmental issues. In order to interpret the massive amount of data produced in many large-scale analyses, expertise in bioinformatics and systems biology is essential and prioritized areas at SciLifeLab.
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Table of contents
SciLifeLab in brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Platform Facilities
SciLifeLab Stockholm 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Genomics Experimental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Highlights of 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Genomics Bioinformatics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SciLifeLab in constant progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cell Profiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
The organization of SciLifeLab Stockholm 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Biobank Profiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The platforms offer technology infrastructure
Cell Screening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
and competence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Advanced Proteomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Clinical Proteomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Highlights from research
Tissue Profiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
The Subcellular Protein Atlas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chemical Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Targeting DNA repair to find novel
Protein Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
anti-cancer treatments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Advanced Light Microscopy (ALM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Membrane protein biogenesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Karolinska High Throughput Center (KHTC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Reading the genome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences (BILS) . . . . . 43
Na,K-ATPase – an overlooked protein in the brain . . . . . . . . 17
The Wallenberg Advanced Bioinformatics
Spatial transcriptomics of the brain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Infrastructure (WABI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Understanding the molecular basis of nerve signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Bioinformatics for network and systems biology . . . . . . . . 22 Collaboration with industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 The SciLifeLab Stockholm researchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 SciLifeLab Stockholm – Scientific publications . . . . . . . . . . . 26
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Management of SciLifeLab Stockholm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
SciLifeLab Stockholm 2012
The year of 2012 has been an exciting and rewarding year for SciLifeLab Stockholm.
The development of SciLifeLab Stockholm has continued at a rapid pace during 2012 and the year has been scientifically productive. The center has noticed an increased interest from researchers to use the state-of-the-art technologies provided by the platform facilities. Hundreds of collaborative and service projects have been completed with users from all major universities in Sweden. To further broaden the resources available, three new platform facilities have been established. The center has also expanded with an additional 170 researchers, reaching 350 persons at the end of 2012. These include almost 40 senior research leaders performing research in a wide range of molecular bioscience areas. SciLifeLab Stockholm will continue to expand during 2013 when an adjacent building will be inaugurated, then encompassing more than 600 researchers and 14,000m2 of space for the technical infrastructure and research within large-scale life science. Substantial external funding has enabled investments in new instrumentation and recruitment of personnel to several platform facilities. Through generous grants from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation the Genomics facility has been able to triple the sequence capacity during the year and an infrastructure for in-depth bioinformatics support has been established. This kind of support is an important key for success in on-going large-scale studies.
The strengthened research environment is illustrated by the considerable increase in number of publications produced by SciLifeLab Stockholm researchers over the year. During 2012 one article per week has been published in high impact journals such as Nature, Science and PNAS. Read more about some of the research highlights at SciLifeLab Stockholm on page 12 to 22. Several patents have also been filed, and there are lively collaborations with industry on different levels.
Development of SciLifeLab Stockholm from the start in 2010. The center has expanded with new Platform Facilities and research groups each year. In 2013 the nodes in Stockholm and Uppsala will merge into one organization and become a national infrastructure for large-scale biosciences.
In 2012, the Swedish government decided on additional funding to SciLifeLab, with the mission to unify the Stockholm and Uppsala nodes and become an infrastructure with a national responsibility. SciLifeLab will provide large-scale state-of-the-art instrumentation and technical know-how, including in-depth bioinformatics support, to all Swedish researchers in order to strengthen multidisciplinary research throughout the nation. SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 5
Highlights of 2012
Here follows some examples of organizational and scientific highlights during the year.
• The Swedish government announced increased funding to SciLifeLab and the start of a new organization in 2013 • The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation awarded grants to strengthen the Genomics facility and to start up
• Several new bioinformatics algorithms were developed and published, including FunCoup 2.0 and BOCTOPUS • Novel methods for quantitative proteomics using mass spectrometry were developed
the Wallenberg Advanced Bioinformatics Infrastructure (WABI)
• A step towards more efficient spruce breeding programs was taken by using the next generation sequencing
• Three new platform facilities were established; Advanced proteomics, Chemical biology and Protein production • AstraZeneca started up the Translational Science Centre at SciLifeLab Stockholm and announced a first round of
facility at SciLifeLab coupled with advanced bioinformatics and molecular biology methods • Dramatic resistance to colorectal cancer formation was confirmed in mouse models
funding for research projects • An additional 4000 m2 of space was inaugurated and • The Human Protein Atlas announced in September 2012 the mapping of 70% of the human protein-coding genes • Three SciLifeLab Stockholm researchers were awarded 53 MSEK from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation for
another 170 researchers moved in to reach a total of 350 persons For details regarding some of the scientific highlights, please go to pages 12 to 22.
research about viruses and bacteria, the brain and its diseases and for understanding and developing new cancer drugs. Two of its Center Directors (von Heijne and
Photo: Håkan Lindgren
Uhlen) received Wallenberg Scholar Awards
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SciLifeLab in constant progress
SciLifeLab aims to be an internationally leading center for providing and developing state-of-the-art technology and expertise in large-scale molecular biosciences and to produce first-class interdisciplinary research.
From 2013 SciLifeLab will receive substantially increased funding from the Swedish government and become a national infrastructure for large-scale bioscience. A new organization will start in the middle of 2013 when the two nodes in Stockholm and Uppsala will merge into one organization with a common board.
The aim is also to accommodate national and international research groups with strategically important expertise to join SciLifeLab. Fellowships will allow young research leaders to work in the interdisciplinary environment of SciLifeLab for a shorter or longer period and contribute to an even more dynamic research environment.
SciLifeLab’s vision to take part in strengthening health care, through new technologies and products, has resulted in the start up of two new areas in the center. The first one is a platform for Drug Development that will bring activities already ongoing, such as small molecule library and RNAi cell screening, under one roof and expand and complement these activities with expertise in drug development. Second, to further strengthen the collaboration and integration with the health care sector, SciLifeLab Stockholm will expand its activities with a clinical genomics facility to perform next generation sequencing on patient samples with fast processing time.
The links to other Swedish universities will be further strengthened during the years to come, as SciLifeLab will have a national responsibility to provide access to advanced technologies and expertise in bioscience. Several areas of expertise in life science at other universities will also be formally linked to SciLifeLab. The National Reference Committee, with representatives from all major Swedish universities, will continue to give strategic advice on the development of SciLifeLab and monitor the accessibility and output from the platform facilities. In order to provide access to technologies and expertise and to support knowledge exchange and the spread of new technologies, space for guests has been made available both in offices and laboratories and a program of courses, workshops and seminars will be provided.
During 2013 SciLifeLab Stockholm will grow with approximately 30 new research groups, encompassing more than 600 persons at the end of the year.
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The organization of SciLifeLab Stockholm 2012
SciLifeLab Stockholm is a collaboration between the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Stockholm University (SU). The SciLifeLab Board has the responsibility for decisions regarding the budget and strategic development of the center. The board consists of six members, two from each university. An international Scientific Advisory Board and the National Reference Committee give advice to the board. In the end of 2012, a new operative management structure at SciLifeLab Stockholm was introduced comprising three Center Directors and three Scientific Directors, each representing one of the universities. The Center Directors are responsible for implementing the board’s decisions about the center budget and activities. Moreover, a Site Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations.
is generally used. The platform facilities are units each representing a certain technology and which can offer services to internal and external research groups. A number of senior researchers are appointed as Platform Directors with responsibility for the scientific development of the platforms. The day-to-day activities of the platform facilities are headed by Facility Managers. The Affiliated Faculty of SciLifeLab Stockholm is a network of representatives from all departments, research centers and other organizations in the Stockholm region with an interest in the activities at SciLifeLab Stockholm. In order to coordinate activities between the Stockholm and Uppsala node and plan for a common organization in 2013 a coordination committee was initiated in 2012. This committee consists of one representative from each of the four universities (KTH, SU, KI and UU). The research leaders of SciLifeLab Stockholm are presented on page 24–25. More information about the Platform facilities and the services available can be found on page 10 and 28–45 and at www.scilifelab.se.
Fredrik Sterky
Martina Selander
Mikaela Friedman
Mathias Uhlén
Gunnar von Heijne
Jan Andersson
Assoc. Prof. Site Director
Personnel and administration
Dr., Scientific communication and External relations
Prof. (KTH) Center Director
Prof. (SU) Vice Center Director
Prof. (KI) Vice Center Director
Photo: Ulf Sirborn
The center included seven platforms during 2012 and a number of platform facilities. The platforms represent areas of research where a combination of technologies
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The platforms offer technology infrastructure and competence
Each platform facility is headed by a facility manager with responsibility for the daily work, personnel and budget. The strategic development and overall budget for the platform is managed by a platform director. In several cases, the platform facilities in Stockholm are jointly run with a similar facility at the Uppsala node. This allows efficient handling of large numbers of projects and samples. In other areas, the technologies and expertise are unique to each site. During 2012, the number of projects carried out in the facilities has increased considerably with users from all Swedish universities. The projects cover a broad range of molecular bioscience research and considerable parts of the research being performed is focusing on an increased molecular level/mechanistic understanding of human diseases, plants, and microbes, finding new biomarkers for disease and development of new treatments. 10 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Genomics platform is the most established platform and carried out several hundreds of research projects during 2012. It offers massively parallel DNA sequencing and bioinformatics support for projects in plants, humans, microorganisms and cell lines. With the latest instrumentation, an entire human genome can be sequenced in 27 hours. During 2013, the new technology and expertise will enable a new facility “Clinical genomics� to emerge. Next generation sequencing on patient samples will be performed in collaboration with the treating physicians and hospital geneticists. The MS proteomics platform as well as the Functional biology and Bioimaging platforms are also carrying out large numbers of projects. Other platforms, such as Affinity proteomics and Functional genomics require more detailed experimental planning and are customized for each user. In many cases, SciLifeLab Stockholm can provide unique competence and resources. One example is the Affinity Proteomics platform that uses the unique resource of affinity reagents from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) project allowing high-throughput biomarker discovery screening in large cohorts of clinical samples. This platform also provides means to validate antibodies and/or cell lines in a subcellular fashion using the HPA reagents and confocal microscopy. The Platform facilities are presented in more detail on page 28 to 45. More information about the Platform facilities is available at www.scilifelab.se.
Photo: Dr. Jan Mulder, KI
SciLifeLab has competences in a wide range of areas that are organized in platforms, which offer state-ofthe-art technologies and expertise to the research community. During 2012 the center included seven platforms; Genomics, Affinity Proteomics, Mass Spectrometry (MS) Proteomics, Functional Biology, Bioimaging, Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics & Systems Biology. The platforms are divided into smaller units, platform facilities that handle one or a few different technologies within the field.
Section of a mouse olfactory bulb. Amphiphysin is a protein associated with the cytoplasmic surface of synaptic vesicles. Autoantibodies against this protein have been associated with stiff-man syndrome. Antibodies against amphiphysin (green) stain many neurons in the mouse brain including the olfactory bulb.
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Immunofluorescent staining of human MCF-7 metastatic breast adenocarcinoma cells, using an antibody HPA049798 towards Zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein 14, shows positivity in nucleus but not nucleoli.
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Highlights from research
The Subcellular Protein Atlas
All cells of higher organisms such as humans or animals are organized into compartments with specialized functions. These so called organelles are defined by their own chemical characteristics and molecular composition. For example an organelle called mitochondrion has the function to provide energy for the cell, whereas the cytoskeleton serves to maintain cellular shape, movement and functions as a railroad for intracellular transport. Thus, knowing the exact
selected based on gene transcript expression levels (1). Furthermore, a pipeline for validation of antibody binding and protein subcellular location using siRNA (2) and automated classification of staining patterns (3) has been developed. Beyond this, we have demonstrated the added value of using a complementary technique such as live cell imaging of tagged proteins to allow a complete investigation of the subcellular human proteome (4).
subcellular location of a given protein is of great importance as it indicates the protein function and leads to a better understanding of how and why proteins interact in networks and signaling pathways.
Photo: Martin Hjelmare, KTH
Ever since the human genome was first characterized much efforts has been put into the identification and characterization of the gene products – the proteins. A key to unlock a more complete understanding of the information embedded in the human genome and the complex machinery of living cells is to know the subcellular localization for every protein. As part of the Human Protein Atlas project our research is therefore focused on determining the subcellular localization of all human proteins by the use of specific antibodies and high-resolution microscopy. During 2012, the Subcellular Protein Atlas program at SciLifeLab Stockholm has expanded in different directions, as reported in several publications. The panel of human cells has increased to fifteen cell lines of different origin from which the most suitable is
Currently, the Subcellular Protein Atlas contains ~100,000 images corresponding to the localization of over 12,000 proteins. The aim of the presented atlas is to make subcellular information for all human proteins publicly available, with the ultimate aim to facilitate functional studies of proteins. References 1. Danielsson, F. et al (2013) “RNA Deep Sequencing as a Tool for Selection of Cell Lines for Systematic Subcellular Localization of All Human Proteins” J Proteome Res. 12 (1): 299-307. 2. Stadler, C. et al (2012) “Systematic validation of antibody binding and protein subcellular localization using siRNA and confocal microscopy” J Proteomics 75 (7): 2236-51. 3. Li, J. et al (2012) “Estimating Microtubule Distributions from 2D Immunofluorescence Microscopy Images Reveals Differences among Human Cultured Cell Lines” PLoS One. 7 (11): e50292. 4. Stadler, C. et al (2013) “Immunofluorescence and fluorescentprotein tagging show high correlation for protein localization in mammalian cells” Nat Methods, in press.
Contact Emma Lundberg E-mail: emma.lundberg@scilifelab.se
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Highlights from research
Targeting DNA repair to find novel anti-cancer treatments
Cancers are characterized by genetic mutations and an overall high load of DNA damage, which can be exploited for novel therapies. Our laboratory focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to understand basic properties of DNA repair at a molecular level, and identify and validate novel protein targets within the DNA repair pathway (1, 2). Using an open innovation approach, in close collaboration with academic groups and clinicians, we develop small molecule inhibitors to novel targets that are tested in early proof of concept trials in patients.
Cancer remains the most common cause of death for individuals aged below 80 in industrialized countries and novel more effective treatments for cancer are urgently needed. Traditional radio- and chemo therapy work by causing an unbearable load of DNA damage in cancer cells, which effectively eradicate the cancer, but also cause harmful side effects. Our aim is to selectively introduce DNA damage in tumors without harming non-malignant cells. We previously demonstrated that cancers caused by mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes rely on PARP for survival and that PARP inhibitors can selectively kill off the cancers (3). This is now tested in numerous clinical trials. Based on this new concept of synthetic lethality, we are identifying genes that are required for survival only in the mutated cancer cells.
required for cancer development. However, to avoid lethal DNA damage cancer cells appear dependent on new proteins to survive; such as nucleotide hydrolases. By specifically targeting nucleotide hydrolases we have identified a new strategy to attack cancer. We have developed small molecule inhibitors against these proteins, which kill cancer cells without harming normal growing cells. Our most effective inhibitors will be further optimized, tested in in vivo tumor models and passed on to clinical trials with the aim of treating cancer patients. By working in a multidisciplinary fashion we are able to combine expertise from several disciplines such as biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, clinical oncology and pharmacology. In addition, we are fortunate to have a number of collaborations, both national and international, across a range of disciplines to complement our in-house expertise. References 1. G roth, P. et al (2012) “Homologous recombination repairs secondary replication induced DNA double-strand breaks after ionizing radiation” Nucleic Acids Res. 40 (14): 6585-94. 2. Elvers, I. et al (2012) “CHK1 activity is required for continuous replication fork elongation but not stabilization of post-replicative gaps after UV irradiation” Nucleic Acids Res. 40 (17): 8440-8. 3. Bryant, H.E. et al (2005) “Specific killing of BRCA2-deficient tumors with inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase” Nature, 434 (7035): 913-7.
Contact
One characteristic of most cancers is a high level of oxidative damage, which helps in generating mutations 14 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Thomas Helleday E-mail: thomas.helleday@scilifelab.se
Highlights from research
Membrane protein biogenesis
All cells are surrounded by a lipid membrane that separates them from the outside world and protect their content. Cell membranes are stuffed full of proteins. Membrane proteins are central players in all types of cells, from bacteria to man. They make it possible for cells to take up nutrients from the environment, to excrete waste products, and to receive and transmit various kinds of signals from other cells. Being
enter a membrane (1). This has been a conundrum, but we now understand the basic principles. Another advance is the development of a new method that allows us to measure forces acting on membrane proteins during their insertion into the membrane (2). This has not been possible before, and opens up a new window for probing the molecular mechanisms that underlie membrane protein folding in the cell.
the gatekeepers of the cell, membrane proteins are also favorite drug targets; it is estimated that more than half of all drugs currently on the market bind to and change the activity of membrane proteins.
Much effort is currently spent across the world to determine high-resolution structures of membrane proteins in order to understand their function on the molecular level. But in order to fully understand membrane proteins, structures are not enough. We also need to figure out how membrane proteins are manufactured in the cell, how they are inserted into the membrane, and how they fold into the final structure. This is important not only from a basic science perspective, but also to understand how mutations in medically important membrane proteins can cause proteins to misfold and thereby destroy their function. Our research is focused on these early stages in the life of membrane proteins. In particular, we have recently been able to discover some “tricks” that nature has invented in order to make membrane proteins with membrane-embedded parts that by themselves cannot
References 1. Öjemalm, K. et al (2012) “Orientational preferences of neighboring helices can drive ER insertion of a marginally hydrophobic transmembrane helix” Molecular Cell 45 (4): 529-40. 2. 1Ismail, N. et al (2012) “A bi-phasic pulling force acts on transmembrane helices during translocon-mediated membrane integration” Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 19 (10): 1018-22. Editor’s Choice, Science 19 October 2012
1
A typical membrane protein. This particular protein, called EmrE, helps bacteria extrude toxic compounds such as antibiotics through their membrane.
Contact Gunnar von Heijne E-mail: gunnar@dbb.su.se
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Highlights from research
Reading the Genome
After the human genome was sequenced in 2000, it was hoped that the knowledge of the entire sequence of human DNA could rapidly be translated to medical benefits such as novel drugs, and predictive tools that would identify individuals at risk of disease. However, this turned out to be harder than expected, one of the reasons being that only the 1% of the genome that codes for proteins could be read. The remaining 99% contains information about when and where these proteins are made, and is to us like a book written in a foreign language – we know the letters but cannot understand why a human genome makes a human or the mouse genome a mouse. Why some individuals have higher risk to develop common diseases such as heart disease or cancer is even less well understood. The Taipale group addresses this problem by studying the human proteins that read the gene regulatory code: transcription factors (TFs).
The human genome encodes approximately 1000 TFs, and they bind specifically to short 5 to 20 base pair sequences of DNA, and control production of other proteins. Through the use of a highly automated laboratory, we have identified DNA sequences that bind to over 400 such proteins, representing approximately half of all human TFs. We have also developed computational tools that can use such information to identify gene variants that are linked to disease. We have analysed one particular single nucleotide variant in a region associated with increased risk for developing colorectal and prostate cancers. Although 16 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
this variant increases cancer risk only by 20 per cent, it is very common and therefore accounts for more inherited cancer than any other currently known genetic variant or mutation. We removed the gene region containing the risk variant from the mouse genome and found that as a result the mice were healthy, but displayed a small decrease in the expression of a nearby cancer gene, called MYC. However, when these mice were tested for the ability to form tumors after activation of an oncogenic signal that causes colorectal cancer in humans, they showed dramatic resistance to tumor formation. The removed gene region thus appears to act as an important gene switch promoting cancer, and without it tumors develop much more rarely. This study highlights that growth of normal cells and cancer cells is driven by different gene switches, suggesting that further work to find ways to control the activity of such diseasespecific switches could lead to novel, highly specific approaches for therapeutic intervention. References 1. K ivioja, T. et al (2012) “Counting absolute number of molecules using unique molecular identifiers” Nature Methods 9 (1): 72-4. 2. Sur, I. et al (2012) “Mice Lacking a Myc Enhancer Element that Includes Human SNP rs6983267 Are Resistant to Intestinal Tumors” Science 338 (6112): 1360-3. 3. Jolma, A. et al (2013) “DNA-binding specificities of human transcription factors” Cell 152: 327-39.
Contact Jussi Taipale E-mail: jussi.taipale@ki.se
Highlights from research
Na,K-ATPase – an overlooked protein in the brain
The sodium pump is a very important protein in the mammalian cell. While pumping sodium and potassium ions it consumes 30% of all energy in the body and 60% of the energy in the brain. Surprisingly, the full picture of how this protein functions in the human brain is not
Super localization microscopy of quantum dot labeled Na,K-ATPase showed that mobility and temporal confinements of the sodium pump in the plasma membrane is a key component for the energy efficient regulation of Na+.
clear. Researchers at SciLifeLab are studying the sodium pump in neurons to understand its role in health and disease. How it is regulated to preserve energy. How it acts as a signaling protein. How identified disease mutations influence its function.
Recent studies have shown that the sodium pump, Na,K-ATPase, not only pumps ions but also has an important role as a signal transducer (1). We have shown that binding of cardiotonic steroids to Na,KATPase trigger frequency modulated Ca2+ oscillations with downstream anti-apoptotic effects.
References 1. L i, J. et al (2010) “Ouabain protects against adverse developmental programming of the kidney” Nature Communications, 1: 42. 2. A zarias, G. et al (2013) “A specific and essential role for Na,KATPase a3 in neurons co-expressing a1 and a3” J Biol Chem. 288 (4): 2734-43. 3. Blom, H. et al (2011) “Spatial distribution of Na+-K+-ATPase in dendritic spines dissected by nanoscale superresolution STED microscopy” Bmc Neuroscience 12:16. 4. Blom, H. et al (2012) “Nearest neighbor analysis of dopamine D1 receptors and Na(+) -K(+) -ATPases in dendritic spines dissected by STED microscopy” Microsc Rese Tech. 75 (2): 220-8. Na,K-ATPase a3 is enriched in dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons. Super resolution microscopy of Na,K-ATPase a3 in dendritic spines of a hippocampal neuron. Lower panel show an overlaid confocal micrograph of PSD95 (red) on the super resolution image (grey).
The functional significance of neuronal expression of two different isoforms of Na,K-ATPase, a1 and a3, has been studied by intracellular Na+ imaging. The a3 isoform, which has a higher Na+ affinity than a1, was identified to have a specific role in restoration of intracellular Na+ after the transient influx that occurs during synaptic activity (2). Applying super resolution microscopy (STED, PALM, SIM) we revealed for the first time the discrete localization of the neuron specific a3 isoform to the neck of dendritic spines (3) and also the spatial interrelationship to dopamine D1R receptors (4).
Contact Hjalmar Brismar E-mail: hjalmar.brismar@scilifelab.se
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Highlights from research
Spatial transcriptomics of the brain
The human body comprises over 100 trillion cells and is organized into more than 200 different organs and tissues. The development and organization of complex organs, such as the brain, are far from understood and there is a need to dissect the expression of genes using quantitative methods. The organs are in themselves a mixture of differentiated cells to enable all body functions such as nutrient transport, defense etc. Consequently, cell function is context dependent, and the context provided by tissue structure is being disentangled at the transcriptional level within the spatial transcriptomics project.
The new advances in high-throughput genomics have reshaped the biological research landscape and in addition to complete characterization of genomes we are also able to study the full transcriptome in a digital and quantitative fashion. The bioinformatics tools to visualize and integrate these comprehensive sets of data have also been significantly improved during recent years. Findings by deep RNA sequencing have demonstrated that a majority of the human genes are active in a cell and that a large fraction (75%) of the human protein-coding genes are expressed in most tissues. The transcriptional machinery can therefore be described to be promiscuous at a global level but remains dynamically complex, demonstrated by burst transcription, where brief pulses of transcription are separated by periods of transcriptional silence. 18 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
We have recently devised a simple strategy that enables global gene expression analysis in histological tissue sections, yielding transcriptomic information with two-dimensional spatial resolution. This enables the identification of individual transcriptomes of single cells while maintaining the positional information of those cells in the tissue. The RNA sequencing data is visualized in the computer together with the tissue section, for instance to display the expression pattern of a gene of interest across the tissue. It is also easy to mark different areas of the tissue section on the computer screen and obtain information on differentially expressed genes between any selected areas of interest. We are currently creating spatial transcriptional maps of the brain, arguably the most complex organ in the body, with at least hundreds of different distinct neuronal subtypes that are interconnected in precise patterns. Our aim is to improve understanding of neurological and psychiatric diseases, as our current knowledge is still limited, contributing to the difficulty in developing therapies for many of these diseases. Psychiatric and neurological diseases cause much suffering of affected patients and their families and enormous costs to society. References Patent PCT/EP2012/056823
Contact Joakim Lundeberg E-mail: joakim.lundeberg@scilifelab.se
Data analysis. The data from the spatial transcriptomics experiment is visualized in the spatial transcriptomics viewer software. Virtual analysis of the tissue section is enabled and the user can select and analyze the gene expression in a cell or an area of interest. The user can also look at differential expression between selected regions, or perform an automated virtual analysis for identification of cell types based on predefined expression profiles.
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Highlights from research
Understanding the molecular basis of nerve signals Tracking the activation cycle of a voltage-gated ion channel
Ion channels that open and close in response to electrical signals are membrane proteins that constitute the fundamental building blocks responsible for e.g. our nerve signaling and heartbeats. These channels sense differences in voltage across a cellular membrane with four special voltage sensor parts (domains) whose structure changes. It has previously not been possible to determine how these changes occur. During the last year, we were able to solve this problem with a new combination of experiments, bioinformatics and simulations, which now enables us to track a complete cycle of a voltage sensor activation in response to voltage in full atomic detail.
Since it is difficult or impossible to determine a crystal structure with a voltage applied, the only structures available this far have corresponded to the open state of the Kv1.2-2.1 potassium channel. However, in collaboration with Linköping University we have been able to design electrophysiology experiments that capture information from intermediate states only visited briefly during channel opening or closing. This provides a wealth of new indirect structural information, and in combination with molecular modeling and molecular simulation it enabled us to predict a range of five different atomicdetail models corresponding to states ranging from fully activated to resting voltage-sensor domains (1). This results in a virtual movie of the complete cycle of structural changes of the ion channel, and makes it possible to explain how the gating occurs. For each 20 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
intermediate stage, one more charge in a specific part of the protein is moved across a hydrophobic region in the core of the ion channel, which effectively moves it from one side of the membrane to the other (2). We have also been able to use combined experiments and simulations to show that a specific residue (F233) in this region is responsible for making the closing process of potassium channels very slow (3). This likely explains a key property of our nerve system, where all nerve impulses are created by fast (sodium) channels first opening to depolarize the membrane, followed by the slower potassium channel opening to restore the equilibrium – if the latter closed instantly the nerve system would not work. References 1. H enrion, U. et al (2012) “Tracking a complete voltage-sensor cycle with metal-ion bridges” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 109 (22): 8552-57. 2. Lindahl, E. (2012) “Unraveling the strokes of ion channel molecular machines in computers” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 109 (52): 21186-87. 3. Schwaiger, C.S. et al (2012) “The conserved phenylalanine in the k(+) channel voltage-sensor domain creates a barrier with unidirectional effects” Biophys J. 104: 75-84.
Contact Erik Lindahl E-mail: erik.lindahl@scilifelab.se
Deactivation of voltage sensor from a voltage-gated ion channel. As the voltage changes, the sensor moves through intermediate states to a resting state where it will push on the pore domain (not shown) to close the channel.
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 21
Highlights from research
Bioinformatics for network and systems biology
As more and more high-throughput biological data is generated, there is a growing need to understand how genes and proteins are organized in networks. We have developed a bioinformatics framework for mapping diverse types of data into a single network of functional couplings. Such network maps are a tremendous
a 5-fold increase in sensitivity compared to traditional gene enrichment analysis, which does not use a network (2). Moreover, we have developed an efficient and highly accurate bioinformatics method that improves gene list analysis by clustering the genes into distinct functional groups (3).
resource for identifying the functional partners of genes and proteins, and to analyze relations between groups of genes. To this end, we have developed bioinformatics tools to assess the statistical significance of network crosstalk between gene groups. We are also elucidating gene regulatory networks by perturbation experiments and improved bioinformatics methodology.
Network biolog y. FunCoup is a data integration project for producing global comprehensive gene/protein networks of functional couplings. Release 2.0 was built using 9 different types of high-throughput data from 11 different species (1). FunCoup achieves its high coverage by orthology-based transfer of functional coupling between species. The FunCoup website http://FunCoup.sbc.su.se provides unique facilities for analyzing network context of query genes and the conservation of subnetworks in multiple species. Functional analysis. The FunCoup networks can be used for pathway annotation of gene lists using ”Network Crosstalk Enrichment Analysis”. This measures enrichment of network crosstalk between an experimentally derived gene list and known pathways. We have shown that this approach yields 22 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Systems biolog y. Dynamic transcriptional gene regulatory networks can be inferred by perturbing some genes, e.g. with RNA interference, and measuring the effect this has on other genes. Several modeling techniques exist for such inferences, but a major problem has been estimating the sparsity of the network, leading to very poor accuracy. To resolve this, we have developed a method that, given sufficiently informative data, predicts the optimal sparsity and produces correct regulatory networks (4). Together with SciLifeLab facilities, we are elucidating gene regulatory networks relevant to cancer. References 1. A ndrey, A. et al (2012) “Comparative interactomics with Funcoup 2.0” Nucleic Acids Research 40: D821-D828. 2. McCormack, T. et al (2013) “Statistical Assessment of Crosstalk Enrichment between Gene Groups in Biological Networks” PLoS ONE 8: e54945. 3. Frings, O. et al (2013) “MGclus: network clustering employing shared neighbors” Molecular BioSystems (in press). 4. Tjärnberg, A. (2013) “Optimal sparsity criteria for network inference” J. Computational Biology (in press)
Contact Erik Sonnhammer E-mail: erik.sonnhammer@scilifelab.se
Collaboration with industry
Collaborations between academia and industry are becoming increasingly important and SciLifeLab Stockholm is working actively to find new forms of collaboration with national and international industry partners. These collaborations have large potential for societal gains in a wide range of applications. Examples range from a faster route to convert new knowledge into products or therapies in medicine and health care to new ways to produce biofuels.
Based on the advanced technologies and instrumentation available, SciLifeLab Stockholm aims to be involved in the development of new techniques and instrumentation in collaboration with industry and to be a reliable and competent partner for development and testing of new technology. Several such collaborations are ongoing at SciLifeLab Stockholm. Another interesting possibility for industrial collaboration is to get smaller companies to use the resources at SciLifeLab as means for increasing their international competitiveness. This will be based on a full-cost policy, but might still be attractive for some companies. Finally, SciLifeLab Stockholm is an attractive partner for pharmaceutical industry in larger scientific studies. One interesting possibility here is to use the infrastructure built up in SciLifeLab along with Sweden’s unique clinical materials and skills to promote Sweden as a location for research on the major international pharmaceutical companies.
research program has also been established for collaborations between AstraZeneca and SciLifeLab associated groups. Example of collaboration: GE Healthcare
The GE Healthcare DemoLab is a facility equipped with GE Healthcare’s instrumentation and reagents for life science research. This complements the instrumentation and competence provided by SciLifeLab and facilitates collaboration between industry and academia. The instrumentation includes ÄKTA for purification and analysis of biomolecules, Biacore and MicroCal technology for biomolecular interaction analysis and the imaging systems Image Quant and Typhoon, and IN Cell Analyzer. During 2012, GE DemoLab has been carrying out a large number of projects together with research groups in the Stockholm-Uppsala region.
In June 2012, AstraZeneca started up the Translational Science Centre in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet. The center is situated at SciLifeLab Stockholm and will be focusing on finding biomarkers for different chronic diseases, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and dementia. A joint collaborative open
Photo: Staffan Eliasson
Example of collaboration: AstraZeneca
GE Healthcare DemoLab.
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 23
The SciLifeLab Stockholm researchers
Adnane Achour
Afshin Ahmadian
Anders Andersson
BjĂśrn Andersson
Lars Arvestad
Helena Berglund
Assoc. Prof., KI Structural and Biophysical Immunology.
Assoc. Prof., KTH Experimental genomics.
Assoc. Prof., KTH Metagenomic analysis of microbial communities.
Prof., KI Genomic analysis.
Dr., SU Computational studies in evolution and genomics.
Assoc. Prof., KI Facility Manager Protein Production.
Thomas Helleday
Berk Hess
Lukasz Huminiecki
Lukas Käll
Assoc. Prof., SU Computational biophysics.
Assoc. Prof., SU Computational biology statistics, bioinformatics and software development.
Annika Jenmalm Jensen
Juha Kere
Prof., KI Translational cancer medicine and chemical biology.
Prof., KI Molecular genetics and biology of complex phenotypes.
Assoc. Prof., KTH Statistical biotechnology.
Mats Nilsson
Peter Nilsson
Jacob Odeberg
Bengt Persson
Peter Savolainen
Jochen Schwenk
Prof., SU Molecular diagnostics.
Prof., KTH Site Director of Human Protein Atlas at SciLifeLab.
Prof., KTH/KI Clinically applied proteomics.
Prof., KI/LiU Director of BILS (Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences). Protein families and structural properties.
Assoc. Prof., KTH Evolutionary studies of dogs based on DNA sequence analysis.
Assoc. Prof., KTH Facility manager Biobank profiling. Biomarker discovery using antibody-based analysis of biobank samples.
24 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Dr., KI Facility manager Chemical Biology. Director of Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS).
Hjalmar Brismar
Jens Carlsson
Arne Elofsson
Olof Emanuelsson
Lars Engstrand
Gunnar von Heijne
Prof., KTH/KI Development of methods based on superresolution microscopy with applications in studies of membrane proteins and their integrative functions.
Dr., SU Computational structural and chemical biology.
Prof., SU Studies of protein structure, folding and evolution using mainly computational methods.
Asst. Prof., KTH Bioinformatics of gene expression and protein localization.
Prof., KI Clinical bacteriology.
Prof., SU Vice Center Director. Experimental and bioinformatics studies of membrane proteins.
Jens Lagergren
Janne Lehtiö
Erik Lindahl
Emma Lundberg
Joakim Lundeberg
Jan Mulder
Prof., KTH Evolution, probabilistic modeling, RNA editing, micro RNA, machine learning, and algorithm design.
Assoc. Prof., KI Facility manager Clinical Proteomics and Director of Karolinska University Hospital proteomics facility. In-depth analysis of proteome, mass spectrometry.
Prof., SU/KTH Biophysics. Modeling, simulation and electrophysiology studies of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels. Leading the GROMACS international molecular simulation project.
Assoc. Prof., KTH Facility manager Cell Profiling. Protein profiling of cells using antibody-based imaging.
Prof., KTH Development and application of novel methods for massively parallel DNA sequencing.
Dr., KI Facility manager Tissue Profiling. Antibodybased mapping of regional and cellular protein distributions in the mammalian nervous system.
Erik Sonnhammer
Jussi Taipale
Mathias Uhlén
Anna Wedell
Roman Zubarev
Björn Önfelt
Prof., SU Director of Stockholm Bioinformatics Centre. Prediction of protein function and interaction networks.
Prof., KI Director of KHTC. Studies of the molecular mechanisms behind the development of cancer, including gene expression.
Prof., KTH Center Director. Leading the international effort to create a Human Protein Atlas.
Prof., KI Medical genetics and discovery of novel monogenic diseases.
Prof., KI Mass-spectrometry based proteomics for biomedical research.
Assoc. Prof., KTH Immune cell diagnostics.
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 25
SciLifeLab Stockholm – Scientific publications
During 2012, SciLifeLab Stockholm researchers have produced more than 170 scientific publications. The list below presents all peer-reviewed scientific publications in journals with an impact factor of six or higher. Aavikko et al (2012), Am J Hum Genet 91 (3): 520-6. Loss of SUFU Function in Familial Multiple Meningioma. Abrahamsson et al (2012), J Allergy Clin Immunol 129 (2): 434-40. Low diversity of the gut microbiota in infants with atopic eczema. Ahmad et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (3): M111 013680. Systematic analysis of protein pools, isoforms, and modifications affecting turnover and subcellular localization. Alexeyenko et al (2012), Nucleic Acids Res 40: D821-8. Comparative interactomics with Funcoup 2.0.
Contreras et al (2012), Nature 481 (7382): 525-9. Molecular recognition of a single sphingolipid species by a protein’s transmembrane domain. Darki et al (2012), Biol Psychiatry 72 (8): 671-6. Three Dyslexia Susceptibility Genes, DYX1C1, DCDC2, and KIAA0319, Affect Temporo-Parietal White Matter Structure. Dengjel et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (3): M111 014035. Identification of autophagosome-associated proteins and regulators by quantitative proteomic analysis and genetic screens. Ekdahl et al (2012), Genome Res 22 (8): 1477-87. A-to-I editing of microRNAs in the mammalian brain increases during development. Elvers et al (2012), Nucleic Acids Res 40 (17): 8440-8. CHK1 activity is required for continuous replication fork elongation but not stabilization of post-replicative gaps after UV irradiation.
Arabi et al (2012), Nat Commun 3: 976. Proteomic screen reveals Fbw7 as a modulator of the NF-kappaB pathway.
Eriksson et al (2012), Blood Cancer J 2: e81. The novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor AKN-028 has significant antileukemic activity in cell lines and primary cultures of acute myeloid leukemia.
Bäcklund et al (2012), Ann Rheum Dis (in press). C57BL/6 mice need MHC class II Aq to develop collagen-induced arthritis dependent on autoreactive T cells.
Forslund et al (2012), Methods Mol Biol 856: 187-216. Evolution of protein domain architectures.
Buus et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (12): 1790-800. High-resolution Mapping of Linear Antibody Epitopes Using Ultrahigh-density Peptide Microarrays.
Fraser et al (2012), Clin Cancer Res 18 (4): 1015-27. PTEN deletion in prostate cancer cells does not associate with loss of RAD51 function: implications for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Carlsson et al (2012), Methods Mol Biol 857: 313-30. Investigating protein variants using structural calculation techniques.
Groth et al (2012), Nucleic Acids Res 40 (14): 6585-94. Homologous recombination repairs secondary replication induced DNA double-strand breaks after ionizing radiation.
Chauhan et al (2012), Cancer Cell 22 (3): 345-58. A small molecule inhibitor of ubiquitin-specific protease-7 induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells and overcomes bortezomib resistance.
Gubanova et al (2012), Clin Cancer Res 18 (5): 1257-67. Downregulation of SMG-1 in HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma due to promoter hypermethylation correlates with improved survival.
Chingin et al (2012), Anal Chem 84 (15): 6856-62. Separation of Polypeptides by Isoelectric Point Focusing in ElectrosprayFriendly Solution Using a Multiple-Junction Capillary Fractionator.
Guy et al (2012), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109 (52): E3627-8. Genomic diversity of the 2011 European outbreaks of Escherichia coli O104: H4.
26 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Hansson et al (2012), Lab Chip 12 (22): 4644-50. Inertial microfluidics in parallel channels for high-throughput applications.
Ă–jemalm et al (2012), J Cell Sci (in press). Positional editing of transmembrane domains during ion channel assembly.
Henrion et al (2012), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109 (22): 8552-7. Tracking a complete voltage-sensor cycle with metal-ion bridges.
Perisic et al (2012), Kidney Int 82 (10): 1071-83. Plekhh2, a novel podocyte protein downregulated in human focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, is involved in matrix adhesion and actin dynamics.
Hirvikoski et al (2012), J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97 (6): 1881-3. Prenatal dexamethasone treatment of children at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia: the Swedish experience and standpoint. Imai et al (2013), Methods Mol Biol 939: 115-40. Localization prediction and structure-based in silico analysis of bacterial proteins: with emphasis on outer membrane proteins. Ismail et al (2012), Nat Struct Mol Biol 19 (10): 1018-22. A biphasic pulling force acts on transmembrane helices during translocon-mediated membrane integration. Jones et al (2012), Oncogene (in press). Increased replication initiation and conflicts with transcription underlie Cyclin E-induced replication stress. Kampf et al (2012), BMC Med 10: 103. A tool to facilitate clinical biomarker studies - a tissue dictionary based on the Human Protein Atlas. Kivioja et al (2012), Nat Methods 9 (1): 72-4. Counting absolute numbers of molecules using unique molecular identifiers. Kjellqvist et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 12 (2): 407-25. A combined proteomic and transcriptomic approach shows diverging molecular mechanisms in thoracic aortic aneurysm development in patients with tricuspid- and bicuspid aortic valve. Lamminmaki et al (2012), J Neurosci 32 (3): 966-71. Human ROBO1 regulates interaural interaction in auditory pathways. Larance et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (3): M111 014407. Characterization of MRFAP1 turnover and interactions downstream of the NEDD8 pathway.
Punta et al (2012), Nucleic Acids Res 40: D290-301. The Pfam protein families database. Renvall et al (2012), J Neurosci 32 (42): 14511-8. Genome-wide linkage analysis of human auditory cortical activation suggests distinct Loci on chromosomes 2, 3, and 8. Sandberg et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (7): M112 016998. Tumor proteomics by multivariate analysis on individual pathway data for characterization of vulvar cancer phenotypes. Slaats et al (2012), Allergy 67 (7): 895-903. DNA methylation levels within the CD14 promoter region are lower in placentas of mothers living on a farm. Somaiah et al (2012), Clin Cancer Res 18 (19): 5479-88. The Relationship Between Homologous Recombination Repair and the Sensitivity of Human Epidermis to the Size of Daily Doses Over a 5-Week Course of Breast Radiotherapy. Sur et al (2012), Science 338 (6112): 1360-3. Mice Lacking a Myc Enhancer That Includes Human SNP rs6983267 Are Resistant to Intestinal Tumors. Tammimies et al (2012), Biol Psychiatry (in press). Molecular Networks of DYX1C1 Gene Show Connection to Neuronal Migration Genes and Cytoskeletal Proteins. Uddenberg et al (2012), Plant Physiol 161 (2): 813-23. Early cone-setting in Picea abies var. acrocona is associated with increased transcriptional activity of a MADS-box transcription factor. Uhlen et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (3): M111 013458. Antibody-based protein profiling of the human chromosome 21.
Liebmann et al (2012), J Neurosci 32 (50): 17998-8008. A Noncanonical Postsynaptic Transport Route for a GPCR Belonging to the Serotonin Receptor Family.
Wiklund et al (2012), Lab Chip 12 (18): 3221-34. Acoustofluidics 18: Microscopy for acoustofluidic micro-devices.
Lindahl (2012), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109 (52): 21186-7. Unraveling the strokes of ion channel molecular machines in computers.
Wright et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (8): 478-91. Enhanced peptide identification by electron transfer dissociation using an improved Mascot Percolator.
Logue et al (2012), ISME J 6 (6): 1127-36. Freshwater bacterioplankton richness in oligotrophic lakes depends on nutrient availability rather than on species-area relationships.
Ying et al (2012), Cancer Res 72 (11): 2814-21. Mre11-Dependent Degradation of Stalled DNA Replication Forks Is Prevented by BRCA2 and PARP1.
Nikulenkov et al (2012), Cell Death Differ 19 (12): 1992-2002. Insights into p53 transcriptional function via genome-wide chromatin occupancy and gene expression analysis.
Zeiler et al (2012), Mol Cell Proteomics 11 (3): O111 009613. A Protein Epitope Signature Tag (PrEST) library allows SILAC-based absolute quantification and multiplexed determination of protein copy numbers in cell lines.
Nookaew et al (2012), Nucleic Acids Res 40 (20): 10084-97. A comprehensive comparison of RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analysis from reads to differential gene expression and cross-comparison with microarrays: a case study in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ă–jemalm et al (2012), Mol Cell 45 (4): 529-40. Orientational preferences of neighboring helices can drive ER insertion of a marginally hydrophobic transmembrane helix.
See more publications at publications.scilifelab.se
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 27
The Platform Facilities
Genomics Experimental Facility Manager: Dr. Max Käller
Mission
Infrastructure (selected)
• To provide a state-of-the-art infrastructure and
• 5 Illumina HiSeq2500
internationally competitive service for massively parallel
• 2 Roche Genome Sequencer 454 FLX+
sequencing
• 1 Life Technologies SOLiD 5500 XL
• To provide a wide repertoire of sequencing applications addressing the needs of national and international
• 2 Illumina MiSeq • 1 Argus Optical Mapper
customers • To provide guidelines and support for sample collections, study design and protocol selection
Achievements 2012 • 207 projects completed • 4539 samples processed
Description of service The massively parallel DNA sequencing techniques can be used for a variety of studies: whole genome sequencing, exome sequencing, de novo sequencing, targeted sequencing of regions in single or multiple individuals, transcriptome
Contact
profiling including quantification, transcript isoforms and
Genomics Production
miRNAs, ChIP-Seq to detect transcription binding sites
Facility Manager: Dr. Ellen Sherwood
across the genome, amplicons sequencing (e.g., 16S rRNA
E-mail: ellen.sherwood@scilifelab.se
genes), and metagenomic sequencing of microflora
Phone: +46 8 524 81483
genomes. The unit offers advice on project design, sample preparation, and sequence analyses in collaboration with
Genomics Applications
the Genomics Bioinformatics facility. During 2012, the
Facility Managers: Dr. Max Käller and Dr.Valtteri Wirta
sequencing capacity has been increased >3-fold to improve
E-mail: max.kaller@scilifelab.se or
the handling also of large sequencing projects.
valtteri.wirta@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81426 or +46 8 524 81545
As of Jan 1, 2013 the Genomics Platform operates three facilities; Genomics Production, Genomics Applications and
Ordering (sample coordinator): Mattias Ormestad
Genomics IT, replacing Genomics Experimental and
E-mail: genomics_orders@scilifelab.se
Genomics Bioinformatics.
Phone: +46 8 524 81435 https://portal.scilifelab.se/genomics/
28 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Platform Facilities
Genomics Bioinformatics Facility Manager: Dr. Thomas Svensson
Mission
• CLCbio server
• To provide state-of-the-art data handling and storage
• Access to computing and storage resources at UPPNEX
solutions for massively parallel sequencing data • To offer best practice data analysis aligned to the sequencing applications provided by the Genomics Experimental facility
Software: • BCBIO, semi-automatic software pipeline for data management and best practice data analysis • Adhoc, web service for analysis of proprietary
Description of service
sequence data
The facility is closely integrated with the Genomics Experimen-
• LIMS for management of lab data
tal facility and provides an automatic pipeline for transfer of
• CLCbio, commercial software for analysis of NGS data
data from instruments to high-performance computing
• Access to open source software for NGS data analysis
resources. Users of the service can also benefit from a secure
at UPPNEX
web application allowing similarity searches of their own sequence databases. The facility provides support in the form
Achievements 2012
of best practice bioinformatics analysis of genomics sequence
• Received and handled genomics data from 207 projects
data, as well as applied bioinformatics analysis in various biological contexts.
and 4539 samples (an amount corresponding to on average 82 GB per day) • Establishment of improved best practice data analysis for
During the second half of 2012 the organization has adapted to the 3-fold increase in data production, by focusing the informat-
the sequencing applications provided by the Genomics Experimental facility
ics resources on support for data production and improved best
• Contribution to relevant open source projects
practice analyses. The responsibility for user support of
• Successfully evaluated and received funding for establish-
advanced and applied bioinformatics has gradually been moved
ment of a national infrastructure for applied bioinformat-
to a new SciLifeLab facility called WABI (see more on page 44).
ics (WABI)
Infrastructure (selected)
Contact
Hardware:
Facility Managers: Dr. Thomas Svensson and
• 2 servers dedicated for sequence assembly with
Dr. Per Kraulis
1 and 2 TB RAM memory, respectively • Dedicated servers for data management and software development/testing
E-mail: thomas.svensson@scilifelab.se or per.kraulis@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81488 or +46 8 524 81465
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 29
30 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Platform Facilities
Cell Profiling Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Emma Lundberg
Mission
Infrastructure (selected)
• To provide multiplex immunofluorescence and high-
• 37,000 antibodies validated (by protein arrays) from
resolution microscopy for analysis of the subcellular distribution of proteins in a multitude of human cells • To provide a publically available database of the sub cellular localization of all human proteins (Subcellular
the HPA project • 3x Leica SP5 confocal microscopes with Screening software • 2x EVO150 liquid-handling robot
Protein Atlas as part of the Human Protein Atlas) • To validate the specificity of antibodies using siRNA technology • To provide expertise for immunofluorescence application testing of antibodies • To provide expertise for deeper quantitative analysis and cell profiling in collaborative projects
Achievements 2012 • 20,500 samples analysed (immunostained cell sample prepared, imaged and analysed) • > 100,000 confocal images acquired • Established a platform for high-throughput validation of antibody specificity using siRNA technology • 15 peer-reviewed publications of which 9 related to
Description of service The cell profiling facility has equipment and expertise to
collaborative projects • 10 service projects initiated (all with industry)
explore the subcellular distribution of the human proteome using antibodies and confocal microscopy. The unit provides expertise on antibody-based high-content imaging and extraction of quantitative and qualitative information from images. The main activity in the Cell profiling facility is to generate a publically available database of subcellular
Photo: Håkan Lindgren
protein localization of the human proteome.
Contact Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Emma Lundberg E-mail: emma.lundberg@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81468
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 31
The Platform Facilities
Biobank Profiling Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Jochen Schwenk
Mission
• Marathon inkjet microarrayer – ArrayJet
• To provide multiplexed antibody- and antigen-based
• Nanoplotter 2.0E non-contact microarrayer – GeSim
profiling of body fluids • To enable protein biomarker discoveries and verification across diseases
• LuxScan HT 24 microarray scanner – CapitalBio • G2565BA 48 slide microarray scanner – Agilent • EL406 plate washer – Biotek
• To provide profiling of autoimmune signatures • To provide guidelines for sample collection and target selection • To support studies with data analysis and study design
Achievements 2012 • > 10,000 antibodies in profiling of cancer and cardio vascular disease • > 10,000 antigens in autoimmunity profiling within
Description of service The Biobank profiling facility provides support for profiling of body fluids on three levels: study design, protein profile
multiple sclerosis • Whole peptide arrays in autoimmunity profiling and epitope mapping
generation, and statistical analyses of data. During 2012, the
• 7 peer reviewed publications
service infrastructure has expanded with collaborative
• > 20 national collaborative projects ongoing
projects involving research groups in the Stockholm–Uppsala
• 1 service project initiated
region. These projects have involved both antigen-based profiling for new autoimmunity targets and antibody-based profiling to generate protein profiles from screening serum or plasma. Differential profiles of potential biomarker candidates were observed and are being verified in different assays and technologies. Infrastructure (selected) • 37,000 antibodies validated (by protein arrays) from the HPA project • 37,000 antigens (MS verified) from the HPA project
Contact Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Jochen M Schwenk E-mail: jochen.schwenk@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81482
• Whole proteome peptide arrays • 2x EVO150 liquid-handling robot – Tecan
Platform Director: Prof. Peter Nilsson
• SELMA 96-fold pipettor – CyBio
E-mail: peter.nilsson@scilifelab.se
• LX200, MagPIX, FlexMap3D – Luminex
Phone: +46 8 524 81418
32 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Platform Facilities
Cell Screening Facility Manager: Dr. Bo Lundgren
Mission
Infrastructure (selected)
• To provide high-throughput RNAi knockout technology
• A PerkinElmer 3 arm Janus robotic liquid dispensing
to the Swedish research community • To provide expertise in setting up high-throughput microplate-based biological screening methods using controlled and validated technology
system with 96 and 384 head • An ECHO550 non-contact (tip less) liquid dispenser 96 to 1536 plate format • Two human genome wide siRNA libraries (Dharmacon and Ambion)
Description of service
• Small molecule libraries (130K compounds)
The RNAi Cell screening facility provides high throughput
• Cell cultivation laboratory
RNAi-based screenings both as customized screens using a number of selected sets of siRNAs as well as whole genome
Selected Achievements 2012
wide screens. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art
• Identification through a genomic wide RNAi knockout
instrumentation, designated cell and robotic laboratories
screen of a number of putative genes involved in Wnt-3
and highly trained personal. The facility provides expertise
mediated signaling
and technical support to the researcher on:
• Identification putative systemic lethal genes through RNAi
• Strategies for the experimental design
• Kinase siRNA screen using the Surefire technology
• Development of endpoint assay and help on statistical
• Network mapping of EGFR pathway through knockout
knockout
analyses of the screening data • Setup of the robotics and carrying out the highthroughput screen in collaboration with the researcher
with selected siRNA screen and substance • Identification of a number of novel chemical entities (hits) in 7 different chemical screens • Transfer and solid RNAi transfection and use in antibody
The experimental work is performed in a validated and
validation
controlled technical environment. We also provide expertise on in vitro toxicity, cell culture or pre-clinical issues. Contact Facility Manager: Dr. Bo Lundgren E-mail: bo.lundgren@scilifelab.se or cellscreen@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81470
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 33
The Platform Facilities
Advanced Proteomics Facility Manager: Dr. Dorothea Rutishauser
Mission
Infrastructure (selected)
• To provide label-free quantitative proteomics analysis
• 2 Q Exactive mass spectrometers, Thermo Scientific
using nLC/MS and low sample consumption (<1µg)
• LTQ Orbitrap Velos Pro ETD, Thermo Scientific
• To provide accurate mass determination (<2ppm)
• LTQ Orbitrap XL ETD, Thermo Scientific
• To provide de novo sequencing of polypeptides using
• Xevo TQ, Waters
fragmentation methods CID, HCD and ETD • To provide analysis of post-translational modification
• Robotics and ionization sources: Mulitprobe II; Perkin Elmer, TriVersa NanoMate; Advion, AP/Maldi; MassTech
• To provide bioinformatics analysis of MS data, including quantitative Pathway Analysis • To offer consultation on experimental design, sample handling and MS data interpretation
Achievements 2012 • 46 new proteomics projects started • Collaborator in two high-throughput interdisciplinary metabolomics/proteomics projects
Description of service The advanced proteomics facility provides fee-for-service analysis of a big variety of protein and peptide samples including identification, quantitation and analysis of post-translational modifications. The facility also supports
• In-house development of accurate label-free quantification software • Acquisition of AP/MALDI-source for high-resolution MS systems • Installation of one additional high-resolution
project planning, experimental design and development of
MS instrument including nano and normal flow
sample preparation procedures. The main focus of the
LC systems for metabolomics and proteomics projects
facility is the generation of comprehensive quantitative proteomics data sets based on recently developed methods in high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomics.
Contact Facility Manager: Dr. Dorothea Rutishauser E-mail: dorothea.rutishauser@ki.se Phone: +46 8 524 87707
34 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Platform Facilities
Clinical Proteomics Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Janne Lehtiö
Mission
Infrastructure (selected)
• To offer state-of-the-art technologies, education and
The facility is equipped with the latest peptide separation
competence in proteomics for a wide range of applied
techniques and mass spectrometers with complementary
projects to elucidate biology and discover biomarkers
characteristics.
• To provide comprehensive proteome analysis to support
• MS LTQ Orbitrap Velos Pro, Thermo Scientific
annotation of protein coding genomes, so called
• MS Orbitrap Q Exactive, Thermo Scientific
proteogenomics
• Q-TOF 6540, Agilent • 2xLC-Triple Q-MS (6410, 6490), Agilent
Description of service
• MALDI-TOF/TOF, Applied Biosystems
The Clinical proteomics facility provides services to obtain
• 6xUPLC/HPLC, Agilent
comprehensive quantitative proteomics data, data analysis
• EIF elution robotics, GE Healthcare
and high quality project support for scientifically sound projects within systems biology and biomarker discovery.
Achievements 2012
We offer fee-for-service sample analysis, support to plan
• 41 projects completed or ongoing
and perform larger in-depth proteomics projects, e.g.
• Numerous cross platform projects initiated
protein identification, post-translational modification
• Several novel proteomics methods, experimental and
analysis and protein quantification in complex biological mixtures. The unit provides expertise on mass spectrometrybased proteomics, data handling and develops methods for improved proteome analysis.
bioinformatics have been developed and published in leading proteomics journals • Data has been provided to many customers’ publications in high ranked journals (MBIO, EMBO journal, JCB, MCP) and as support to a number of grant applications
Contact Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Janne Lehtiö E-mail: janne.lehtio@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81416
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 35
The Platform Facilities
Tissue Profiling Facility Manager: Dr. Jan Mulder
Mission
Infrastructure (selected)
• To provide a tissue profiling platform based on multiplex
• 2x MetaSystems fully automated slide scanning micro-
fluorescence immunohistochemistry for the analysis of regional and cellular distribution of proteins and their co-existence with known cellular or pathological markers • To create a publically accessible protein atlas of the mouse brain utilizing the unique antibody library generated
scopes with integrated classifier based on the fly image analysis and stitching software • Leica Bond RX autostainer (IHC and ISH) • Multichannel western blot setup and image acquisition (Bio-Rad Chemidoc)
within the Human protein atlas project • To create image analysis pipelines based on existing image analysis tools (ImageJ, Matlab, Cell profiler)
Achievements 2012 • Generated >100 detailed maps of protein distribution in the mouse brain each comprising of 30 images of brain
Description of service
sections with a resolution of 500 megapixels showing
We have generated an infrastructure optimised for the
both regional and cellular distribution of proteins in the
large-scale visualisation of protein expression and distribu-
brain
tion in the mouse brain (Protein atlas of the mouse brain).
• Initiated >20 collaborative projects involving analyses of
This infrastructure is available for collaborative service
protein expression and distribution in rodent and human
projects that benefit from the available know-how on tissue
tissue samples. Diseases studied in these collaborative
processing and multiplex staining procedures, automated
projects include; Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis,
IHC or ISH or automated slide scanning microscopy.
stroke, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer
Contact Facility Manager: Dr. Jan Mulder E-mail: jan.mulder@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81421
36 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Photo: Håkan Lindgren
and hypertension
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 37
The Platform Facilities
Chemical Biology Facility Manager: Dr. Annika Jenmalm Jensen
Mission
CBCS can currently assist with the following techniques
To provide expertise and infrastructure for the development
and tools:
of chemical probes to Swedish research groups with the
• Computational chemistry and modeling
goal to strengthen research within chemical biology
• Assay development
nationally and contribute to make Swedish research in this
• Screening of small-molecule libraries towards isolated
area internationally competitive.
targets or cell lines • Screening hit evaluation and confirmation
Description of service
• Hit-to-probe optimisation
Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS) was estab-
• Medicinal chemistry expertise
lished in 2010 as a non-profit strategic infrastructure for
• In silico and in vitro Pharmacokinteics (ADME)
academic researchers across Sweden. CBCS is funded by the Swedish Research Council, Karolinska Institutet and
Infrastructure
SciLifeLab Stockholm. The organization coordinates, and
CBCS has a state of the art infrastructure for assay develop-
makes available, a powerful academic framework of
ment, small-molecule screening, chemistry optimization of
platforms for the discovery, development and utilization of
hits and in silico and in vitro assays for ADMET (absorption,
small-molecule probes for life-science applications. CBCS
distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) predictions.
provides expertise within assay development, computational chemistry, cheminformatics, chemical library screening and
Achievements
development, medicinal/enabling chemistry, target
Since CBCS activities started in 2010:
identification and preclinical profiling.
• More than 30 primary screens have been completed • 3 in vivo proof-of-principle studies • 13 publications • 8 manuscripts in preparation
Contact Facility Manager: Dr. Annika Jenmalm Jensen Consortium Director, CBCS E-mail: annika.jenmalm-jensen@ki.se Phone: +46 8 524 80879 www.cbcs.se
38 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Platform Facilities
Protein Production Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Helena Berglund
Mission
In addition to the standard services PSF also provide
• To provide high quality, high-throughput protein
guidance in protein related issues and can take on minor
production services • To provide expertise in protein production, protein
protein production related tasks in parallel to the standard process.
characterization, and protein chemistry Infrastructure (selected) Description of service The protein production platform is part of the Protein Science Facility (PSF) established in 2011 to provide the scientific community with protein production services and
• Standard equipment for molecular biology and protein production • Instrumentation for protein crystallization and characterization
instrumentation for protein crystallization and biophysical characterization. PSF is based on the methodology platforms
Achievements 2012
of the Structural Genomics Consortium hosted by Karolinska
• Performed protein production work for 31 different
Institutet 2005–2011 and joined SciLifeLab Stockholm in
research groups
2012.
• Performed 325 high-throughput purifications and
The set up is based on high-throughput methods for
• Settled the working mode of the core facility and updated
prepared > 700 expression plasmids production of His-tagged proteins produced in E. coli and
methodologies
standard services include: • High-throughput sub-cloning into various expression vectors • Small scale expression and solubility screening • Lab-scale production cultures • Two-step protein purification • Proteolytic His-tag removal • Documentation and quality measures accompany all delivered results and materials
Contact Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Helena Berglund E-mail: helena.berglund@ki.se Phone: +46 8 524 86 843 www.psf.ki.se
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 39
40 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Platform Facilities
Advanced Light Microscopy (ALM) Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Hans Blom
Mission
Infrastructure (selected)
• To develop and implement new bioimaging technology
• Pulsed STED superresolution microscope
• To provide access to unique bioimaging instrumentation • To provide expertise in bioimaging • To support and educate bioimaging users
(~70 nm resolution in 1–2 channels) • Gated CW-STED superresolution microscope (~50–60 nm resolution in 1–2 channels) • Gated dual-color Easy-STED superresolution microscope
Description of service The mission of the Advanced Light Microscopy (ALM) facility is to provide scientists all over Sweden with open access to state-of-the-art superresolution fluorescence microscopy for nanoscale biological visualisation. The ALM facility provides access to all superresolution modalities, including the STED, PALM, SIM, and STORM technologies developed in the last
(in-house development by Dr. Matthias Reuss) • SIM superresolution microscope (doubled resolution in all direction; four colors) • PALM superresolution microscope (~20–40 nm resolution in 1–2 channels) • dSTORM superresolution microscope (~20–40 nm resolution in 1–3 channels)
decade. Collaborative project management and transfer of knowledge to individual researchers are supported,
Achievements 2012
including organization of workshops and courses in
• Installation of commercial ELYRA superresolution system
superresolution microscopy.
from Carl Zeiss • Host for the second superresolution user-club workshop,
Via the Swedish Bioimaging Network, the ALM facility is coordinated as a superresolution bioimaging node on a national level. In addition to being selected a national node for superresolution microscopy, the ALM facility has during
co-organized with Leica Microsystems • Over 20 national and international supported super resolution fluorescence microscopy projects • Euro-Bioimaging superresolution proof-of-concept site
2012 been an advanced bioimaging node in Europe via the large ESFRI infrastructure project Euro-Bioimaging. Together with the University of Turku in Finland we have implemented routines for providing access to advanced bioimaging Photo: Håkan Lindgren
equipment and superresolution expertise to north European scientist.
Contact Facility Manager: Assoc. Prof. Hans Blom E-mail: hans.blom@scilifelab.se Phone: +46 8 524 81214 www.scilifelab.se/index.php?content=bioimaging
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 41
The Platform Facilities
Karolinska High Throughput Center (KHTC) Facility Manager: Dr. Jianping Liu
Mission
Achievements 2012
• To provide access to unparalleled automated and
• Successful integration of the Acumen eX3 High Content
high-throughput equipment, reagents, expertise and training in the field of systems biology, functional genomics and drug discovery to the scientific community
Imaging System • Two compound screens were completed using functional cellular assays • 352 sequencing runs were completed
Description of service KHTC is home to one of the most sophisticated, state-of-
• RNA extraction protocol for RNA sequencing was automated
the-art analytical platforms in Europe. We can perform
• Three siRNA pre-screens are in progress
large-scale functional genomics (cDNA and RNAi) and
• Four siRNA screens, one cDNA screen and three
compound screens in various cellular and biochemical assays. We provide a number of high-capacity technologies to analyse protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions as
compound screens have been initiated • Data generated at KHTC was used in four high impact journal publications
well as next generation sequencing technology. KHTC operates as a self-service facility where we assist with assay development, automation and operation. Infrastructure (selected) • Highly integrated laboratory automation workstations and advanced liquid handling robots • Fully automated microscope, Acumen eX3 High Content Imaging System and multilabel plate reader • Illumina HiSeq2000 DNA sequencers • High-throughput PCR instrument and a platform for systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) • Recombinant DNA cloning/colony picking platform and high-throughput yeast replicator • Collections of genome-wide siRNA and ORF libraries as
Contact Facility Managers: Dr. Anders Eriksson and Dr. Jianping Liu
well as several comprehensive chemical compound
E-mail: anders.eriksson@ki.se or jianping.liu@ki.se
libraries
Phone: +46 8 5858 66 58
42 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
The Platform Facilities
Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences (BILS)
Mission
Achievements 2012
• To provide bioinformatics infrastructure and support for
• Consultancy and infrastructure support in over
life science researchers in Sweden • To be the national contact point towards the new European infrastructure for biological information, ELIXIR, and related international collaborations
200 projects nation-wide • Development of large-scale storage for NGS analyses in collaboration with SNIC/UPPMAX • Development of national mass-spectrometry proteomics data storage
Description of service BILS (Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences) is a distributed national research infrastructure with support
• Deployment of Fido – a robust web services framework for providing bioinformatics tools – in collaboration with SNIC/NSC
from the Swedish Research Council. BILS provides infrastruc-
• Set up routines for data publishing
ture to facilitate bioinformatics analyses including necessary
• Planning for Swedish ELIXIR node
computational and storage resources (which are provided in close collaboration with the Swedish Infrastructure for Computing, SNIC). Furthermore, BILS provides routes for data publishing. BILS also provides bioinformatics expertise in a number of areas and engages in training activities in order to inform life science researchers about the possibilities of bioinformatics.
Contact BILS Director: Bengt Persson E-mail: bpn@bils.se Support: support@bils.se and http://biosupport.se www.bils.se
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 43
The Platform Facilities
The Wallenberg Advanced Bioinformatics Infrastructure (WABI)
Through a grant from the Wallenberg foundation, SciLifeLab
Currently, the WABI staff consists of 10 full-time bio
Stockholm-Uppsala can now offer in-depth bioinformatics
informaticians. They will be fully integrated members of
support for projects running at SciLifeLab platforms as a
their assigned research projects during their time of service.
national service. The service will initially focus on genomics
An important aspect of WABI is to achieve hands-on
sequence data analysis, including both medical and
knowledge transfer from the WABI bioinformaticians to the
non-medical projects. The basic ideas behind the service are:
applicant’s research group. It is also our intention to offer members of the research group to spend time at SciLifeLab
• Any research group at a Swedish university can apply for
to ensure an efficient learning process.
the service as an addition to a standard SciLifeLab project support grant • Granted applications will be offered help with bioinformatics data analyses by experienced bioinformaticians for at least 3 months • The service is free of charge. One group member should be assigned to work alongside the WABI personnel to
Contact WABI-Stockholm Director: Prof. Gunnar von Heijne E-mail: gunnar@dbb.su.se
44 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Photo: Håkan Lindgren
ensure transfer of know-how
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 45
Management of SciLifeLab Stockholm
Board 2012
National Reference Committee
Prof. Jan Andersson, KI (chairman)
Prof. Bernt Eric Uhlin, Umeå University
Prof. Peter Arner, KI
Prof. Göran Larsson, Göteborg University
Prof. Stefan Nordlund, SU
Prof. Jens Nielsen, Chalmers University
Prof. Ylva Engström, SU
Prof. Karl-Eric Magnusson (chairman), Linköping University
Prof. Sophia Hober, KTH
Prof. Gunilla Westergren Thorsson, Lund University
Prof. Stefan Ståhl, KTH
Prof. Johan Schnurer, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Prof. Stefan Ståhl, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Directors (appointed in the end of 2012)
Prof. Henrik Grönberg, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Mathias Uhlen (KTH), Center Director
Prof. Neus Visa, Stockholm University
Prof. Gunnar von Heijne (SU), Vice Center Director
Prof. Bengt Westermark, Uppsala University
Prof. Jan Andersson (KI), Vice Center Director Prof. Anna Wedell (KI), Scientific Director
Annual report project team
Prof. Mats Nilsson (SU), Scientific Director
Mikaela Friedman
Prof. Helene Andersson Svahn (KTH), Scientific Director
Fredrik Sterky
Assoc. Prof. Fredrik Sterky, Site Director
Mathias Uhlén
Prof. Karin Dahlman-Wright, Site Director Huddinge Photo Scientific Advisory Board
Håkan Lindgren
Prof. Bertil Andersson, Singapore Prof. Kai Simons, Germany Prof. Janet Thornton, UK Prof. Sören Brunak, Denmark Prof. Jan Ellenberg, Germany
Contact
Prof. Svante Pääbo, Germany
General questions:
Prof. Yoshihide Hayashizaki, Japan
Fredrik Sterky, Site Director
Prof. Craig Venter, USA
fredrik.sterky@scilifelab.se
Prof. Leroy Hood, USA Prof. Richard Caprioli, USA
Scientific communication and External relations:
Prof. Stephen Friend, USA
Mikaela Friedman
Prof. Jonathan Knowles, Switzerland
mikaela.friedman@scilifelab.se
Prof. Elaine Mardis, USA Administration and personnel: Martina Selander martina.selander@scilifelab.se More information: www.scilifelab.se
46 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
Immunofluorescent staining of human U-2 OS osteosarcoma cells, using an antibody HPA036090 towards Tensin-1, shows positivity in focal adhesions.
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 47
48 | 2012 Annual report SciLifeLab Stockholm
SciLifeLab Stockholm Annual report 2012 | 3
SciLifeLab Stockholm has been formed jointly by the three Stockholm universities, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Stockholm University (SU), and thus combines the profiles and strengths of these three institutions. Read more at: www.scilifelab.se