Eeva-Liisa Eskelinen profile picture
Eeva-Liisa
Eskelinen
Professor, Institute of Biomedicine
PhD
1. Biological functions and molecular mechanisms of the small GTPase RAB24. 2. Membrane dynamics in autophagy. Web site: https://sites.utu.fi/eskelinengroup/

Contact

+358 29 450 3996
+358 50 511 5631
Kiinamyllynkatu 10
20520
Turku

Areas of expertise

Cell biology
autophagy
lysosomes
RAB24
electron microscopy
cell imaging

Biography

Eeva-Liisa Eskelinen has a long track record in autophagy field, in particular, in  elucidating the fine structure and membrane dynamics of autophagosome biogenesis using electron microscopy. She completed her PhD in 1993 at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. After that, she worked as postdoctoral researcher in Göttingen, Germany and Helsinki, Finland. Then she moved to Dundee, Scotland, where she worked as an independent investigator (1999-2002). From Scotland she moved to Kiel, Germany and worked as a group leader at the department headed by professor Paul Saftig (2002-2005). In August 2005 she moved back to Finland and worked as a University Lecturer at the Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, until 2017. 1st of November 2017 she started as a Professor of medical cell biology at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Teaching

Eeva-Liisa Eskelinen is the responsible teacher of the course Cell Biology and Histology, aimed for first year students in medicine, dentistry and biomedicine. She is also teaching electron microscopy methods on the course Electron Microscopy in Biomedical Sciences, aimed for MSc students on Biomedical Imaging, and for PhD students interested in the topic.

Research


The small GTPase RAB24

We study the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of RAB24, a GTPase that we showed to function in the late phase of the macroautophagic pathway. Mutation in RAB24 causes hereditary ataxia in dogs. In addition, RAB24 was shown to be overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, and the overexpression was further shown to facilitate the malignant phenotype of the cancer cells. RAB24 is also overexpressed in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We use cell and molecular biological and biochemical approaches in order to clarify the biological functions of RAB24, as well as the molecular mechanisms that mediate these functions.


Membrane dynamics in autophagy

Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway for cytoplasmic material and organelles that maintains cellular homeostasis during nutrient deprivation and stress. Autophagy also contributes to the clearance of damaged organelles and aggregate-prone proteins, protection against metabolic stress and DNA damage, and even to longevity of the organism. Defective autophagy has been connected to many human diseases including cancer, myopathies, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases.

We and others showed that autophagosomes form in a subcompartment of the endoplasmic reticulum. A flat membrane cistern called the phagophore emerges first, which then elongates and forms a double-membrane bound autophagosome. Autophagosomes acquire hydrolytic capacity by fusing with endosomes and lysosomes. The origin of autophagosome membranes is one of the longest lasting open questions in the field. We have addressed this question using three-dimensional electron microscopy, live-cell imaging and correlative light-electron microscopy.

Publications

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Accumulation of APP C-terminal fragments causes endolysosomal dysfunction through the dysregulation of late endosome to lysosome-ER contact sites (2024)

Developmental Cell
Bretou Marine, Sannerud Ragna, Escamilla-Ayala Abril, Leroy Tom, Vrancx Céline, Van Acker Zoë P., Perdok Anika, Vermeire Wendy, Vorsters Inge, Van Keymolen Sophie, Maxson Michelle, Pavie Benjamin, Wierda Keimpe, Eskelinen Eeva-Liisa
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

The ABL-MYC axis controls WIPI1-enhanced autophagy in lifespan extension (2023)

Communications Biology
Sporbeck K, Haas ML, Pastor-Maldonado CJ, Schüssele DS, Hunter C, Takacs Z, Diogo de Oliveira AL, Franz-Wachtel M, Charsou C, Pfisterer SG, Gubas A, Haller PK, Knorr RL, Kaulich M, Macek B, Eskelinen EL, Simonsen A, Proikas-Cezanne T
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Mammalian ATG8 proteins maintain autophagosomal membrane integrity through ESCRTs (2023)

EMBO Journal
Javed Ruheena, Jain Ashish, Duque Thabata, Hendrix Emily, Paddar Masroor Ahmad, Khan Sajjad, Claude-Taupin Aurore, Jia Jingyue, Allers Lee, Wang Fulong, Mudd Michal, Timmins Graham, Lidke Keith, Rusten Tor Erik, Akepati Prithvi Reddy, He Yi, Reggiori Fulvio, Eskelinen Eeva-Liisa, Deretic Vojo
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä )

Mitochondrial hyperfusion via metabolic sensing of regulatory amino acids (2022)

Cell Reports
Abdullah Mahmud O, Zeng Run X, Margerum Chelsea L, Papadopoli David, Monnin Cian, Punter Kaylee B, Chu Charles, Al-Rofaidi Mohammed, Al-Tannak Naser F, Berardi Domenica, Rattray Zahra, Rattray Nicholas JW, Abraham Sheela A, Eskelinen Eeva-Liisa, Watson David G, Avizonis Daina, Topisirovic Ivan, Chan Edmond YW
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä )