Per Uhlén's group
Department of
Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics
Research
Our research group is studying developmental and cancer related processes in various types
of cells. The biological platforms that we are applying are tissue slices, primary cell
cultures, cell lines and stem cells. To study the processes of cell division, cell
differentiation, and neural migration/networking we are applying state-of-the-art imaging
techniques and modern genetic tools, such as transgenic animals. Our focus is to shed light
on the intracellular cell signaling mechanisms that regulate these vital processes for
development and disease. We are particularly interested in calcium signaling and how cells
are modulating and decoding the frequency/amplitude of intracellular calcium oscillations.
Calcium Signaling
Calcium is an almost universal intracellular messenger that controls a vast number of
cellular processes spanning from fertilization to cell death. Cells create large calcium
concentration gradients (~10'000 to 1) between the extracellular fluid, cytoplasm, and
internal calcium stores by means of calcium-pumps located in the plasma membrane and in the
membranes of internal calcium stores. These gradients provide ideal conditions for the use
of calcium as a cellular currency that supports the propagation of intracellular calcium
waves. The concerted actions of calcium transporters located in the plasma membrane and in
the membranes surrounding internal stores, including the endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic
reticulum, the mitochondria, and the nucleus, can generate calcium oscillations. As with a
radio transmitter, cells exploit the two key features of oscillatory signals - frequency and
amplitude - to utilize calcium as a second messenger to generate a large variety of
intracellular signals. This is an efficient way to use the same second messenger to activate
many different cell processes.
The Lab
The lab is located in the Retzius laboratories at Karolinska Institutet's campus. To study
cell signaling events in living cells, tissue, and animals we are applying various imaging
techniques, such as ratiometric ion concentration measurements, confocal microscopy, and
2-photon laser scanning microscopy. All imaging setups are available in our laboratory. The
unit is well-equipped in a highly vibrant research community with substantial resources and
excellent core facilities.
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