Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program (STEMM)

Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program (STEMM) brings together eleven research groups and four associated clinical researchers interested in cellular metabolism as a driving force in tissue homeostasis, cellular differentiation and degenerative diseases.

Many of the groups take advantage of the possibilities of stem cell and genome editing technologies to understand molecular disease mechanisms in order to develop innovative treatments. Close ties to pediatric and neurology clinics enable efficient use of our research findings for diagnosis, patient care and counselling.

STEMM Research Program's website

Program director

Timo Otonkoski
Pluripotency and Disease Modeling
Biomedicum Helsinki 1, room C507b
PO Box 63, 00014 University of Helsinki
Tel. +358 504486392 or +358 503708976
timo.otonkoski@helsinki.fi

Ping Chen
Elina Ikonen - Lipid Trafficking Lab
Emmi Helle
Jukka Kallijärvi
Juha Kere - Genetics of Complex Phenotypes
Riikka Kivelä - Endothelial and Stem Cells Regulating Tissue Function
Satu Kuure - Kidney Development
Thomas McWilliams - Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Development, Disease & Repair
Taneli Raivio - Genetics and Disease Modeling with Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Anu Suomalainen-Wartiovaara - Mitochondrial Medicine
Henna Tyynismaa - Medical Neurogenetics
Sanna Vuoristo
Sara Wickström - Stem Cells and Tissue Architecture

Diego Balboa

Pirjo Isohanni
Risto Lapatto
Kirmo Wartiovaara
Emil Ylikallio

Key Publications from STEMM

Pirinen E, Auranen M, Khan NA, Brilhante V, Urho N, Pessia A, Hakkarainen A, Kuula J, Heinonen U, Schmidt MS, Haimilahti K, Piirilä P, Lundbom N, Taskinen MR, Brenner C, Velagapudi V, Pietiläinen KH, Suomalainen A: Niacin Cures Systemic NAD+ Deficiency and Improves Muscle Performance in Adult-Onset Mitochondrial Myopathy. Cell Metab. in press.
Nava MM, Miroshnikova YA, Biggs LC, Whitefield DB, Metge F, Boucas J, Vihinen H, Jokitalo E, Li X, García Arcos JM, Hoffmann B, Merkel R, Niessen CM, Dahl KN, Wickström SA: Heterochromatin-Driven Nuclear Softening Protects the Genome against Mechanical Stress-Induced Damage. Cell. in press.
Purhonen J, Grigorjev V, Ekiert R, Aho N, Rajendran J, Pietras R, Truvé K, Wikström M, Sharma V, Osyczka A, Fellman V, Kallijärvi J: A spontaneous mitonuclear epistasis converging on Rieske Fe-S protein exacerbates complex III deficiency in mice. Nat Commun. 11:322, 2020.
Hämäläinen RH, Landoni JC, Ahlqvist KJ, Goffart S, Ryytty S, Rahman MO, Brilhante V, Icay K, Hautaniemi S, Wang L, Laiho M, Suomalainen A: Defects in mtDNA replication challenge nuclear genome stability through nucleotide depletion and provide a unifying mechanism for mouse progerias. Nat Metab. 1:958–965, 2019.
Forsström S, Jackson CB, Carroll CJ, Kuronen M, Pirinen E, Pradhan S, Marmyleva A, Auranen M, Kleine IM, Khan NA, Roivainen A, Marjamäki P, Liljenbäck H, Wang L, Battersby BJ, Richter U, Velagapudi V, Nikkanen J, Euro L, Suomalainen A: Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Drives Dynamics of Local and Systemic Stress Responses in Mitochondrial Myopathy with mtDNA Deletions. Cell Metab. 30:1040-1054, 2019.
Li S, Prasanna X, Salo VT, Vattulainen I, Ikonen E: An efficient auxin-inducible degron system with low basal degradation in human cells. Nat Methods. 16:866-869, 2019.
Salo VT, Li S, Vihinen H, Hölttä-Vuori M, Szkalisity A, Horvath P, Belevich I, Peränen J, Thiele C, Somerharju P, Zhao H, Santinho A, Thiam AR, Jokitalo E, Ikonen E: Seipin Facilitates Triglyceride Flow to Lipid Droplet and Counteracts Droplet Ripening via Endoplasmic Reticulum Contact. Dev Cell. 50:478-493, 2019.
Varimo T, Huopio H, Kariola L, Tenhola S, Voutilainen R, Toppari J, Toiviainen-Salo S, Hämäläinen E, Pulkkinen M-A, Lääperi M, Tarkkanen A, Vaaralahti K, Miettinen PJ, Hero M, Raivio T: Letrozole versus testosterone for promotion of endogenous puberty in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty: a randomised controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 3:109-120, 2019.