Matthias Werner Hentze (born 25 January 1960 in Wiedenbrück, Germany) is a German scientist. He is the director of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL),[4] co-director of the Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit between EMBL and Heidelberg University, and Professor of Molecular Medicine at Heidelberg University.[5]

Matthias Hentze
Born (1960-01-25) 25 January 1960 (age 64)
Alma materWestfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Scientific career
FieldsMolecular Biology, RNA-binding proteins
Institutions
Thesis "Influence of amino acid analogs on maturation, transport and stability of cathepsin D in human skin fibroblasts"  (1984)
Websitewww.embl.de

Biography edit

Matthias Hentze studied medicine in the UK at the medical schools at the universities of Southampton, Oxford, Glasgow and Cambridge, and in Germany at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster from which he qualified in 1984.[3] In the same year, he received his M.D. degree for a dissertation on the role of glycosylation in lysosomal enzyme expression with Kurt von Figura as his advisor.[3][6]

After a short phase of clinical work Hentze became a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Maryland, USA) in 1985, having been awarded a fellowship by the German Research Foundation (DFG).[3][better source needed] In 1989, he joined the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg as an independent group leader. At the age of 30, he obtained the Habilitation from the Ruprecht-Karls University in Heidelberg and was appointed Dean of the EMBL International Ph.D. Programme in 1996.[3]

Together with Andreas Kulozik of the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University, Hentze co-founded the Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU) in 2002[7][8] and serves as its co-director.[3] The MMPU represents the first institutional partnership between EMBL and a national research institution and is devoted to interdisciplinary research at the interface between molecular biology and clinical medicine.

In 2005, Hentze became Associate Director of the EMBL and Professor for Molecular Medicine at the University of Heidelberg.[3] In 2013, Hentze was appointed Director of EMBL, advising and supporting EMBL's Director General, Prof. Edith Heard.[4]

Work edit

Research edit

Hentze's research focuses on RNA biology and RNA-binding proteins. In 1987, Hentze and his colleagues discovered iron-responsive elements as first example of an RNA element regulating the translation of mammalian mRNA into proteins.[9] Hentze's research group has paved the way for understanding translational control (RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs) whose significance for developmental biology, brain function, carcinogenesis and other diseases has in the meantime become widely recognized.[10] Moreover, he has made key discoveries in the area of iron metabolism and disease.[11]

In 2010, Hentze proposed the concept of REM Networks, a new interconnection between metabolism and gene expression on the basis of RNA-binding proteins.[12] The research project was awarded the ERC Advanced Investigator Grant by the European Research Council in 2011.[13] Work following this hypothesis led to the development of the "RNA Interactome Capture" technique and to the discovery of hundreds of formerly unknown RNA-binding proteins in the cells of living organisms from human to yeast, including more than 50 metabolic enzymes.[14][15][16] Hentze and his colleagues also discovered new RNA-binding motives of proteins which they unraveled using the newly developed method called "RBDmap".[17]

In 2019, they described the concept of riboregulation. They found out that the autophagy receptor protein p62 is directly regulated by a small RNA, vtRNA1-1, and that the small RNA directly interferes with protein-protein interactions between p62 monomers.[18] They reported a new form of riboregulation in 2022: RNA binds to the catalytic center of the human enzyme enolase-1 and inhibits its glycolytic activity.[19] Currently, their research focuses on how widely biological processes are riboregulated, and how riboregulation determines cell metabolism, differentiation and malignant processes.

Administrative activities edit

Since 1996, Hentze has held positions in EMBL's scientific administration, initially as Dean of the EMBL International PhD Programme[20] and in the establishment and expansion of EMBL's internal and external training programs. He played a key role in the construction and establishment of the Advanced Training Centre (ATC) in Heidelberg.[21] He is also responsible for developing EMBL's fundraising programs as well as the alumni program, and established EMBL's first Bioethics Committee, which he chaired from 2004 to 2020.[3]

Hentze founded the Environmental Research Initiative (ERI) in 2020.[22] Focused on globally networked, interdisciplinary research in the life sciences, ERI connects the commitment of private donors with the scientific potential of researchers at EMBL to uncover new approaches to solve environmental problems.

Honors and awards edit

Editorial boards edit

Hentze serves or served on the editorial boards of Molecular Cell, RNA,[42] EMBO Molecular Medicine,[43] Trends in Biochemical Sciences,[44] Journal of Molecular Medicine,[45] BMC Molecular Biology,[46] and Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: RNA.[47]

Other activities edit

Hentze is or was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and Board of Trustees of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine[48] (Berlin, Germany), the scientific advisory board of the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH/BIG),[49] the Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare (INGM), Milan, Italy,[50] the Centenary Institute, Sydney, Australia,[51] the KAUST Smart Health Initiative, and the Cold Spring Harbor Conferences Asia.[52] Furthermore, Hentze is the scientific co-founder of Anadys Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, USA.[53]

Publications edit

Hentze is (co-)author of textbooks about Molecular Medicine and has published over 300 scientific original contributions.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "National Institutes of Health (NIH)". National Institutes of Health (NIH). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  2. ^ "EMBL Heidelberg". European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Leopoldina CV. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  4. ^ a b "Matthias Hentze". EMBL. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  5. ^ Faculty at Heidelberg University Hospital. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  6. ^ Hentze, M.; Hasilik, A.; Figura, Kurt v. (1984). "Enhanced degradation of Cathepsin D synthesized in the presence of the threonine analog beta-hydroxynorvaline". Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 230 (1): 375–82. doi:10.1016/0003-9861(84)90120-6. PMID 6424571. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  7. ^ Smaglik, P (15 May 2003). "Language lessons: Heidelberg". Nature. 423 (6937): 364–5. doi:10.1038/nj6937-364a. PMID 12748657. S2CID 4416590.
  8. ^ "Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit initiates second phase". EMBL (Press release). 18 July 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  9. ^ Hentze, MW; Caughman, SW; Rouault, TA; Barriocanal, JG; Dancis, A; Harford, JB; Klausner, RD (1987). "Identification of the iron-responsive element for the translational regulation of human ferritin mRNA". Science. 238 (4833): 1570–73. Bibcode:1987Sci...238.1570H. doi:10.1126/science.3685996. PMID 3685996.
  10. ^ Sonenberg, N; Hinnebusch, A (14 December 2007). "New modes of translational control in development, behavior, and disease". Mol Cell. 28 (5): 721–29. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2007.11.018. PMID 18082597.
  11. ^ Hentze, MW; Muckenthaler, MU; Galy, B; Camaschella, C (9 July 2010). "Two to tango: regulation of mammalian iron metabolism". Cell. 142 (1): 24–38. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2010.06.028. PMID 20603012. S2CID 23971474.
  12. ^ Hentze, MW; Preiss, T (2010). "The REM phase of gene regulation". Trends Biochem Sci. 35 (8): 423–26. doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2010.05.009. PMID 20554447.
  13. ^ a b Exploring the interface between cell metabolism and gene regulation: from mRNA interactomes to "REM Networks". European Commission/CORDIS EU Research results. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. ^ Castello, A; Fischer, B; Schuschke, K; Horos, R; Beckmann, BM; Strein, C; Davey, NE; Humphreys, DT; Preiss, T; Steinmetz, LM; Krijgsveld, J; Hentze, MW (8 June 2016). "Insights into RNA biology from an atlas of mammalian mRNA-binding proteins". Cell. 149 (6): 1393–1406. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2012.04.031. PMID 22658674. S2CID 17912260.
  15. ^ Beckmann, BM; Horos, R; Fischer, B; Castello, A; Eichelbaum, K; Alleaume, AM; Schwarzl, T; Curk, T; Foehr, S; Huber, W; Krijgsveld, J; Hentze, MW (3 December 2015). "The RNA-binding proteomes from yeast to man harbor conserved enigmRBPs". Nature Communications. 6 (1012): 10127. Bibcode:2015NatCo...610127B. doi:10.1038/ncomms10127. PMC 4686815. PMID 26632259.
  16. ^ Hentze, MW; Castello, A; Schwarzl, T; Preiss, T (17 January 2018). "A brave new world of RNA-binding proteins" (PDF). Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 19 (5): 327–41. doi:10.1038/nrm.2017.130. PMID 29339797. S2CID 4938952.
  17. ^ Castello, A; Fischer, B; Frese, CK; Horos, R; Alleaume, AM; Foehr, S; Curk, T; Krijgsveld, J; Hentze, MW (18 August 2016). "Comprehensive identification of RNA-binding domains in human cells". Mol. Cell. 63 (4): 696–710. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2016.06.029. PMC 5003815. PMID 27453046.
  18. ^ Horos, R; Büscher, M; Kleinendorst, R; Alleaume, AM; Tarafder, AK; Schwarzl, T; Dziuba, D; Tischer, C; Zielonka, EM; Adak, A; Castello, A; Huber, W; Sachse, C; Hentze, MW (21 February 2019). "The Small Non-coding Vault RNA1-1 Acts as a Riboregulator of Autophagy". Cell. 176 (5): 1054–67. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2019.01.030. PMID 30773316. S2CID 72333202.
  19. ^ Huppertz, Ina; Perez-Perri, Joel I.; Mantas, Panagiotis; Sekaran, Thileepan; Schwarzl, Thomas; Russo, Francesco; Ferring-Appel, Dunja; Koskova, Zuzana; Dimitrova-Paternoga, Lyudmila; Kafkia, Eleni; Hennig, Janosch; Neveu, Pierre A.; Patil, Kiran; Hentze, Matthias W. (21 July 2022). "Riboregulation of Enolase 1 activity controls glycolysis and embryonic stem cell differentiation" (PDF). Molecular Cell. 82 (14): 2666–2680.e11. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2022.05.019. ISSN 1097-2765. PMID 35709751. S2CID 249722068.
  20. ^ "Training: EMBL International PhD Programme". EMBL. Archived from the original on 9 December 2004.
  21. ^ Smaglik, Paul (26 February 2009). "EMBL offers lab training in Europe". Nature. 457 (7233): 1172. doi:10.1038/nj7233-1172b.
  22. ^ "About EMBL". EMBL. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  23. ^ EMBO Membership Directory. Retrieved 2015-07-20.
  24. ^ "Overview of all Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizewinners: 2000". Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft {German Research Foundation). Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Members: Matthias W. Hentze". Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Lautenschläger Research Prize 2007 for Prof. Dr, Matthias Hentze and Prof. Dr. Andreas Kulozik" (Press release). University of Heidelberg. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  27. ^ Biotechnology and Life Sciences in Baden-Württemberg. Retrieved 2015-07-20. Archived 5 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ ERC Investigator Grant 2011. List of Principal Investigators. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  29. ^ RNA Society. Directors. Retrieved 2016-04-04
  30. ^ "Rückblick: Mosbacher Kolloquium 2015". Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM). 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  31. ^ Biospektrum.de. Retrieved 2015-07-20.
  32. ^ "New corresponding members admitted to the Academy". Australian Academy of Science. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  33. ^ "HMLS Investigator Award". Universität Heidelberg. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  34. ^ "Profile: Hentze Matthias". Academy of Europe. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  35. ^ "Honorary Degree citation: Professor Matthias Hentze MD". Australian National University (ANU). 13 December 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Awardee 2018: Matthias W. Hentze (Prof. Dr. med., Dr. h.c., ML, MAE, FAA)". Ilse und Helmut Wachter-Stiftung. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  37. ^ American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Newly Elected Fellows. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  38. ^ Eckhart-Buddecke-Stiftung. "Eckhart-Buddecke-Stiftung". ebst.uni-muenster.de (in German). Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  39. ^ "RNA Society Lifetime Achievement Award 2020". RNA Society. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  40. ^ 2023 Award Winners – Biochemical Society. Retrieved 2022-04-13
  41. ^ Biochemical Society announces its 2023 award recipients. Biochemical Society Website. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  42. ^ "Editors, Editorial Board and Coordinators for RNA". RNA Journal. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  43. ^ EMBO Press – Editors & Advisory Editorial Board. Retrieved 2015-07-20.
  44. ^ "Advisory board: Trends in Biochemical Sciences". Cell Press. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Editorial Board". Journal of Molecular Medicine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  46. ^ "Editorial Board". BMC Molecular Biology. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  47. ^ "Issue information". Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: RNA. 6 (1). 2014. doi:10.1002/wrna.1275. S2CID 222188869.
  48. ^ MDC Research Report 2014. Page 321. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  49. ^ "Berliner Institut für Gesundheitsforschung startet erste Forschungsprojekte // Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker, Präsident der Leopoldina, zum Vorsitzenden des Wissenschaftlichen Beirats gewählt" (Press release) (in German). Max Delbrück Center (MDC). 12 March 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  50. ^ "Scientific Advisory Board". Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare (INGM). Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  51. ^ "Scientific Advisory Board". Centenary Institute. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  52. ^ "Overview & SAB". Cold Spring Harbor Asia. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  53. ^ "Hidden treasures of the RNA World: from moonlighting to riboregulation". Oxford Talks. University of Oxford. 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2023.