Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences

Bohnsack, Katherine, Dr.*

Group leader at Department of Molecular Biology


  • 2012 PhD, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
  • 2012-2013 Postdoctoral Scientist, University of Newcastle uopon Tyne, United Kingdom
  • 2016-2018 Postdoctoral Fellow (Dorothea Schlözer Postdoctoral Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship), University Medical Centre Göttingen, Germany
  • since 2018 Group leader, Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Germany
  • since 2019 Project leader in SFB1190 (Compartmental Gates and Contact Sites in Cells)
  • since 2020 Associated member of SFB860 (Integrative Structural Biology of Dynamic Macromolecular Assemblies)



Major Research Interests

Accurate and efficient conversion of genomic information into various RNAs and functional proteins is essential for cell metabolism and determines the characteristic features of different cells and tissues. Precise regulation of gene expression enables dynamic responses to developmental cues or changes in intra- and extracellular conditions. While dysregulation of gene expression often leads to disease, the capacity of cells to modulate the expression of particular genes is critical during the cellular response to stress conditions. Regulation of gene expression can occur at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational levels, and involves a diverse range of mechanisms. We are interested in understanding the contributions of various different types of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and RNA-dependent enzymes to modulating gene expression. More specifically, we want to understand how these proteins influence the maturation, localisation, stability and translation of mRNAs. A particular focus of our work is on elucidating the precise roles of nucleases and RNA modification enzymes in controlling the functions and fates of different RNAs.

Homepage Department/Research Group

https://biochemie.uni-goettingen.de/index.php/rna-metabolism-ag-k-bohnsack-2/


Selected Recent Publications


  • Braun CM, Hackert P, Schmid C, Bohnsack MT, Bohnsack KE#, Perez-Fernandez J# (2019) Pol5 is required for recycling of small subunit biogenesis factors and for formation of the peptide exit tunnel of the large ribosomal subunit. Nucleic Acids Res 48, 405-420.
  • Bohnsack KE# and Bohnsack MT# (2019) Uncovering the assembly pathway of human ribosomes and its emerging links to disease. EMBO J 38, e100278.
  • Brüning L, Hackert P, Martin R, Davila Gallesio J, Aquino GR, Urlaub H, Sloan KE#, Bohnsack MT# (2018) RNA helicases mediate structural transitions and compositional changes in pre-ribosomal complexes. Nat Commun 9, 5383.
  • Memet I, Doebele C, Sloan KE#, Bohnsack MT# (2017) The G-patch protein NF-κB-repressing factor mediates the recruitment of the exonuclease XRN2 and activation of the RNA helicase DHX15 in human ribosome biogenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 45, 5359-5374.
  • Haag S*, Sloan KE*, Ranjan N*, Warda AS*, Kretschmer J, Blessing C, Hübner B, Seikowski J, Dennerlein S, Rehling P, Rodnina MV, Höbartner C#, Bohnsack MT# (2016) NSUN3 and ABH1 modify the wobble position of mt-tRNAMet to expand codon recognition in mitochondrial translation. EMBO J 35, 2104-2119.
  • Sloan KE, Bohnsack MT, Watkins NJ (2013) The 5S RNP couples p53 homeostasis to ribosome biogenesis and nucleolar stress. Cell Rep 5, 237-247.
  • Sloan KE, Mattijssen S, Lebaron S, Tollervey D, Pruijn GJM, Watkins NJ (2013) Both endonucleolytic and exonucleolytic cleavage mediate ITS1 removal during human ribosomal RNA processing. J Cell Biol 200, 577-588.