Research output per year
Research output per year
PL 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8)
00014
Finland
Viikinkaari 5, Biocenter 2
00790 Helsinki
Finland
Research activity per year
Flagship Executive Officer, 1.4.2019-31.12.2026, iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship
Director, Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE, 14.9.2015-31.3.2019
Vice Director, Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Translational Genome-Scale Biology, 2014-2019
Kinase signaling linking metabolism and growth control
Major human diseases such as diabetes and cancer are due to deregulat- ed signaling stemming from genetic alterations and extrinsic factors. Signaling in pathways and in larger networks typically involves sequential activation of kinases phosphorylating substrates and thus relaying and amplifying signals ultimately mod- ulating transcriptional responses in target gene sets. Our longstanding interest is to characterize signaling pathways regulating mammalian cell growth and how these impinge on transcriptional responses in human disease.
tabolism are the transcriptional kinases Cdk7 and Cdk8 mediating signals to RNA polymerase II. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms and in vivo functions of Cdk7 and Cdlk8 combining mouse molecular genetics with Drosophila knockdown strategies and cell-based screening approaches. Recent discoveries include identify- ing that Cdk7 acts as a roadblock to adipogenesis and that this presumed ubiquitous basal transcription factor is not expressed in fat tissues. Our goal is to understand the basis for the specificity of transcriptional regulation by metazoan Cdk7 and Cdk8 and their contribution to growth control and differentiation.
One of the rare kinases acting normally to restrict tumor growth is the LKB1ser- ine/threonine kinase critical for activation of at least 14 related kinases involved in metabolism and polarity regulation. We are interested in how LKB1 mediates its tumor suppressing function, and recently identified that LKB1 signaling in mesen- chymal cells is required for suppression of epithelial hyperproliferation in a mouse polyposis model and likely also in the human Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. We are cur- rently extending investigations of tumor suppression mechanisms of the LKB1 tu- mor suppressor kinase from hereditary polyposis to sporadic cancer (lung, uterine cervix). For this a combination of tissue- and cell type specific targeting approaches in vivo (conditional mouse models) and in vitro (2D and 3D RNAi & conditional dele- tions) of LKB1 and LKB1 substrate mutations will be used with a specific interest in the Nuak2 and AMPK kinases and cytoskeletal regulation.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Mäkelä, T., Adhikari, S., Aldahdooh, J. M. F., Ariotta, V., Atarsaikhan, G., Bao, J., Barreiro, K., Bhalke, M. S., Bollepalli, S., Chernenko, A., Dashi, G., Eloranta, K., Eriksson, M. R., Gerber, L. J., Grönholm, M., Heistman, V., Henriksson, M. E. J., Ikonen, N., Jansouz, S., Junquera Mencía, A., Kampanellou, E., Karhemo, P., Kekkonen, J., Kolikova, Y., Krami Senhaji, O., Kuosmanen, A., Kuusela, S., Kücükel, H., Langohr, L., Le Joncour, V., Leivonen, S., Liljeström, M., Lindgren, H., Luck, T. J., Lähdeniemi, I. A. K., Maljanen, K. J., Marchi, G., Miihkinen, M. S., Nader, K. M., Nagaraj, A., Niemeyer, F., Niemiec, I., Palin, K., Parsons, A. O., Pietiäinen, V., Pirinen, I. E., Pirttikoski, A. A., Puhka, M., Quintero, I. B., Rachidi, S. E., Rajalaakso, M. T., Rodosthenous, R., Saad, J., Sanjaya, P., Seppälä, T. T., Seref Vujaklija, C., Shah, S., Sorri, S. P., Suni, V., Suutala, A., Suvela, M., Udayani, J. E., Verkasalo, H. M., Vähärautio, A., Vänttinen, I. M., Västrik, I. & Väänänen, J.
Suomen Akatemia Projektilaskutus
01/09/2022 → 31/12/2026
Project: Academy of Finland: Finnish Flagship Programme
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
01/02/2022 → 31/12/2026
Project: Corporate funding
Mäkelä, Tomi (Recipient), 2002
Prize: Prizes and awards
Tomi Mäkelä (Board member)
Activity: Membership types › Membership or other role in national/international committee, council, board
Tomi Mäkelä (Board member)
Activity: Membership types › Membership or other role in public Finnish or international organization
Tomi Mäkelä (Attendee)
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Public Talks
Tomi Mäkelä (Reviewer)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editor of research journal
Tomi Mäkelä (Chair)
Activity: Membership types › Assessment of candidates for academic posts
15/01/2020
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
31/07/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Tomi Mäkelä & Miikka Joojakim Korja
18/04/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
08/01/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Tomi Mäkelä, Tiina Immonen & Esko Kankuri
11/09/2018
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media