Poppelsdorfer Schlossgespräche

Prof. Dr. Marcus Conrad
2025-12-04 18:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Berlin) | University Main Building, Festsaal, Regina-Pacis-Weg 3, Bonn, 53113
“Ferroptosis as a root cause of neurodegenerative diseases”
In his lecture, Prof. Conrad will reveal how ferroptosis—an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death—may underpin major neurodegenerative disorders. He will provide a deep dive into GPX4-centered regulatory pathways, newly discovered genetic drivers, and cellular processes that shape ferroptotic vulnerability. Additionally, he will highlight cutting-edge efforts to develop small-molecule modulators that can block or trigger ferroptosis, opening new therapeutic possibilities in both neurodegeneration and cancer.
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Background
Ferroptosis is a novel form of regulated necrotic cell death marked by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and metabolic constraints. Our contribution to this intriguing and emerging field began with the early discovery that the genetic knockout of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) causes a caspase-independent, non-apoptotic form of cell death, which could be prevented by the lipophilic antioxidant vitamin E both in cells and in mice to some extent (Seiler et al., Cell Metab 2008). Meanwhile, it is known that GPX4 is at the heart of ferroptosis due to its unique activity to prevent detrimental lipid peroxidation. Systems that sustain full functionality of GPX4 can be regarded as important nodes to control ferroptosis. Cellular processes, such as iron handling, polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress, glutaminolysis and the mevalonate pathway, have been recently recognized to impinge on this form of cell death as well.
Genetic approaches
We are using state-of-the-art genetic technologies including genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening to unravel novel ferroptosis players. Gain- and loss-of function approaches performed both in vitro and in vivo aim to investigate and validate the importance and relevance of these ferroptosis players in physiology and disease development. Moreover, their potential as putative future stratification markers in various disease contexts is also a focus in our laboratory.
Small molecule discovery
We are constantly applying phenotypic and target-based screening efforts to identify and develop novel cell death modulators for both inhibiting and inducing ferroptosis in the context of (neuro)degenerative diseases and cancer, respectively.

Prof. Brian Kobilka M.D
2021-10-12 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Paris) | Online via Zoom
“G-Protein-Coupled-Receptors”
In this lecture, the Nobel prize winner Prof. Kobilka gives us an insight into the family of G -Protein-Coupled-Receptors (GPCR), the largest family of cell surface receptors. Given the role in regulation of all aspects of human physiology GPCR are the main target of today’s pharmaceuticals. He will discuss approaches to characterize the structure and mechanistic activation of GPCR at molecular level.
Research in the Kobilka Lab is focused on G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), a large family of membrane bound receptors that mediate the majority of physiologic responses to hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as the senses of sight, smell and taste. They apply a range of structural and biophysical methods to study the mechanism of transmembrane signaling by GPCRs. High resolution structures obtained by crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy have captured several GPCRs in inactive and active states, while fluorescence, EPR and NMR spectroscopy reveal the dynamic behavior of receptors as they transition between these states. The lab is interested in developing structure-based approaches to facilitate drug discovery.

Prof. Dr. Michael Dustin
2021-01-20 19:15 (Europe/Paris) | Online via Zoom
“T cells on the attack against cancer and infection“
In this lecture, Prof. Dustin will introduce the “immunological synapse”, the specialized junction between immune cells and their targets. Thereby, he will discuss three recent examples concerning
1. molecular dynamics in the context of cancer immunotherapy;
2. the inhibition of the immunological synapse by plasmodium;
3. “protein bombs” from T-cells killing cancerous and infected cells.
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Prof. Dr. Dr. Haass
2020-12-03 19:15 (Europe/Paris) | Online via Zoom
“Can we ever treat Alzheimer’s disease?“
In his lecture, the Professor will explain the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease and the hypothesis of the amyloid cascade. With this basis, he will further describe amyloid-based therapeutic approaches, their clinical issues and finally he will address neuroinflammation as a new therapeutic target.

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Prof. Dr. Hannes Mutschler
2020-11-17 19:15 (Europe/Paris) | Online via Zoom
Full Professor for Biomimetic Chemistry, TU Dortmund, since November 2020
“Bottom-up approaches in origins of life research and synthetic biology”
The bottom-up generation of chemical systems with life-like properties is a key objective of synthetic biology and origin of life research. In his talk, Prof. Dr. Mutschler will present his research, which focuses on the assembly of self-replicating systems from existing biological parts. Furthermore, he will discuss the potential role of nucleic acid catalysts, such as ribozymes, as key players in an early biology that preceded modern life on Earth.

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Dr. Martin Denzel
2020-11-05 19:15 (Europe/Paris) | Online via Zoom
Leader of the workgroup for Metabolic and Genetic Regulation of Ageing, MPI for Biology of Ageing in Cologne
“Mutagenesis screens define unexpected roles of metabolism and protein synthesis in longevity”
Understanding the metabolic and genetic regulation of ageing requires multiple parallel approaches. In his lecture, Dr. Denzel presents his lab’s investigations of the metabolic modulation of protein homeostasis, mechanisms that control protein synthesis, and the role of stress resistance in longevity.

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