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November 2025-Hot off the press!
November 2025-Hot off the press!
TL;DR- We reveal the first structures of fungal zincophores!
The slightly longer story- Assimilation of zinc is essential to Candida albicans pathogenicity and limitation induces the expression and secretion of the zincophore protein Pra1. Pra1 then scavenges zinc from the host. Our work shows that Pra1 assembles into a hexameric wheel-like structure, with multiple zinc binding sites around the outer rim. This paper is the outcome of a fantastic collaboration with Duncan Wilson's lab at the University of Exeter. His lab then showed that these zinc binding sites are essential to C. albicans growth under zinc restriction. Our work creates a foundation for future work to explore the basis of Pra1-mediated host-pathogen interactions, C. albicans zinc uptake and therapeutics development.
Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65782-0#Abs1
October 2025-Welcome Chin Fen!
October 2025-Welcome Chin Fen!
We are so excited that Chin Fen is joining the lab as a postdoc. She will be working on technology development projects.
October 2025-Welcome back Nicha!
October 2025-Welcome back Nicha!
We are delighted that Nicha came back to do her Master's thesis work in the lab. Welcome back!
September 2025-Welcome to our two new trainees
September 2025-Welcome to our two new trainees
We are super excited to welcome Susan to the lab! Both Nicholas and Susan are part of the international trainee programme for masters students at the University of Helsinki.
September 2025-Welcome to our two new trainees
September 2025-Welcome to our two new trainees
We are super excited to welcome Nicholas to the lab!
April 2025-Open trainee position
April 2025-Open trainee position
Are you interested in joining our team? If you are an international student enrolled in a University of Helsinki master's programme, we welcome you to apply for a 4-month traineeship in the Syrjänen lab.
See https://jobs.helsinki.fi to apply. Application deadline 28 April 2025
March 2025-Welcome Ulaganathan!
March 2025-Welcome Ulaganathan!
We are very excited to have Ulaganathan Sivagnanam join the lab as a postdoc! Nathan will use structural and biochemical methods to unravel the molecular mechanisms of fungal zinc scavenging.
February 2025-Biophysical Society Annual Meeting
February 2025-Biophysical Society Annual Meeting
First international meeting for the Syrjänen lab! Johanna presented work on the structural characterisation of the C.albicans zincophore protein in this meeting.
January 2025-Welcome Heleen!
January 2025-Welcome Heleen!
We are so excited to have Heleen Koster join the lab! As our lab technician, she will support lab organisation, stocking, ordering and research.
January 2025- Welcome Nicha!
January 2025- Welcome Nicha!
We are very excited to have Nicha join as the first student of the Syrjänen lab! During her 8 week project, Nicha will be diving into molecular cloning techniques, protein expression and purification.
January 2025- first preprint in bioRxiv! 🥳
January 2025- first preprint in bioRxiv! 🥳
Read about our work here: Structural insights into mechanisms of zinc scavenging by the Candida albicans zincophore Pra1
November 2024- Johanna presents at the FINStruct Annual Meeting
November 2024- Johanna presents at the FINStruct Annual Meeting
The structural biology platform FINStruct and Instruct-ERIC Centre Finland 2024 Annual Meeting was held at the University of Oulu.
September 2024- The Syrjänen lab is officially open!
September 2024- The Syrjänen lab is officially open!
The Syrjänen lab is officially open!
June 2024- A huge thank you to the Research Council of Finland for supporting our research!
June 2024- A huge thank you to the Research Council of Finland for supporting our research!
Johanna is absolutely thrilled to be awarded an Academy Research Fellowship from the Research Council of Finland.
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