Biography:Theo Wallimann

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Theo Wallimann, a Swiss biologist

Theo Wallimann (born 13 October 1946 in Alpnach, Obwalden, Switzerland) is a Swiss biologist who was research group leader and Adjunct-Professor at the Institute of Cell Biology ETH Zurich and later at the Institute of Molecular Health Science at the ETH Zurich[1] at the Biology Department, of the ETH Zurich,[2] Switzerland.

Research and career

In 1975, Theo Wallimann completed his Ph.D. Dissertation on “M-line-bound Creatine Kinase and Myofibrillar Structure”[3] in the laboratory of Prof. Hans M. Eppenberger at the Institute of Cell Biology at ETH Zurich with distinction and received the ETH prize and medal.[4]

From 1975 - 1981, Wallimann worked as a post-doctoral research associate with Andrew G. Szent-Györgyi ,[5] at the Biology Department of Brandeis University on the subject of "Myosin-linked calcium regulation of muscle contraction".[6] After rejoining the Biology Dept of the ETH-Zurich in 1981, Wallimann became a Lecturer in 1984 with his Habilitation on: "Localization and function of M-line-bound creatine kinase: M-band model and Phospho-Creatine Shuttle"[7]). In 1994, Wallimann was awarded the title of Professor and in the next two years he became Head and Deputy Head of the Institute of Cell Biology. Wallimann was also awarded with Alfred-Vogt-Prize 2005.[8] Wallimann resigned from his post in June 2008 and is now Emeritus and member of the ETH Alumni organisation.[9]

Wallimann's main areas of interest are:

  • The high-resolution atomic structure, molecular physiology and subcellular compartmentation of creatine kinase (CK) isoenzymes and of the Creatine Transporter (CRT), and in general, micro-compartmentation and metabolite channeling by multi-enzyme complexes.[10][11]
  • The mechanisms of the cell enhancing and neuro-protective effects of creatine supplementation in health (muscle strength, learning and memory) and disease (neuromuscular and neuro-degenerative disorders).[12](see the recent Conference Volume on "Creatine Supplementation for Health and Clinical Diseases" (2022) https://exerciseandsportnutritionlab.com/news/creatine-in-health-book-published/
  • The structure and molecular physiology of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK),[13][14] involved in cellular energy homeostasis and nutritional signalling, which is relevant for type-2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer.(for publications in PubMed see:[15] and [16]).

References

  1. "Prof. Dr. Theo Wallimann" (in en). https://mhs.biol.ethz.ch/about-us/emeriti-formermembers/wallimann.html. 
  2. "ETH Zürich - Theo Wallimann". https://www.bi.id.ethz.ch/personensuche/personenDetail.view?pid=1312E&lang=EN. 
  3. Wallimann, T; Schlösser, T; Eppenberger, HM (25 April 1984). "Function of M-line-bound creatine kinase as intramyofibrillar ATP regenerator at the receiving end of the phosphorylcreatine shuttle in muscle". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 259 (8): 5238–46. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(17)42981-4. PMID 6143755. 
  4. Wallimann, Theo (1975). Creatinkinase-Isoenzyme und Myofibrillen-Struktur (Thesis). ETH Zurich. doi:10.3929/ethz-a-000126732. hdl:20.500.11850/135936.
  5. Obituary for Andrew Szent-Györgyi, who passed away at 90 on Jan. 27th 2015 in Falmouth, Mass.
  6. Andrew G Szent-Györgyi Research Gate
  7. Wallimann, Theo (1983). Localization and function of M-line-bound creatinekinase: M-band model and creatine-phosphate shuttle (Thesis). doi:10.3929/ethz-a-000370124.
  8. "Alfred Vogt-Stiftung zur Förderung der Augenheilkunde". http://www.alfred-vogt-stiftung.ch/preistraeger.php. 
  9. "MyAlumni Platform" (in en). https://www.alumni.ethz.ch/en/myalumni.html. 
  10. Fritz-Wolf, Karin; Schnyder, Thomas; Wallimann, Theo; Kabsch, Wolfgang (May 1996). "Structure of mitochondrial creatine kinase". Nature 381 (6580): 341–345. doi:10.1038/381341a0. PMID 8692275. Bibcode1996Natur.381..341F. 
  11. Schlattner, Uwe; Forstner, Michael; Eder, Michael; Stachowiak, Olaf; Fritz-Wolf, Karin; Wallimann, Theo (1 July 1998). "Functional aspects of the X-ray structure of mitochondrial creatine kinase: A molecular physiology approach". Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 184 (1): 125–140. doi:10.1023/A:1006851330913. PMID 9746317. 
  12. Wallimann, Theo; Tokarska-Schlattner, Malgorzata; Schlattner, Uwe (1 May 2011). "The creatine kinase system and pleiotropic effects of creatine". Amino Acids 40 (5): 1271–1296. doi:10.1007/s00726-011-0877-3. PMID 21448658. 
  13. Suter, Marianne; Riek, Uwe; Tuerk, Roland; Schlattner, Uwe; Wallimann, Theo; Neumann, Dietbert (27 October 2006). "Dissecting the Role of 5′-AMP for Allosteric Stimulation, Activation, and Deactivation of AMP-activated Protein Kinase". Journal of Biological Chemistry 281 (43): 32207–32216. doi:10.1074/jbc.M606357200. PMID 16943194. 
  14. Riek, Uwe; Scholz, Roland; Konarev, Peter; Rufer, Arne; Suter, Marianne; Nazabal, Alexis; Ringler, Philippe; Chami, Mohamed et al. (27 June 2008). "Structural Properties of AMP-activated Protein Kinase". Journal of Biological Chemistry 283 (26): 18331–18343. doi:10.1074/jbc.M708379200. PMID 18372250. 
  15. Search Results for author Wallimann T on PubMed.
  16. "Theo Wallimann publication list". http://publicationslist.org/theo.wallimann.