The aim of this special issue on “Selenoprotein expression and function” was to compile a comprehensive issue of reviews that reflect the current state-of-the-art in selenoprotein research. Many of the foremost scientists in this field have contributed excellent overview articles. The introduction to the field is given by Leopold Flohé who contributed an essay on the discovery of selenoproteins that focuses on the identification of glutathione peroxidase as the first selenoprotein. This article, written from the personal perspective of the author, is truly worth reading for anyone interested in the history of scientific discoveries.
Christopher Horst Lillig, Independent Junior Research Group Leader in the Collaborative Research Centre 593 (DFG, Emmy-Noether program), Institute for Clinical Cytobiology and Cytopathology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany. Dr. Lillig gained a Diploma in Biology (1998), specialized on Biochemistry and Biophysics, and a Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat., 2001) from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany. In 2001, he joined the Medical Nobel Institute for Biochemistry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, as postdoctoral fellow under the guidance of Arne Holmgren, well known for his pioneering studies on the thioredoxin family of proteins. Among other achievements, Dr. Lillig discovered the first iron–sulfur cluster containing member of this protein family. He continued as groupleader at the Medical Nobel Institute for Biochemistry when he was awarded the Fellowship for the Achievement of Docent Competence by the Swedish Society for Medical Research (SSMF) in 2005. Dr. Lillig returned to Germany in 2006, when he was awarded the prestigious position of an Independent Emmy-Noether Group Leader in the Collaborative Research Centre 593 by the German Science Foundation (DFG). Today, Dr. Lillig's research focuses on the identification and characterization of redox-dependent signaling pathways.
Elias Arnér is an MD PhD and received his degrees from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. In his early work he studied nucleotide metabolism and the biochemistry of nucleoside analogs used as anticancer or antiviral drugs. Later he moved to studies of redox biochemistry, with a focus on the mammalian thioredoxin system and selenoprotein synthesis and function. With that field of interest, he first worked with Arne Holmgren, Stockholm, and then August Böck, Munich, before establishing his own line of research back at Karolinska Institutet, where he is now head of the biochemistry division, in the department of medical biochemistry and biophysics. He has served as dean of postgraduate education at Karolinska Institutet and he was Editor of BBA General Subjects for some years before becoming Executive Editor in 2008.
BBA - General Subjects
