The cellular redox state is an essential mediator of multiple metabolic, signaling and transcriptional processes and a fine balance between oxidizing and reducing conditions is essential for the normal function and survival of cells. Redox imbalance and alterations in the antioxidant protective system are causally linked to many critical pathological conditions. The past years have seen remarkable advances in our knowledge in the area due to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of redox control as well as the identification of proteins and pathways subjected to redox regulation.
This volume of BBA - General Subjects brings together reviews on the variety of redox controlled processes in a range of biological systems by some of the foremost scientists in the field. The topics of these articles range from redox controlled processes in bacteria, lower eukaryotes and plants to the role of redox homeostasis in human health and disease. We hope that this volume will stimulate further efforts to understand the biological importance of redox control for cell function.
Christopher Horst Lillig Independent Emmy-Noether Group Leader
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.
Carsten Berndt The Medical Nobel Institute for Biochemistry
Karolinska Institutet
Stockholm, Sweden
Dr. Berndt (born 1974) studied Biology at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany. He obtained his diploma 2000 and his PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) 2004. Since 2004 he is a postdoctoral fellow and groupleader at the Medical Nobel Institute for Biochemistry, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, working together with Arne Holmgren. Since 2007 he is also visiting scientist at the Institute for Clinical Cytobiology and Cytopathology, Phillips-University Marburg, Germany. Dr. Berndt's research interest focuses on intracellular redox systems, especially glutaredoxins, and the interplay between redox regulation and iron homeostasis. Together with C.H. Lillig he discovered the first [FeS] cluster containing glutaredoxin.
Christopher Horst Lillig
Carsten Berndt
