Associate Professor Steven Zuryn

Principal Research Fellow - GL

Queensland Brain Institute

+61 7 334 66477

s.zuryn@uq.edu.au

Dr Steven Zuryn: Epigenetics and Mitochondrial Biology Lab

The Zuryn lab uses cutting-edge molecular techniques in the highly successful genetic model organism C. elegans as well as human cell culture to understand the fundamental mechanisms that promote disease progression caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria harbour their own genome (mtDNA), which is prone to accumulating mutations as we age leading to dysfunction that may contribute to the progressive nature of neurodegenerative diseases.

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Researcher biography

Dr Steven Zuryn is a molecular geneticist within the Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland. After training as a PhD in genetics, he undertook postdoctoral reseach at the Institut Génétique Biologie Moléculaire Cellulaire (IGBMC) in Strasbourg, France. He now leads an international and diverse team of postdoctoral, PhD, Honours, and undergraduate investigators studying epigenetics and mitochondrial biology. His laboratory's work focuses on the role and impact of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases and is particularly fascinated with mutations that accumulate within the mitochondria's own genome during ageing. His research has been published in the high profile journals Science, Nature Cell Biology, and Nature Communications and has appeared in multiple mainstream media outlets. For his research, he has received multiple international prizes and fellowships, been awarded grants from the NHMRC and ARC as primary chief investigator and is generously supported as a fellow of the Stafford Fox Research Foundation. Steven is passionate about communicating the critical importance of fundamental scientific research as a long-term human endeavour.

Follow the Zuryn lab on Twitter: @zurynlab

Visit the Zuryn lab website.

Publications

Journal Articles (26)

Conference Paper (1)

Journal Articles

Onraet, Tessa and Zuryn, Steven (2024). C. elegans as a model to study mitochondrial biology and disease. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 154 (Part A), 48-58. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.04.006

Campbell, Daniel and Zuryn, Steven (2023). The mechanisms and roles of mitochondrial dynamics in C. elegans. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 156, 266-275. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.10.006

Dai, Chuan-Yang, Ng, Chai Chee, Hung, Grace Ching Ching, Kirmes, Ina, Hughes, Laetitia A., Du, Yunguang, Brosnan, Christopher A., Ahier, Arnaud, Hahn, Anne, Haynes, Cole M., Rackham, Oliver, Filipovska, Aleksandra and Zuryn, Steven (2023). ATFS-1 counteracts mitochondrial DNA damage by promoting repair over transcription. Nature Cell Biology, 25 (8), 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41556-023-01192-y

Nguyen‐Dien, Giang Thanh, Kozul, Keri‐Lyn, Cui, Yi, Townsend, Brendan, Kulkarni, Prajakta Gosavi, Ooi, Soo Siang, Marzio, Antonio, Carrodus, Nissa, Zuryn, Steven, Pagano, Michele, Parton, Robert G, Lazarou, Michael, Millard, S Sean, Taylor, Robert W, Collins, Brett M, Jones, Mathew JK and Pagan, Julia K (2023). FBXL4 suppresses mitophagy by restricting the accumulation of NIX and BNIP3 mitophagy receptors. The EMBO Journal, 42 (13) e112767, e112767. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022112767

Zuryn, Steven (2023). C. elegans as a model for health and disease. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 154 (Part A), 1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.07.006

Kirmes, Ina and Zuryn, Steven (2022). LONP-1 aids propagation of deleterious mtDNA. Nature Cell Biology, 24 (2), 127-128. doi: 10.1038/s41556-021-00838-z

Ahier, Arnaud, Onraet, Tessa and Zuryn, Steven (2021). Cell-specific mitochondria affinity purification (CS-MAP) from Caenorhabditis elegans. STAR Protocols, 2 (4) 100952, 1. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100952

Richman, Tara R., Ermer, Judith A., Siira, Stefan J., Kuznetsova, Irina, Brosnan, Christopher A., Rossetti, Giulia, Baker, Jessica, Perks, Kara L., Cserne Szappanos, Henrietta, Viola, Helena M., Gray, Nicola, Larance, Mark, Hool, Livia C., Zuryn, Steven, Rackham, Oliver and Filipovska, Aleksandra (2021). Mitochondrial mistranslation modulated by metabolic stress causes cardiovascular disease and reduced lifespan. Aging Cell, 20 (7) e13408, e13408. doi: 10.1111/acel.13408

Ahier, Arnaud, Dai, Chuan-Yang, Kirmes, Ina, Cummins, Nadia, Hung, Grace Ching Ching, Götz, Jürgen and Zuryn, Steven (2021). PINK1 and parkin shape the organism-wide distribution of a deleterious mitochondrial genome. Cell Reports, 35 (9) 109203, 109203. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109203

Brosnan, Christopher A., Palmer, Alexander J. and Zuryn, Steven (2021). Cell-type-specific profiling of loaded miRNAs from Caenorhabditis elegans reveals spatial and temporal flexibility in Argonaute loading. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 2194, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22503-7

Hahn, Anne and Zuryn, Steven (2019). Mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations that generate reactive oxygen species. Antioxidants, 8 (9) 392, 392. doi: 10.3390/antiox8090392

Cummins, Nadia, Tweedie, Andrea, Zuryn, Steven, Bertran‐Gonzalez, Jesus and Götz, Jürgen (2019). Disease‐associated tau impairs mitophagy by inhibiting Parkin translocation to mitochondria. The EMBO Journal, 38 (3) e99360, e99360. doi: 10.15252/embj.201899360

Bezawork-Geleta, Ayenachew, Wen, He, Dong, LanFeng, Yan, Bing, Vider, Jelena, Boukalova, Stepana, Krobova, Linda, Vanova, Katerina, Zobalova, Renata, Sobol, Margarita, Hozak, Pavel, Novais, Silvia Magalhaes, Caisova, Veronika, Abaffy, Pavel, Naraine, Ravindra, Pang, Ying, Zaw, Thiri, Zhang, Ping, Sindelka, Radek, Kubista, Mikael, Zuryn, Steven, Molloy, Mark P., Berridge, Michael V., Pacak, Karel, Rohlena, Jakub, Park, Sunghyouk and Neuzil, Jiri (2018). Alternative assembly of respiratory complex II connects energy stress to metabolic checkpoints. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 2221, 2221. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04603-z

Ahier, Arnaud, Dai, Chuan-Yang, Tweedie, Andrea, Bezawork-Geleta, Ayenachew, Kirmes, Ina and Zuryn, Steven (2018). Affinity purification of cell-specific mitochondria from whole animals resolves patterns of genetic mosaicism. Nature Cell Biology, 20 (3), 352-360. doi: 10.1038/s41556-017-0023-x

Hahn, Anne and Zuryn, Steven (2018). The Cellular Mitochondrial Genome Landscape in Disease. Trends in Cell Biology, 29 (3), 227-240. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.11.004

Zuryn, Steven, Ahier, Arnaud, Portoso, Manuela, White, Esther Redhouse, Morin, Marie-Charlotte, Margueron, Raphaël and Jarriault, Sophie (2014). Sequential histone-modifying activities determine the robustness of transdifferentiation. Science, 345 (6198), 826-829. doi: 10.1126/science.1255885

Wilkinson, Ray, Wang, Xiangju, Kassianos, Andrew J., Zuryn, Steven, Roper, Kathrein E., Osborne, Andrew, Sampangi, Sandeep, Francis, Leo, Raghunath, Vishwas and Healy, Helen (2014). Laser capture microdissection and multiplex-tandem PCR analysis of proximal tubular epithelial cell signaling in human kidney disease. PLoS One, 9 (1) e87345, e87345.1-e87345.10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087345

Zuryn, Steven and Jarriault, Sophie (2013). Deep sequencing strategies for mapping and identifying mutations from genetic screens. Worm, 2 (3), e25081. doi: 10.4161/worm.25081

Schlipalius, David I., Valmas, Nicholas, Tuck, Andrew G., Jagadeesan, Rajeswaran, Ma, Li, Kaur, Ramandeep, Goldinger, Anita, Anderson, Cameron, Kuang, Jujiao, Zuryn, Steven, Mau, Yosep S., Cheng, Qiang, Collins, Patrick J., Nayak, Manoj K., Schirra, Horst Joachim, Hilliard, Massimo A. and Ebert, Paul R. (2012). A core metabolic enzyme mediates resistance to phosphine gas. Science, 338 (6108), 807-810. doi: 10.1126/science.1224951

Zuryn, Steven, Daniele, Thomas and Jarriault, Sophie (2011). Direct cellular reprogramming in Caenorhabditis elegans: Facts, models, and promises for regenerative medicine. WIREs Developmental Biology, 1 (1), 138-152. doi: 10.1002/wdev.7

Richard, Jai Prakash, Zuryn, Steven, Fischer, Nadine, Pavet, Valeria, Vaucamps, Nadège and Jarriault, Sophie (2011). Direct in vivo reprogramming involves transition through discrete, non-pluripotent steps. Development, 138 (8), 1483-1492. doi: 10.1242/dev.063115

Zuryn, Steven, Kuang, Jujiao, Tuck, Andrew and Ebert, Paul R. (2010). Mitochondrial dysfunction in Caenorhabditis elegans causes metabolic restructuring, but this is not linked to longevity. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 131 (9), 554-561. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2010.07.004

Zuryn, S., Le Gras, S., Jamet, K. and Jarriault, S. (2010). A strategy for direct mapping and identification of mutations by whole-genome sequencing. Genetics, 186 (1), 427-430. doi: 10.1534/genetics.110.119230

Valmas, Nicholas, Zuryn, Steven and Ebert, Paul R. (2008). Mitochondrial uncouplers act synergistically with the fumigant phosphine to disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential and cause cell death. Toxicology, 2008 (252), 33-39. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2008.07.060

Zuryn, Steven, Kuang, Jujiao and Ebert, Paul (2008). Mitochondrial modulation of phosphine toxicity and resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Toxicological Sciences, 102 (1), 179-186. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfm278

Conference Paper

Kuang, J., Zuryn, S., Valmas, N., Cha'on, U, Cui, Y.W., Cheng, Q., Tuck, A., Collins, P.J. and Ebert, P.R. (2008). Biochemical mechanisms of phosphine action and resistance. 8th International Conference on Controlled Atmosphere and Fumigation in Stored Products, Chengdu, China, 21-26 September 2008. China: Sichuan Publishing house of Science & Technology.