Q&A with the Sakamoto Group

Kasia Luda (Katarzyna Luda)
I work as a postdoc in Kei’s lab and provide expertise in immunology and immunometabolism. I have been gaining my work experience in different countries, and Denmark is the fifth one. At the CBMR I study how metabolism regulates the activities of our immune system. I hope that we can uncover some pharmacologically actionable metabolic targets to fine-tune the functions of our immune cells.

• My favorite protein: All proteins are great and incredibly fascinating, as they possess all different kinds of functions to maintain our life. It is difficult for me to pick one protein, but I quite like the CD45 (AKA protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) as it marks all our immune cells, AMPK as it guards our metabolic health and collagen as it keeps us smooth and tight J
• The greatest lab equipment: Having the right lab equipment accelerates scientific discoveries and facilitates our daily life in the lab. I love that I have access to all kinds of equipment I need to pursue my research, but flow cytometers are by far my favorite… well, maybe second favorite right after a multichannel pipette ;-)
• A skill that I would like to acquire: I would love to develop proficiency in XC skiing, so that one day I can make 90km in Vasaloppet sliding through the fabulous snowy landscape of Sweden. In addition to this, I must say that I am a terrible swimmer, but I love water, so I better should improve my swimming skills.
• A destination I love: Poland is my homeland, a place where I grew up, where my family and closest friends live. To recharge my batteries, I need no more than just a trip to Poland. There, I can be spoiled by my mom, laugh with my siblings and make trips to the beautiful polish nature together with my friends.

 

Dipsikha Biswas
Indian by birth, cosmopolitan by heart. Interest in nutrient signaling and metabolism: PhD in fat metabolism during cellular differentiation (India), previous postdoc in amino acid metabolism (Canada) and currently I am a senior postdoc investigating regulation of glycogen metabolism in vivo in the Sakamoto group. When not in the lab, I like to write poems/prose, read fiction and procrastinate. Love cats (and dogs), dancing, overthinking and music (in no particular order).

• My favorite protein: Tie between a lipase (ATGL, Adipose triglyceride lipase) and a kinase (BDK, Branched chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase)
• The greatest lab equipment: Multichannel pipette
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Want to be better conversant with analyzing Omics data
• A destination I love: Wherever my favorite people are, Cape Breton (Canada), Kyoto (Japan).

 

Florentina Negoita
I am originally from Romania. I have a background in pharmacy, which I gained at University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. I obtained my PhD at Ulm University, Germany, where I studied the changes in redox signaling occurring in senescent fibroblasts and skin ageing. During my postdoc training, I switched to studying metabolism and diabetes and how autophagy and lysosomes are affected in different tissues in metabolic diseases. After being a postdoc at Lund University, Sweden, I joined Kei’s group at CBMR and I am currently focused on dissecting signaling mechanisms behind transcriptional control of autophagy and lysosomes.

• My favorite protein: TFEB
• The greatest lab equipment: confocal microscope
• A skill that I would like to acquire: CRISPR
• A destination I love: Ven island

 

Joyceline Cuenco
I completed a PhD at Imperial College London working on drug development of obesity therapeutics based on gut hormones in the lab of Prof. Steve Bloom. I then worked as a postdoc in immunometabolism with the Islet team in the Immediab Lab, Paris. I joined the CBMR Sakamoto group at the end of summer 2022 so I am preparing myself for a Scandi Winter. Here, I look forward to investigating the effects of novel AMPK activators in the liver and their mechanisms of action.

• My favorite protein: Glucagon – the bad guy of diabetes…or is it?
• The greatest lab equipment: confocal microscope
• A skill that I would like to acquire: R expertise
• A destination I love: France, because of the variety it offers (and the wine/cheese)

 

Marianne Jensen
I studied Molecular Biomedicine (MSc) at University of Copenhagen, where I also obtained a PhD and postdoctoral training within Basic Metabolic Research focusing on NAD⁺ metabolism and skeletal muscle physiology. Additionally, I had postdoctoral training at Laval University, Québec Canada, working with the interactions of the microbiome and metabolism.

• My favorite protein: AMPK (it keeps returning to me)
• The greatest lab equipment: The Oroboros Oxygraph
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Multi-tasking
• A destination I love: New Zealand

 

Conchita Fraguas Bringas
I’m a PhD Fellow at CBMR and part of the Copenhagen Bioscience PhD programme. I obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Dundee in Scotland. I’m passionate about protein interactions and combining biochemistry techniques with bioinformatics tools, and I’m excited to study AMPK regulation as part of the Sakamoto group.

• My favorite protein: It’s hard to decide. My answer would be the one I haven’t studied yet! There’s something exciting about the process of taking a first look at a new protein and then making it your own, by learning as much as you can about it and asking the right questions to try and dissect its function.
• The greatest lab equipment: Pipette gun
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Mouse/ in vivo work
• A destination I love: The north of Spain where my mother is from. I have spent most of my summers there, and what’s unique about it is not only the great food and scenery (offering both mountains and sea) but also finding some family history in the streets of the city of Santander, with several buildings designed by my great grandfather.
  

 

Kaltum N. Mohamed
I joined the Sakamoto group October 23’ as a Laboratory Technician. I got my degree in University College Copenhagen, where I did my last year of training at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). In joining the group, I hope to help with the different projects.

• My favorite protein: Apo-A1
• The greatest lab equipment: Multichannel pipette
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Programming
• A destination I love: The Scottish Highlands

 

Maria I Montoya

After earning my BSc in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Barcelona, I pursued a master’s degree in Molecular Biomedicine at the University of Copenhagen. To expand my skillset, I interned in different international laboratories, as well as the pharmaceutical industry in the US, gaining a well-rounded perspective. Driven by my passion for cardiometabolic diseases and metabolic signaling, I joined the Sakamoto Lab as a research assistant. Here, I focus on the role of salt-inducible kinases (SIKs) and their impact on potential treatment for metabolic disorders as type 2 diabetes. 

•  My favorite protein: TGF-b
• The greatest lab equipment: Multichannel pipette
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Computational biology
• A destination I love: Sicily, Italy

  

Costanza Cucchiara

I got my BSc in Medical Biotechnology from the University of Palermo (Italy) and later studied Biostatistics at the University of Padua (Italy). In 2021, I moved to Copenhagen, where I completed my MSc in Molecular Biomedicine at KU, with a thesis project on ADAMTS9 in insulin resistance. After working in oncology in my hometown, I returned to Copenhagen to join the Sakamoto group as a research assistant. My current research focuses on the role of the N-terminal extension of AMPKγ3 in glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.

•  My favorite protein: AMPK—organized, multitasking, and efficient (yet still very mysterious). I aspire to be just like her.
• The greatest lab equipment: The LI-COR Odyssey holds a special place in my heart. It always accompanies me through joy and sadness at the end of my Western blots.
• A skill that I would like to acquire: I would love to expand my expertise in bioinformatics and further develop my in vivo research skills.
• A destination I love: Sicily, where I was born and raised, where my family, my cat, and my closest friends are. But my dream destination is Japan—hopefully soon!

  

Evrim Coskun

Turkish, born and raised in the country known for its cheese, mills and tulips (The Netherlands). I obtained my BSc and MSc in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Amsterdam. I think that one lifetime is never enough to explore all the interesting topics within the biomedical field. However, I have been lucky enough to join the Sakamoto group as a research assistant where I get to deepen my understanding of AMPK signaling. My goal for the future is to continue my academic journey by entering the PhD programme.

•  My favorite protein: SIRT1, because I think the human aging process is very interesting. It promotes longevity and makes sure cells are functioning under stress, so it’s basically the human equivalent of someone who thrives under pressure.
• The greatest lab equipment: Pipetboy, simple yet effective.
• A skill that I would like to acquire: I would love to sharpen my skills in statistics and coding
• A destination I love: I got the opportunity to travel through several countries in Asia and I fell in love with Japan. My favorite place was definitely Kyoto.

 

Hongling Liu

Born and raised in China, I earned my BSc in Pharmacy from Xiamen University, during which I had the opportunity to study as an exchange student at Temple University, USA—an experience that inspired me to pursue my studies internationally. Then I finished a Master’s in Pharmacology at King’s College London, where I discovered my passion for metabolism and cellular signaling. Currently I am enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, but I am spending most of my time at CBMR under the fantastic supervisor by Kei and Marianne. I am truly excited to study AMPK signaling and aspire to develop a diverse skill set and grow into a great researcher.

•  My favorite protein: mTORC1 – no matter what I read about AMPK and insulin signaling, it always comes to mind, making me appreciate its significance.
• The greatest lab equipment: Cell culture aspirator
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Analyzing multi-omics data using R or Python.
• A destination I love: Copenhagen – it feels like my second home, and I love the people here

 

Jordana Freemantle

I joined Professor Kei Sakamoto’s research group in May 2024 as a Postdoctoral Researcher to study the role of AMPKγ3 in regulating glucose uptake in human skeletal muscle. I completed my PhD studies on the role and regulation of AMPK under the supervision of Professor Grahame Hardie at the University of Dundee (Biochemistry, Cell Signaling and Metabolism, 2023). I also have over 10 years of clinical experience as a Dietitian working in the NHS (UK), specialising in advanced nutrition support. My research interest is in understanding the effects of diseases on substrate metabolism and the molecular mechanisms of refeeding syndrome. I am passionate about sports, particularly strength sports, and compete in Weightlifting and Powerlifting.

•  My favorite protein: kinases, particularly PKA and AMPK.
• The greatest lab equipment: Microscope
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Encyclopedic memory!
• A destination I love: Scotland

 

Kei Sakamoto

• My favorite protein: LKB1
• The greatest lab equipment: My home-made muscle incubation apparatus
• A skill that I would like to acquire: Machine learning
• A destination I love: Brittany (France)