Dr Merja Joensuu
Dr

Merja Joensuu

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 64598

Background

I received PhD (with distinction) in 2014 from The Institute of Biotechnology at The University of Helsinki, Finland, studying membrane traffickign using advanced imaging techniques. In 2015, I relocated to The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at The University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Australia for postdoctoral training and changed my research field from basic cell biology to neuroscience and super-resolution imaging. I was awarded a 3-year Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016) and an ARC DECRA Award (2019) to study the role of a lipid modifying enzyme on neuronal function. In 2022, I became a UQ Amplify Fellow and Group Leader in a joint Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and QBI. My lab aims to understand two central biological questions: how lipid metabolism in the brain supports cognition, learning and memory, and how bidirectional modulation of neuronal lipid functions can be used as a therapeutic strategy for inherited neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroparalytic disorders caused by bacterial toxins and infectious diseases cause by neurotropic and respiratory viruses.

Availability

Dr Merja Joensuu is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Helsinki*

Research impacts

My laboratory focuses on how lipids and proteins affect cellular and neuronal membrane trafficking and energy metabolism, and how neurotoxins and viruses exploit cellular endocytic machinery to gain access into cells. We use in vitro cell and primary neuron cultures as our main model system, allowing us to address the effects of pharmacological perturbations and genetic disease conditions on cellular functions. My team uses a combination of imaging techniques, including electron microscopy, confocal imaging and live-cell super-resolution microscopy, as well as molecular approaches, to understand how cells function in health and disease, which is critical for discovering novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of disease, viral infections and neurointoxication pathologies.

Search Professor Merja Joensuu’s works on UQ eSpace

35 works between 2007 and 2024
All (35) Journal Article (25) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (4) Other Outputs (4)

21 - 35 of 35 works

2019

Journal Article

Phospholipases in neuronal function: a role in learning and memory?

Joensuu, Merja, Wallis, Tristan P., Saber, Saber H. and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2019). Phospholipases in neuronal function: a role in learning and memory?. Journal of Neurochemistry, 153 (3) jnc.14918, e14918-333. doi: 10.1111/jnc.14918

Phospholipases in neuronal function: a role in learning and memory?

2019

Journal Article

GORAB scaffolds COPI at the trans-Golgi for efficient enzyme recycling and correct protein glycosylation

Witkos, Tomasz M., Chan, Wing Lee, Joensuu, Merja, Rhiel, Manuel, Pallister, Ed, Thomas-Oates, Jane, Mould, A. Paul, Mironov, Alex A., Biot, Christophe, Guerardel, Yann, Morelle, Willy, Ungar, Daniel, Wieland, Felix T., Jokitalo, Eija, Tassabehji, May, Kornak, Uwe and Lowe, Martin (2019). GORAB scaffolds COPI at the trans-Golgi for efficient enzyme recycling and correct protein glycosylation. Nature Communications, 10 (1) 127, 127. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08044-6

GORAB scaffolds COPI at the trans-Golgi for efficient enzyme recycling and correct protein glycosylation

2019

Journal Article

VAMP2 Binding to Munc18-1 Domain 3a Controls the Nanoscale Reorganization of the Plasma Membrane and Vesicle Interface During Vesicular Priming

Kasula, Ravikiran, Blum, Ailisa, Salla-Martret, Merce, Chai, Ye Jin, Jiang, Anmin, Wallis, Tristan P., Gormal, Rachel S., Brouillet, Julie Z., Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Weeratunga, Saroja K., Livingstone, Emma K., Mollazade, Mahdie, Joensuu, Merja, Martínez-Mármol, Ramón, Collins, Brett M. and Meunier, Frederic (2019). VAMP2 Binding to Munc18-1 Domain 3a Controls the Nanoscale Reorganization of the Plasma Membrane and Vesicle Interface During Vesicular Priming. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3362260

VAMP2 Binding to Munc18-1 Domain 3a Controls the Nanoscale Reorganization of the Plasma Membrane and Vesicle Interface During Vesicular Priming

2018

Journal Article

Dendritic spine actin cytoskeleton in autism spectrum disorder

Joensuu, Merja, Lanoue, Vanessa and Hotulainen, Pirta (2018). Dendritic spine actin cytoskeleton in autism spectrum disorder. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 84 (Pt B), 362-381. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.08.023

Dendritic spine actin cytoskeleton in autism spectrum disorder

2018

Conference Publication

Super-resolving botulinum neurotoxin type A molecules: from surface landing to internalization in synaptic vesicles

Joensuu, Merja, Blum, Ailisa, Mollazade, Mahdie, Lanoue, Vanessa, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Small, Christopher, Mahrhold, Stefan, Krez, Nadja, Rummel, Andreas and Meunier, Frederic A. (2018). Super-resolving botulinum neurotoxin type A molecules: from surface landing to internalization in synaptic vesicles. TOXINS 2019: Basic Science and Clinical Aspects of Botulinum and Other Neurotoxins, Copenhagen, Denmark, 16-19 January 2019. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.11.122

Super-resolving botulinum neurotoxin type A molecules: from surface landing to internalization in synaptic vesicles

2017

Journal Article

Visualizing endocytic recycling and trafficking in live neurons by subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules

Joensuu, Merja, Martinez-Marmol, Ramon, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Glass, Nick R., Durisic, Nela, Pelekanos, Matthew, Mollazade, Mahdie, Balistreri, Giuseppe, Amor, Rumelo, Cooper-White, Justin J., Goodhill, Geoffrey J. and Meunier, Frederic A. (2017). Visualizing endocytic recycling and trafficking in live neurons by subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules. Nature Protocols, 12 (12), 2590-2622. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2017.116

Visualizing endocytic recycling and trafficking in live neurons by subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules

2017

Conference Publication

Nanoscale imaging of botulinum neurotoxin type a retrograde axonal trafficking

Harper, Callista B., Wang, Tong, Joensuu, Merja, Papadopulos, Andreas and Meunier, Frederic A. (2017). Nanoscale imaging of botulinum neurotoxin type a retrograde axonal trafficking. TOXINS: Basic Science and Clinical Aspects of Botulinum and other Neurotoxins, Madrid, Spain, 18-21 January 2017. Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.11.106

Nanoscale imaging of botulinum neurotoxin type a retrograde axonal trafficking

2016

Journal Article

Subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules reveals heterogeneous motion states of synaptic vesicles

Joensuu, Merja, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Durisic, Nela, Bademosi, Adekunle T. D., Cooper-Williams, Elizabeth, Morrow, Isabel C., Harper, Callista B., Jung, WooRam, Parton, Robert G., Goodhill, Geoffrey J., Papadopulos, Andreas and Meunier, Frederic A. (2016). Subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules reveals heterogeneous motion states of synaptic vesicles. Journal of Cell Biology, 215 (2), 277-292. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201604001

Subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules reveals heterogeneous motion states of synaptic vesicles

2016

Journal Article

NOGO-A/RTN4A and NOGO-B/RTN4B are simultaneously expressed in epithelial, fibroblast and neuronal cells and maintain ER morphology

Ramo, Olli, Kumar, Darshan, Gucciardo, Erika, Joensuu, Merja, Saarekas, Maiju, Vihinen, Helena, Belevich, Ilya, Smolander, Olli-Pekka, Qian, Kui, Auvinen, Petri and Jokitalo, Eija (2016). NOGO-A/RTN4A and NOGO-B/RTN4B are simultaneously expressed in epithelial, fibroblast and neuronal cells and maintain ER morphology. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 35969. doi: 10.1038/srep35969

NOGO-A/RTN4A and NOGO-B/RTN4B are simultaneously expressed in epithelial, fibroblast and neuronal cells and maintain ER morphology

2016

Journal Article

Microscopy image browser: a platform for segmentation and analysis of multidimensional datasets

Belevich, Ilya, Joensuu, Merja, Kumar, Darshan, Vihinen, Helena and Jokitalo, Eija (2016). Microscopy image browser: a platform for segmentation and analysis of multidimensional datasets. PLoS Biology, 14 (1) e1002340, e1002340. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002340

Microscopy image browser: a platform for segmentation and analysis of multidimensional datasets

2015

Journal Article

ER sheet-tubule balance is regulated by an array of actin filaments and microtubules

Joensuu, Merja and Jokitalo, Eija (2015). ER sheet-tubule balance is regulated by an array of actin filaments and microtubules. Experimental Cell Research, 337 (2), 170-178. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2015.04.009

ER sheet-tubule balance is regulated by an array of actin filaments and microtubules

2015

Journal Article

Genome-wide RNAi screen for nuclear actin reveals a network of cofilin regulators

Dopie, Joseph, Rajakyla, Eeva K., Joensuu, Merja S., Huet, Guillaume, Ferrantelli, Evelina, Xie, Tiao, Jaalinoja, Harri, Jokitalo, Eija and Vartiainen, Maria K. (2015). Genome-wide RNAi screen for nuclear actin reveals a network of cofilin regulators. Journal of Cell Science, 128 (13), 2388-2400. doi: 10.1242/jcs.169441

Genome-wide RNAi screen for nuclear actin reveals a network of cofilin regulators

2014

Journal Article

ER sheet persistence is coupled to myosin 1c-regulated dynamic actin filament arrays

Joensuu, Merja, Belevich, Ilya, Ramo, Olli, Nevzorov, Ilya, Vihinen, Helena, Puhka, Maija, Witkos, Tomasz M., Lowe, Martin, Vartiainen, Maria K. and Jokitalo, Eija (2014). ER sheet persistence is coupled to myosin 1c-regulated dynamic actin filament arrays. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 25 (7), 1111-1126. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E13-12-0712

ER sheet persistence is coupled to myosin 1c-regulated dynamic actin filament arrays

2012

Journal Article

Progressive sheet-to-tubule transformation is a general mechanism for endoplasmic reticulum partitioning in dividing mammalian cells

Puhka, Maija, Joensuu, Merja, Vihinen, Helena, Belevich, Ilya and Jokitalo, Eija (2012). Progressive sheet-to-tubule transformation is a general mechanism for endoplasmic reticulum partitioning in dividing mammalian cells. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 23 (13), 2424-2432. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E10-12-0950

Progressive sheet-to-tubule transformation is a general mechanism for endoplasmic reticulum partitioning in dividing mammalian cells

2007

Journal Article

Endoplasmic reticulum remains continuous and undergoes sheet-to-tubule transformation during cell division in mammalian cells

Puhka, Maija, Vihinen, Helena, Joensuu, Merja and Jokitalo, Eija (2007). Endoplasmic reticulum remains continuous and undergoes sheet-to-tubule transformation during cell division in mammalian cells. Journal of Cell Biology, 179 (5), 895-909. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200705112

Endoplasmic reticulum remains continuous and undergoes sheet-to-tubule transformation during cell division in mammalian cells

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2023
    Dendritic spine actin dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder leads to altered neurotransmitter receptor mobility
    RL Cooper Medical Research Foundation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Dynamic and molecular determinants of nanoscale organization of different synaptic vesicle pools
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    A novel role for saturated fatty acids in learning and memory
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2018
    To attend the joint meeting of The American Society for Cell Biology/ The European Molecular Biology Organization (ASCB/ EMBO) in San Diego CA, US, 8-12 December 2018
    Ian Potter Foundation
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Merja Joensuu is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Secretory pathway membrane trafficking and lipid metabolism in health and disease

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of saturated free fatty acids in learning and memory

    Principal Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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