Theo Wallimann

Theo Wallimann (born October 13, 1946 in Alpnach, Obwalden, Switzerland) is a Swiss biologist who was research group leader and Adjunct-Professor at the Institute of Cell Biology and later at the Institute of Molecular Health Science[1] at the Biology Department, of the ETH Zurich,[2] Switzerland.

Theo Wallimann, a Swiss biologist

Research and career

In 1975, Theo Wallimann completed his Ph.D. Dissertation on “M-line-bound Creatine Kinase and Myofibrillar Structure”[3] in the laboratory of Prof. Hans M. Eppenberger at the Institute of Cell Biology ETH Zurich with distinction and received the ETH prize and medal.[4]

From 1975 - 1981, Wallimann worked as a post-doctoral research associate with Andrew G. Szent-Györgyi [5], at the Biology Department of Brandeis University in Waltham, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. on the subject of "Myosin-linked calcium regulation of muscle contraction"[6]. After rejoining the Biology Dept of the ETH-Zurich in 1981, Wallimann became a Lecturer in 1984 with his Habilitation on: "Localization and function of M-line-bound creatine kinase: M-band model and Phospho-Creatine Shuttle"[7]) and in 1994, he was awarded the title of Professor and in the next two years he became Head and Deputy Head of the Institute of Cell Biology. Wallimann was also awarded with Alfred-Vogt-Prize 2005.[8] Wallimann resigned from his post in June 2008 and is now Emeritus and member of the ETH Alumni organisation.[9]

Wallimann's main areas of interest are:

  • The structure, function, subcellular compartmentation and molecular physiology of creatine kinase (CK) isoenzymes and the Creatine Transporter (CRT), and in general, micro-compartmentation and metabolite channeling by multi-enzyme complexes.[10],[11].
  • The mechanisms of the cell enhancing and neuro-protective effects of creatine supplementation in health (muscle strength, learning and memory) and disease (neuromuscular and neuro-degenerative disorders).[12]
  • The structure and molecular physiology of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)[13],[14], involved in cellular energy homeostasis and nutritional signalling, which is relevant for type-2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer.

In 1994, he was awarded the title of Professor and in the next two years he became Head and Deputy Head of the Institute of Cell Biology. Wallimann was also awarded with the Alfred Vogt Prize in 2005.[15] Wallimann resigned from his post in June 2008 and is now Emeritus and member of the ETH Alumni organisation.[16]

References
  1. "Prof. Dr. Theo Wallimann". mhs.biol.ethz.ch. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  2. "ETH Zürich - Theo Wallimann". www.bi.id.ethz.ch. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  3. Wallimann, T.; Schlösser, T.; Eppenberger, H. M. (1984-04-25). "Function of M-line-bound creatine kinase as intramyofibrillar ATP regenerator at the receiving end of the phosphorylcreatine shuttle in muscle". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 259 (8): 5238–5246. ISSN 0021-9258. PMID 6143755.
  4. Wallimann, Theo (1975). Creatinkinase-Isoenzyme und Myofibrillen-Struktur (Doctoral Thesis thesis) (in German). ETH Zurich.
  5. Obituary for Andrew Szent-Györgyi, who passed away at 90 on Jan. 27th 2015 in Falmouth, Mass.
  6. Andrew G Szent-Györgyi Research Gate
  7. Function of M-line-bound creatine kinase: M-band model and Phospho-Creatine Shuttle"
  8. http://www.alfred-vogt-stiftung.ch/preistraeger.php
  9. "MyAlumni Platform". www.alumni.ethz.ch. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  10. "Atomic structure of mitochondrial CK octamer"
  11. "Structure-function & molecular physiology of mitoch.CK octamer"
  12. "The creatine kinase system and pleiotropic effects of creatine".
  13. "Regulation of AMPK"
  14. "Molecular structure and domaine movement of AMPK"
  15. "Alfred Vogt Awardees since 1939". Alfred Vogt Foundation. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  16. "MyAlumni Platform". www.alumni.ethz.ch. Retrieved 2019-07-17.


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