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Karl Ekwall

Karl Ekwall

Professor | Docent
Telephone: +46852481039
Visiting address: Blickagången 16, 14151 Flemingsberg
Postal address: H7 Medicin, Huddinge, H7 Bionut Ekwall, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Karl Ekwall is an expert on genetics, chromatin and epigenomic analyses, using primarily fission yeast (S. pombe) as a model organism. During his PhD at Uppsala university he performed pioneering genetic screens for position-effect variegation in S. pombe. As a post-doc in R. Allshire’s group at MRC Human Genetics (Edinburgh) he identified the Swi6 (HP1) protein as the first centromeric chromatin protein to be described in fission yeast (Ekwall et al Science, 1995). He also demonstrated that the control of epigenetic states at centromeres was governed by histone acetylation (Ekwall et al Cell, 1997).

    After starting his own laboratory at Karolinska Institute in 1999 Ekwall has made important contributions towards understanding the role of RNAi in heterochromatin assembly (PNAS, 2002
  • Genes &
  • Dev, 2005). In fact, the ensemble of research on epigenetic regulation of centromeric heterochromatin has provided a universal paradigm for unraveling the chromosomal regulatory machinery that operates at the chromatin level to control gene expression (Ann. Rev. Genetics, 2007). Thus, Ekwall has since then taken a holistic approach towards understanding epigenetic regulation, unraveling mechanisms at work both in centromere and gene regulation. One such mechanism is histone deacetylation by HDAC enzymes. Ekwall developed a robust epigenomic methodology for S. pombe after a sabbatical in M. Grunstein’s laboratory at UCLA and used this for systematic study of the specificity and functions of HDACs (EMBO J 2005
  • EMBO J 2007). His team has determined the mechanistic in vivo and in vitro functions for Chd1 in nucleosome disassembly and spacing (EMBO J 2007
  • 2012). Chd1 is a key chromatin remodeler, recently implicated in mouse stem cell maintenance and control of pluripotency. The Ekwall group provided evidence for DNA topoisomerases and histone ubiquitination in chromatin regulation (EMBO J 2010
  • PloS Genetics 2013
  • Nature Struct Mol Biol 2010, 2014). Ekwall also developed clinical aspects of his research. He founded the Swedish Epigenetics network (2007) bridging basic and clinical research in epigenetics in Sweden. Ekwall’s group has investigated epigenetic control of human blood cell differentiation (Blood 2014
  • Nature 2014) and epigenetic changes in leukemia in collaboration with clinical research groups at KI (Blood 2010, 2014
  • Leukemia 2013).

Research

  • My group is carrying out both basic research in epigenetics and applied research in cancer epigenetics. We are studying yeast cells (S. pombe) and human cell lines for the basic research and we are using human blood cells as a model to study cell differentiation and cancer. Our current research is focused on characterizing the function of chromatin remodeling factors and histone modifications during cellular quiescence.

Articles

  • Journal article: EPIGENOMES. 2024;8(4):39
    Zeng S; Ekwall K
  • Article: BIOMOLECULES. 2023;13(11):1662
    Laurent M; Cordeddu L; Zahedi Y; Ekwall K
  • Article: CHROMOSOME RESEARCH. 2023;31(2):14
    Zahedi Y; Zeng S; Ekwall K
  • Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2021;12(1):4800
    Shoaib M; Chen Q; Shi X; Nair N; Prasanna C; Yang R; Walter D; Frederiksen KS; Einarsson H; Svensson JP; Liu CF; Ekwall K; Lerdrup M; Nordenskiold L; Sorensen CS
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 2021;22(4):1793
    Dong W; Prasad P; Lennartsson A; Ekwall K
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 2020;21(23):E9022-9022
    Zahedi Y; Durand-Dubief M; Ekwall K
  • Article: BLOOD. 2020;136(3):339-352
    Mujahed H; Miliara S; Neddermeyer A; Bengtzen S; Nilsson C; Deneberg S; Cordeddu L; Ekwall K; Lennartsson A; Lehmann S
  • Article: CLINICAL EPIGENETICS. 2020;12(1):74
    Larsson C; Cordeddu L; Siggens L; Pandzic T; Kundu S; He L; Ali MA; Pristovsek N; Hartman K; Ekwall K; Sjoblom T
  • Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2020;10(1):6055
    Dong W; Oya E; Zahedi Y; Prasad P; Svensson JP; Lennartsson A; Ekwall K; Durand-Dubief M
  • Article: ELIFE. 2020;9:e50556
    Birot A; Tormos-Perez M; Vaur S; Feytout A; Jaegy J; Gil DA; Vazquez S; Ekwall K; Javerzat J-P
  • Article: HUMAN GENOMICS. 2019;13(1):54
    Brusselaers N; Ekwall K; Durand-Dubief M
  • Article: EMBO REPORTS. 2019;20(10):e48111
    Oya E; Nakagawa R; Yoshimura Y; Tanaka M; Nishibuchi G; Machida S; Shirai A; Ekwall K; Kurumizaka H; Tagami H; Nakayama J-I
  • Article: LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE. 2019;2(5):e201900433
    Ait-Saada A; Khorosjutina O; Chen J; Kramarz K; Maksimov V; Svensson JP; Lambert S; Ekwall K
  • Article: GENETICS. 2019;213(1):161-172
    Page V; Chen JJ; Durand-Dubief M; Grabowski D; Oya E; Sanso M; Martin RD; Hebert TE; Fisher RP; Ekwall K; Tanny JC
  • Article: EPIGENETICS AND CHROMATIN. 2019;12(1):45
    Oya E; Durand-Dubief M; Cohen A; Maksimov V; Schurra C; Nakayama J-I; Weisman R; Arcangioli B; Ekwall K
  • Article: NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (NAR). 2019;47(4):1671-1691
    Thodberg M; Thieffry A; Bornholdt J; Boyd M; Holmberg C; Azad A; Workman CT; Chen Y; Ekwall K; Nielsen O; Sandelin A
  • Article: NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (NAR). 2018;46(22):e135
    Jurisic A; Robin C; Tarlykov P; Siggens L; Schoell B; Jauch A; Ekwall K; Sorensen CS; Lipinski M; Shoaib M; Ogryzko V
  • Article: CURRENT BIOLOGY. 2018;28(3):383-391.e3
    Fauquenoy S; Migeot V; Finet O; Yague-Sanz C; Khorosjutina O; Ekwall K; Hermand D
  • Article: PLOS ONE. 2018;13(8):e0201101
    Maksimov V; Oya E; Tanaka M; Kawaguchi T; Hachisuka A; Ekwall K; Bjerling P; Nakayama J-I
  • Article: SCIENTIFIC DATA. 2017;4:170112
    Noguchi S; Arakawa T; Fukuda S; Furuno M; Hasegawa A; Hori F; Ishikawa-Kato S; Kaida K; Kaiho A; Kanamori-Katayama M; Kawashima T; Kojima M; Kubosaki A; Manabe R-I; Murata M; Nagao-Sato S; Nakazato K; Ninomiya N; Nishiyori-Sueki H; Noma S; Saijyo E; Saka A; Sakai M; Simon C; Suzuki N; Tagami M; Watanabe S; Yoshida S; Arner P; Axton RA; Babina M; Baillie JK; Barnett TC; Beckhouse AG; Blumenthal A; Bodega B; Bonetti A; Briggs J; Brombacher F; Carlisle AJ; Clevers HC; Davis CA; Detmar M; Dohi T; Edge ASB; Edinger M; Ehrlund A; Ekwall K; Endoh M; Enomoto H; Eslami A; Fagiolini M; Fairbairn L; Farach-Carson MC; Faulkner GJ; Ferrai C; Fisher ME; Forrester LM; Fujita R; Furusawa J-I; Geijtenbeek TB; Gingeras T; Goldowitz D; Guhl S; Guler R; Gustincich S; Ha TJ; Hamaguchi M; Hara M; Hasegawa Y; Herlyn M; Heutink P; Hitchens KJ; Hume DA; Ikawa T; Ishizu Y; Kai C; Kawamoto H; Kawamura YI; Kempfle JS; Kenna TJ; Kere J; Khachigian LM; Kitamura T; Klein S; Klinken SP; Knox AJ; Kojima S; Koseki H; Koyasu S; Lee W; Lennartsson A; Mackay-sim A; Mejhert N; Mizuno Y; Morikawa H; Morimoto M; Moro K; Morris KJ; Motohashi H; Mummery CL; Nakachi Y; Nakahara F; Nakamura T; Nakamura Y; Nozaki T; Ogishima S; Ohkura N; Ohno H; Ohshima M; Okada-Hatakeyama M; Okazaki Y; Orlando V; Ovchinnikov DA; Passier R; Patrikakis M; Pombo A; Pradhan-Bhatt S; Qin X-Y; Rehli M; Rizzu P; Roy S; Sajantila A; Sakaguchi S; Sato H; Satoh H; Savvi S; Saxena A; Schmidl C; Schneider C; Schulze-Tanzil GG; Schwegmann A; Sheng G; Shin JW; Sugiyama D; Sugiyama T; Summers KM; Takahashi N; Takai J; Tanaka H; Tatsukawa H; Tomoiu A; Toyoda H; van de Wetering M; van den Berg LM; Verardo R; Vijayan D; Wells CA; Winteringham LN; Wolvetang E; Yamaguchi Y; Yamamoto M; Yanagi-Mizuochi C; Yoneda M; Yonekura Y; Zhang PG; Zucchelli S; Abugessaisa I; Arner E; Harshbarger J; Kondo A; Lassmann T; Lizio M; Sahin S; Sengstag T; Severin J; Shimoji H; Suzuki M; Suzuki H; Kawai J; Kondo N; Itoh M; Daub CO; Kasukawa T; Kawaji H; Carninci P; Forrest ARR; Hayashizaki Y
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All other publications

  • Preprint: BIORXIV. 2024
    Besson D; Vaur S; Vazquez S; Tournier S; Gachet Y; Birot A; Claverol S; Marston A; Damdimopoulos A; Ekwall K; Javerzat J-P
  • Letter: LEUKEMIA. 2024;38(3):663-666
    Miliara S; Cozzi E; Zhong X; Chan I; Ekwall K; Lehmann S; Lennartsson A; Bartek J; Kanellis DC
  • Corrigendum: MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY. 2021;41(7):e0017921-e00121
    Carlsten JO; Szilagyi Z; Liu B; Lopez MD; Szaszi E; Djupedal I; Nystrom T; Ekwall K; Gustafsson CM; Zhu X
  • Preprint: BIORXIV. 2019
    Birot A; Tormos-Pérez M; Vaur S; Feytout A; Jaegy J; Gil DA; Vazquez S; Ekwall K; Javerzat J-P
  • Preprint: BIORXIV. 2018
    Jurisic A; Robin C; Tarlykov P; Siggens L; Schoell B; Jauch A; Ekwal K; Sørensen CS; Lipinski M; Shoaib M; Ogryzko V
  • Preprint: BIORXIV. 2018
    Thodberg M; Thieffry A; Bornholdt J; Boyd M; Holmberg C; Azad A; Workman C; Chen Y; Ekwall K; Nielsen O; Sandelin A
  • Conference publication: HAEMATOLOGICA. 2016;101:70
    Tobiasson M; Ali HA; Lennartsson A; Katayama S; Marabita F; Karimi M; Khrjutskhov K; Einarsdottir E; Jansson M; Ben Azenkoud A; Ekwall K; Kere J; Hellstrom-Lindberg E; Ungerstedt J
  • Conference publication: HAEMATOLOGICA. 2016;101:209-210
    Qu Y; Siggens L; Cordeddu L; Ekwall K; Lehmann S; Lennartsson A
  • Conference publication: BLOOD. 2015;126(23):2839
    Tobiasson M; MeLornan D; Karimi M; Dimitriou M; Jansson M; Ben Azenkoud A; Jadersten M; Lindberg G; Abdulkadir H; Kulasekararaj AG; Ungerstedt J; Lennartsson A; Ekwall K; Mufti GJ; Hellstrom-Lindberg E
  • Meeting abstract: LEUKEMIA RESEARCH. 2015;39:S69
    Abdulkadir H; Tobiasson M; Lennartsson A; Katayama S; Marabita F; Karimi M; Qu Y; Einarsdottir E; Govdal M; Jansson M; Ben Azenkoud A; Lehmann S; Ekwall K; Kere J; Hellstom-Lindberg E; Ungerstedt J
  • Review: BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL. 2015;2015:347571-17
    Prasad P; Lennartsson A; Ekwall K
  • Conference publication: BLOOD. 2014;124(21):4613
    Tobiasson M; Karimi M; Dimitriou M; Qu Y; Lennartsson A; Ali HA; Unnikrishnan A; Jadersten M; Jansson M; Ben Azenkoud A; Pimanda JE; Ekwall K; Ungerstedt J; Lehmann S; Hellstrom-Lindberg E
  • Review: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2014;276(3):201-214
    Siggens L; Ekwall K
  • Letter: LEUKEMIA. 2014;28(2):411-413
    Grovdal M; Karimi M; Tobiasson M; Reinius L; Jansson M; Ekwall K; Ungerstedt J; Kere J; Greco D; Hellstrom-Lindberg E
  • Editorial comment: EPIGENOMICS. 2014;6(5):451-454
    Svensson JP; Ekwall K
  • Review: NUCLEUS. 2013;4(5):379-389
    Steglich B; Sazer S; Ekwall K
  • Corrigendum: MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY. 2012;32(24):5151
    Carlsten JO; Szilagyi Z; Liu B; Lopez MD; Szaszi E; Djupedal I; Nystrom T; Ekwall K; Gustafsson CM; Zhu X
  • Meeting abstract: BLOOD. 2012;120(21):2334
    Michelle R; Tor O; Douagi I; Lehmann S; Ekwall K; Arner E; Lennartsson A
  • Book chapter: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE. 2011;p.
    Strålfors A; Ekwall K
  • Editorial comment: EMBO JOURNAL. 2011;30(10):1875-1876
    Prasad P; Ekwall K
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Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Epigenetics, chromatin transformation and cancer
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2017 - 31 December 2018
  • Chromatin transformation enzymes, cell differentiation and new strategies for epigenetic cancer treatment
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2017
  • Chromatin transformation enzymes, cell differentiation and new strategies for epigenetic cancer treatment
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2016
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2015 - 31 December 2018
  • Chromatin transformation enzymes, cell differentiation and new strategies for epigenetic cancer treatment
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2015
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2016
  • 'SNF2' chromatin transformation enzymes and cell differentiation
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2014
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2011 - 31 December 2014
  • Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
    1 January 2011 - 1 January 2016

Employments

  • Professor, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2024-

Degrees and Education

  • Professor-competent in Molecular Biology, Södertörn University, 2007
  • Docent, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 1999
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Molecular Biology), Uppsala University, 1994
  • Bachelor of Microbiology, Microbiology, Uppsala University, 1988

Distinction and awards

  • The Göran Gustafsson Prize in Molecular Biology, Göran Gustafsson Foundation, 2009
  • Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) Research Fellow, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 2007
  • Associate Professor, Södertörn University, 2000
  • Appointed as Assistant Professor (Swedish Medical Research Council position ‘MFR’), Karolinska Institute, 1997

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