Ruben Fernandez-Busnadiego, PhD

Ruben Fernandez-Busnadiego has pioneered the analysis of neuronal molecular architecture using cryo-electron tomography. He studies both the molecular scaffolds that enable neuronal function, as well as structural alterations underlying neurodegeneration. He has imaged disease-relevant protein aggregates (incl. polyQ, c9orf72 poly-GA, TDP-43, tau and α-Synuclein) within their native neuronal context to reveal toxic interactions between aggregates and neuronal protein quality control (QC) pathways. Recently, the Fernandez-Busnadiego group has extended this approach to mitochondria, analyzing how aggregate formation within the matrix alter key mitochondrial QC machineries. Collectively, these findings point to a vicious cycle in which the impact of aggregation on the neuronal QC systems facilitates further aggregation. Ruben studied Physics at the Complutense University of Madrid, completed his PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, and carried out a postdoctoral stay at Yale School of Medicine. He is currently Professor for Structural Cell Biology at the University Medical Center Göttingen.