Gertraud Burger
Evolution of the eukaryotic cell and how it functions at the molecular level
- Professeure titulaire
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Faculté de médecine - Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire
Roger-Gaudry, room H307-13
Profile
Research expertise
Global Theme
- How did the different life forms we know today evolve?
- In which aspects do their cells function differently at the molecular level?
Genome Evolution
We are studying nuclear genomes of primitive eukaryotes, to establish the different tracks in genome diversification. In turn, the investigation of mitochondrial genomes aims at tracing back the transition from an endosymbiotic bacterium to an integral substructure of the eukaryotic cell..
Molecular Mechanisms
We have discovered a most unusual mode of gene expression in a micro-eukaryotes, which involves massive RNA editing and trans-splicing. Our aim is to uncover the underlying biochemical mechanisms and to dissect the molecular machineries.
Symbioses – principles and applications
The chosen system is cranberry and its microbes – multiple bacterial and fungal species living together in their host, inside plant cells. These microbes affect growth, nutrient assimilation, and pathogen susceptibility of the plant. The project aims at the isolation and classification of endosymbionts that are beneficial to cranberries, and also at field trials to test ‘biofertilisation’ and ‘biocontrol’ of selected microbes. Further, sequencing of microbe genomes will determine the genes involved in beneficial effects on the plant. These two aspects will be performed by our collaborators. Our laboratory will conduct transcriptomics (i) to establish the effect of microbes on plant gene expression, and (ii) to study the host-microbe and microbe-microbe crosstalk.
Experimental Approaches
Our principal experimental approaches are genomics and transcriptomics joined with bioinformatics analyses (assembly and functional annotation of ‘Omes; prediction of protein subcellular localization); proteomics, ARN biochemistry, and general molecular biology.
My research projects include multi-disciplinary, national and international collaborations.
Selected Publications
- Burger G, Moreira S, Valach M (2016) “Genes in hiding”. Trends Genet 32(19)535-565
- Burger G, Gray MW, Forget L, Lang BG (2013) “A strikingly bacteria-like and gene-rich mitochondrial genome is a hallmark of jakobid protists.” Genome Biol Evol 5:418
- Shen YQ, Burger G (2010) “TESTLoc: protein subcellular localization prediction from EST data.” BCM Bioinformatics 11:563
Biography
BSc et MSc en biologie, doctorat et habilitation en génétique & microbiologie, Ludwig-Maximilian Universität, München, Allemagne
Stages post-doctoraux en Allemagne, Canada, Etats-Unis, France, Italie
Chercheure associée, CNRS, microbiologie, Université Paris-Sud, France
Chercheure associée, biochimie, UdeM
For more information…
- 24-04-2014 Champignons et bactéries aident les plantes
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29-04-2015 Mitochondrie, l'étranger dans la maison
Épisode 2 : la traque des origines (24 mn) - Franz Lang et Gertraud Burger, tous deux professeurs au Département de biochimie et de médecine moléculaire de l'Université de Montréal, étudient depuis des dizaines d'années le génome des mitochondries. Ils cherchent à le rapprocher de celui de certaines bactéries, de façon à découvrir l'ancêtre des mitochondries.
Affiliations and responsabilities
Research affiliations
University service and activities
Activities within organizations or entities of the institution
Conception et implémentation des programmes d'études (1er, 2ème, et 3ème cycle) de bio-informatique a l'UdeM
Présidente des comités des études en bio-informatique 2000-2015
Présidente du comité de bourses stratégiques du IRSC-Génétique en bio-informatique 2004-2010
Membre de différents comités factultaires tels que de comités aviseurs et d’autoévaluation, de groupes de travail, etc.
Membre fondateur du Centre Robert-Cedergren en bio-informatique et génomique.
Teaching and supervision
Recruitment in research
Poste de doctorant en bio-informatique disponible
Teaching
Student supervision
Post-doctoral Supervision
Supervision de stagiaires postdoctoraux en bio-informatique et en biochimie
Theses and dissertation supervision (Papyrus Institutional Repository)
Microbial endophytes and their interactions with cranberry plants
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
In silico identification of PPR proteins
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
Caractérisation in silico et purification des ligases à ARN de type RtcB de Diplonema papillatum
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
The small subunit of the mitoribosome from Andalucia godoyi : isolation and study of its protein composition
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
An approach to improved microbial eukaryotic genome annotation
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
Décodage de l'expression de gènes cryptiques
Cycle : Doctoral
Grade : Ph. D.
Processus post-transcriptionnels inédits dans la mitochondrie des diplonémides
Cycle : Doctoral
Grade : Ph. D.
Study of cox1 trans-splicing in Diplonema papillatum mitochondria
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
In silico analysis of mitochondrial proteins
Cycle : Doctoral
Grade : Ph. D.
Insights into the function of short interspersed degenerated retroposons in the protozoan parasite Leishmania
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
Molecular protein function prediction using sequence similarity-based and similarity-free approaches
Cycle : Doctoral
Grade : Ph. D.
Evolution of C2H2-Zinc finger genes in mammalian genomes
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
Structure et expression des gènes mitochondriaux de Diplonema papillatum
Cycle : Doctoral
Grade : Ph. D.
Étude de l'évolution de la structure des génomes mitochondriaux chez les Euglenozoa
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
Theses and dissertation supervision
Supervision de doctorants en bio-informatique et en biochimie
Supervision d'étudiants à la maîtrise en bio-informatique et en biochimie
Stages and Others
Supervision de stages de 1er et de 2ème cycle en bio-informatique et biochimie
Jury Member
Participation à plus de 35 jurys et comités de thèses
Projects
Research projects
Un editosome d'ARN inédit chez des micro-eucaryotes marins très abondants et divers
Unorthodox information processing systems in mitochondria
3D-structure of an unconventional mitochondrial ribosome
Delineating the Correlates of Tissue Repair Pathways Promoted by Platelet Rich Plasma
MYCATOK PROJECT: INNOVATING CRANBERRY FARMING WITH BENEFICIAL SYMBIOTIC MICROBES
Génomique comparative d’une lignée d’eucaryotes ancienne: les jakobides
Supplément COVID-19 CRSNG_Unorthodox information processing systems in mitochondria
BACTERIA-LIKE INFORMATION PROCESSING IN ANCESTRAL MITOCHONDRIA
Diplonemid
DIPLONEMID
MECHANISMS OF MICROBIAL RNA TRANS-SPLICING AND EDITING - AN INTEGRATED GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS APPRAOCH
GENOREM IMPROVING BIOREMEDIATION OF POLLUTED SOILS THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL GENOMICS
Outreach
Organisation d’événements
Organisation de l'annuel colloque bio-informatique Robert Cedergren 2005 - 2010
Participation à des jurys (hors de l’institution)
Participation à des jurys de thèse de Dalhousie University et University of British Columbia.
Publications and presentations
Publications
PUBLICATIONS CHOISIES
- Burger G, Moreira S, Valach M (2016) “Genes in hiding”. Trends Genet 32(19)535-565
- Burger G, Gray MW, Forget L, Lang BG (2013) “A strikingly bacteria-like and gene-rich mitochondrial genome is a hallmark of jakobid protists.” Genome Biol Evol 5:418
- Shen YQ, Burger G (2010) “TESTLoc: protein subcellular localization prediction from EST data.” BCM Bioinformatics 11:563
En voir plus sur : http://megasun.bch.umontreal.ca/People/burger/pubs.html
Disciplines
- Molecular Biology
- Computer Science
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
- Bioinformatics
Areas of expertise
- Genomics
- Proteomics
- Bioinformatics
- Microorganisms
- Protist
- Evolution and Phylogenesis
- Gene Regulation and Expression
- Chromosomes: Structure / Organization
- Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms
- Bioremediation