Poulsson prize 2022 awarded to Prof. Seifert
The Norwegian Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology (NSFT) continues a tradition that began in 1970: In honorable memory of the Norwegian pharmacologist Poul Edvard Poulsson (1858-1935), the Poulsson Medal is awarded annually to scientists who have made significant contributions to the scientific development in the fields of pharmacology and toxicology. The 2022 award for Prof. Seifert acknowledges on the one hand his scientific research, which focuses on G-protein-mediated signal transduction as well as on cCMP and cUMP as possible second messengers. On the other hand, his contributions to the field of pharmacology outside the laboratory are appreciated. The NSFT especially highlights Prof. Seifert's work as Editor-in-Chief of the pharmacological journal Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, in the context of which he also had to deal with the problem of abusive writing of scientific publications by so-called "paper mills", which is not just a problem in this particular journal, and made public this danger of scientific fraud. Further decisive factors for awarding the prize were the national development of a drug group nomenclature based on molecular mechanisms of action, which is currently also being implemented internationally, the publication of pharmacology textbooks as well as books on drugs for a broader public in German and English.
The 2022 Poulsson Medal was awarded at the NSFT Winter Meeting in Beitostølen at the end of January 2023.
cCMP and cUMP as second messengers
There is current progress in the role of cCMP and cUMP as second messengers. Almost 1,000 new bacterial cytidylyl and uridylyl cyclases (PcycC) have been identified along with specific cCMP and cUMP effectors (N. Tal et al, 2021).
cCMP and cUMP play a role in the defense of bacteria against phages. Phages "fight" against this defense system by cleaving cCMP and cUMP by "nucleases" (phosphodiesterases) (S.J. Hobs et al. 2022).
Our institute has provided conceptual background work on cCMP and cUMP. For reference, please see, e.g., the following publications:
- Seifert R and Schirmer B. cCMP and cUMP come into the spotlight, finally. Trends Biochem Sci. 2022; 47:461-463. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.12.008.
- Seifert R cCMP and cUMP: emerging second messengers. Trends Biochem Sci. 2015; 40:8-15. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2014.10.008.
- Seifert R. cCMP and cUMP Across the Tree of Life: From cCMP and cUMP Generators to cCMP- and cUMP-Regulated Cell Functions. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2017;238:3-23. doi: 10.1007/164_2016_5005.
- Seifert R, Schneider EH, Bähre H. From canonical to non-canonical cyclic nucleotides as second messengers: pharmacological implications. Pharmacol Ther. 2015; 148:154-84. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.12.002.
An overview of the research work is provided by the presentation "Signaling via cCMP and cUMP", which can be downloaded here as pdf. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to have additional background information on this emerging field of research.
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