2) Education and Degree

1975–1980          Student of Biophysics, Kharkov University and Moscow State University

1980–1983          PhD student, Department of Bioenergetics, Moscow State University

3) Scientific Degrees

1980                   MSc (with distinction), Kharkov University (Ukraine), supervisor A.A. Konstantinov

1983                   PhD (Biochemistry), Moscow State University (Russia), supervisor V.P. Skulachev

1992                   Habilitation thesis (Biochemistry), Halle University

1999                   Re-habilitation, venia legendi for Neurochemistry, Bonn University

4) Professional career after graduation

Since 2008         W2 Professor of Neurochemistry at Dept. Epileptology, Bonn University, School of Medicine

2007                   Call for a W3 Professorship of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

2001                   apl Professor of Neurochemistry at Dept. Epileptology, Bonn University, School of Medicine

1998                   Division of Neurochemistry, Department of Epileptology, Bonn University

1994–1997          Head of Neurobiochemistry Lab., Department Neurology, Magdeburg University

1992–1994         Head of Neurobiochemistry Group, Institute of Biochemistry, Magdeburg University

1983–1992          Research assistant, Institute of Biochemistry, Magdeburg University

1989–1990         Visiting Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Medical School of Indiana University, Indianapolis

5) Miscellaneous

1989–1990          Fulbright fellowship

1994                   Sandoz Price for Therapeutic Research

6) Selected Publications

Peeva V, Blei D, Trombly G, Corsi S, Szukszto MJ, Rebelo-Guiomar P, Gammage PA, Kudin AP, Becker C, Altmüller J, Minczuk M, Zsurka G, Kunz WS. (2018) Linear mitochondrial DNA is rapidly degraded by components of the replication machinery. Nat Commun 30;9(1):1727.

Kudin AP, Baron G, Zsurka G, Hampel KG, Elger CE, Grote A, Weber Y, Lerche H, Thiele H, Nürnberg P, Schulz H, Ruppert AK, Sander T, Cheng Q, Arnér ES, Schomburg L, Seeher S, Fradejas-Villar N, Schweizer U, Kunz WS. (2017) Homozygous mutation in TXNRD1 is associated with genetic generalized epilepsy. Free Radic Biol Med. 106:270-277.

Volmering E, Niehusmann P, Peeva V, Grote A, Zsurka G, Altmüller J, Nürnberg P, Becker AJ, Schoch S, Elger CE, Kunz WS. (2016) Neuropathological signs of inflammation correlate with mitochondrial DNA deletions in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Acta Neuropathol 132:277–288.

Hallmann K, Kudin AP, Zsurka G, Kornblum C, Reimann J, Stüve B, Waltz S, Hattingen E, Thiele H, Nürnberg P, Rüb C, Voos W, Kopatz J, Neumann H, Kunz WS. (2016) Loss of the smallest subunit of cytochrome c oxidase, COX8A, causes Leigh-like syndrome and epilepsy. Brain 139:338–345.

Zsurka G, Kunz WS. (2015) Mitochondrial dysfunction and seizures: the neuronal energy crisis. Lancet Neurol 14:956–966.

Kornblum C, Nicholls TJ, Haack TB, Schöler S, Peeva V, Danhauser K, Hallmann K, Zsurka G, Rorbach J, Iuso A, Wieland T, Sciacco M, Ronchi D, Comi GP, Moggio M, Quinzii CM, DiMauro S, Calvo SE, Mootha VK, Klopstock T, Strom TM, Meitinger T, Minczuk M, Kunz WS*, Prokisch H. (2013) Loss-of-function mutations in MGME1 impair mtDNA replication and cause multisystemic mitochondrial disease. Nat Genet 45:214–219.
*corresponding author

Vielhaber S, Debska-Vielhaber G, Peeva V, Schoeler S, Kudin AP, Minin I, Schreiber S, Dengler R, Kollewe K, Zuschratter W, Kornblum C, Zsurka G, Kunz WS. (2013) Mitofusin 2 mutations affect mitochondrial function by mitochondrial DNA depletion. Acta Neuropathol 125:245–256.

Zsurka G, Kraytsberg Y, Kudina T, Kornblum C, Elger CE, Khrapko K, Kunz WS. (2005) Recombination of mitochondrial DNA detected in skeletal muscle of individuals with multiple mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy. Nat Genet 37:873–877.

Kraytsberg Y, Schwartz M, Brown TA, Ebralidse K, Kunz WS, Clayton DA, Vissing J, Khrapko K. (2004) Recombination of human mitochondrial DNA. Science 304:981.