Postdoctoral Associate
My research program integrates diatom molecular and cell biology, molecular tool development, and biotechnology. We are advancing basic understanding of diatom biology and translating our findings to applications that will help alleviate the climate crisis.
Diatoms are widespread photosynthetic single-celled algae estimated to account for 20% of the oxygen we breathe. I have been pioneering the use of modern molecular tools, including proximity labeling and CRISPR, in diatoms over the past decade. My specific research interests have been revolving around biosilicification and silicon metabolism in diatoms. These efforts are improving our molecular understanding of their vital role in global biogeochemical cycles. New insights into diatom biology carry potential for biotechnology innovations in carbon sequestration, materials science, and beyond.
Evolutionary and ecological success of diatoms—ubiquitously distributed photosynthetic single-celled algae and dominant primary producers in the contemporary ocean—has been attributed to their silica-based cell wall called a frustule. Diatoms exhibit a dazzling variety of frustule morphologies. How they construct this ornate organic-inorganic hybrid material at mild temperatures and pressures is a fascinating question, a bridge between nanoscale and planetary scale biological and geological processes. Additionally, the biocompatibility and hierarchical mesoporous structure of naturally produced diatom silica represents a basis for applications in drug delivery, biosensing, industrial catalysis, energy storage, bioremediation, etc.
I am investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of silica-based cell wall biogenesis and morphogenesis in diatoms using a combination of reverse genetics, imaging, omics, and bioinformatics. My primary experimental model system is a centric marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.
Keywords: Ocean, Phytoplankton, Diatoms, Photosynthesis, Biological Carbon Pump, Silicon Cycle, Biosilicification, Proximity Labeling, CRISPR, Genetically Encoded Materials, Biotechnology
- Turnšek J, Brunson JK, Viedma MDPM, Deerinck TJ, Horák A, Oborník M, Bielinski VA, Allen AE. 2021. Proximity proteomics in a marine diatom reveals a putative cell surface-to-chloroplast iron trafficking pathway. eLife 10:e52770. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.52770 URL
- Faktorová D, Nisbet RER, Fernández Robledo JA, Casacuberta E, Sudek L, (...), Turnšek J, (...), Lukeš J. 2020. Genetic tool development in marine protists: emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology. Nat Methods 17:481–494. DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0796-x URL
- Conrado RJ, Wu GC, Boock JT, Xu H, Chen SY, Lebar T, Turnšek J, Tomšič N, Avbelj M, Gaber R, Koprivnjak T, Mori J, Glavnik V, Vovk I, Benčina M, Hodnik V, Anderluh G, Dueber JE, Jerala R, DeLisa MP. 2012. DNA-guided assembly of biosynthetic pathways promotes improved catalytic efficiency. Nucleic Acids Res 40:1879–1889. DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr888 URL
PhD, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard University, USA
MSc, Biotechnology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jernej Turnšek
Berkeley, CA 94720