Arne Raasakka

Position

Researcher, PhD in Biochemistry

Affiliation

Research groups

Short info

I am a researcher in the Structural Neurobiology Group under the mentorship of Professor Petri Kursula. I hold a PhD in biochemistry since 2019 from the University of Bergen.
Research

Brief introduction

In my research, I aim to understand the structural determinants of myelin compaction and what drives demyelinating disease on the molecular level. I am especially interested in the protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions of various integral and peripheral membrane proteins in compact myelin, and how their interactions with membranes affect their conformations in health and disease. In my past research, I have especially focused on intrinsically disordered proteins and how their (un)folding is related to their function, as well as myelin enzymes. I have a general interest in streamlining the use of biophysical methodology in recombinant protein characterization and quality control.

Briefly, my methodological skills are centered around macromolecular X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering, circular dichroism methods, various protein stability methods, protein-protein and protein-membrane interaction methods, calorimetric methods, as well as others. Most of my scientific interests and practical knowledge stems from my work with Prof. Petri Kursula, initially at the University of Oulu (Finland; 2011-2015) and the German Electron Synchrotron in Hamburg (Germany; 2012), and later at the University of Bergen (Norway; 2015-present).

During my postdoctoral phase, I worked as a Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar in the lab of Dr. J. Bradley Zuchero at Stanford University (CA, USA; 2022-2023), where I expanded my practical skills to primary cell culture methods, epifluorescence microscopy, live-cell imaging and in vivo methods in the context of myelination and the role of the cytoskeleton therein.

 

Current research interests

  • Structural neurobiochemistry: the molecular basis of myelin formation, myelin stability and demyelination
  • Structure-function relationships of myelin proteins: protein folding, intrinsic disorder, biomolecular interactions and enzymology of the nervous system
  • Biochemical and biophysical methodology: cross-complementary approaches, workflow optimization and quality control
Teaching

Student supervision

PhD degree

  • 2020 – 2024  Oda Caspara Krokengen, PhD degree in nanotechnology, co-supervisor

 

MSc degree

  • 2019 – 2021  Sigurbjörn Markússon, MSc degree in molecular biology, co-supervisor, 2 years
  • 2019 – 2020  Øystein Hetland, MSc degree in nanoscience, supervisor (50%), 1 year
  • 2017 – 2018  Oda Caspara Krokengen, MSc degree in nanoscience, co-supervisor, 1 year

 

International students

  • 2021 – 2022  Marcel Schröder, ERASMUS student, 6 months
  • 2021  José Miguel Godoy Muñoz, ERASMUS student, 2 months
  • 2016  Helen Linxweiler, ERASMUS student, 2 months

 

Research trainees (e.g. BMED320)

  • 2019  Øystein Hetland, 1 month
  • 2019  Marta Espevold Hjelmeland, 2 months
  • 2019  Johanna Lepland, 2 months
  • 2017  Oda Caspara Krokengen, 1 month
  • 2017  Anushik Safaryan, 1 month
  • 2016  Cecilie Katrin Kristiansen, 2 months
  • 2016  Guro Helén Vatne, 2 months
  • 2013  Samar Ahmad, 1 month
Publications

Author-level metrics (Web of Science)

  • h-index: 14
  • g-index: 23
  • m-index: 1.00
  • i10-index: 17
  • Citations: 579

 

Academic publications

2025

  • Markusson S., Raasakka A., Schröder M., Sograte-Idrissi S., Rahimi A.M., Asadpour O., Körner H., Lodygin D., Eichel-Vogel M.A., Chowdhury R., Sutinen A., Iyer M., Cooper M.H., Weigel M.K., Ambiel N., Werner H.B., Zuchero J.B., Opazo F. & Kursula P. (2025) Nanobodies against the myelin enzyme CNPase as tools for structural and functional studies. J Neurochem. 169(1): e16274.

2024

  • Krokengen O.C., Raasakka A., Klenow M.B., Pal A., Hetland Ø., Mularski A., Ruskamo S., Pedersen J.S., Simonsen A.C. & Kursula P. (2024) On the synergy between myelin proteins P0, MBP, and P2 in peripheral nerve major dense line formation. bioRxiv. 2024.07.15.603506. Preprint.
  • Krokengen O.C., Touma C., Mularski A., Sutinen A., Dunkel R., Ytterdal M., Raasakka A., Mertens H.D.T., Simonsen A.C. & Kursula P. (2024) The cytoplasmic tail of myelin protein zero induces morphological changes in lipid membranes. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr. 1866(7): 184368.
  • Kind L., Molnes J., Tjora E., Raasakka A., Myllykoski M., Colclough K., Saint-Martin C., Adelfalk C., Dusatkova P., Pruhova S., Valtonen-André C., Bellanné-Chantelot C., Arnesen T., Kursula P. & Njølstad P.R. (2024) Molecular mechanism of HNF-1A mediated HNF4A gene regulation and promoter-driven HNF4A-MODY diabetes. JCI Insight. 9(11):e175278.

2023

  • Kind L., Driver M., Raasakka A., Onck P.R., Njølstad P.R., Arnesen T. & Kursula P. (2023) Structural properties of the HNF-1A transactivation domain. Front Mol Biosci. 10:1249939.
  • Houry D.*, Raasakka A.*, Ferrario E.*, Niere M., Bifulco E., Kursula P. & Ziegler M. (2023) Identification of structural determinants of NAMPT activity and substrate selectivity. J Struct Biol. 215(3): 108004.
  • Krokengen O.C., Raasakka A. & Kursula P. (2023) The intrinsically disordered protein glue of the myelin major dense line: Linking AlphaFold2 predictions to experimental data. Biochem Biophys Rep. 34: 101474.

2022

  • Ruskamo S., Raasakka A., Pedersen J.S., Martel A., Škubník K., Darwish T., Porcar L. & Kursula P. (2022) Human myelin proteolipid protein structure and lipid bilayer stacking. Cell Mol Life Sci. 79(8): 419.
  • Markusson S.*, Hallin E.I.*, Bustad H.J., Raasakka A., Xu J., Muruganandam G., Loris R., Martinez A., Bramham C. & Kursula P. (2022) High-affinity nanobodies as tools for structural and functional studies on mammalian Arc. PLoS ONE. 17(6): e0269281.
  • Sutinen A.*, Nguyen G.T.T.*, Raasakka A., Muruganandam G., Loris R., Ylikallio E., Tyynismaa H., Bartesaghi L., Ruskamo S. & Kursula P. (2022) Structural insights into Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease-linked mutations in human GDAP1. FEBS Open Bio. 12(7): 1306-1324.
  • Kind L., Raasakka A., Molnes J., Aukrust I., Bjørkhaug L., Njølstad P.R., Kursula P. & Arnesen T. (2022) Structural and biophysical characterization of transcription factor HNF-1A as a tool to study MODY3 diabetes variants. J Biol Chem. 298(4): 101803.

2021

  • Mahootchi E.*, Raasakka A.*, Luan W., Muruganandam G., Loris R., Haavik J. & Kursula P. (2021) Structure and substrate specificity determinants of the taurine biosynthetic enzyme cysteine sulphinic acid decarboxylase. J Struct Biol. 213(1): 107674.
  • Nguyen G.T.T.*, Sutinen A.*, Raasakka A., Muruganandam G., Loris R. & Kursula P. (2021) Structure of the complete dimeric human GDAP1 core domain provides insights into ligand binding and clustering of disease mutations. Front Mol Biosci. 7: 631232.
  • Myllykoski M., Sutinen A., Koski K., Kallio J.P., Raasakka A., Myllyharju J., Wierenga R.K. & Koivunen P. (2021) Structure of transmembrane prolyl 4-hydroxylase reveals unique organization of EF and dioxygenase domains. J Biol Chem. 296: 100197.

2020

  • Raasakka A. & Kursula P. (2020) How Does Protein Zero Assemble Compact Myelin? Cells. 9(8): 1832. Review.
  • Ruskamo S.*, Krokengen O.C.*, Kowal J., Nieminen T., Lehtimäki M., Raasakka A., Dandey V., Vattulainen I., Stahlberg H. & Kursula P. (2020) Cryo-EM, X-ray diffraction, and atomistic simulations reveal determinants for the formation of a supramolecular myelin-like proteolipid lattice. J Biol Chem. 295(26): 8692-8705.
  • Lillebostad P.A.G.*, Raasakka A.*, Hjellbrekke S.J., Patil S., Røstbø T., Hollås H., Sakya S.A., Szigetvari P.D., Vedeler A. & Kursula P. (2020) Structure of the ALS Mutation Target Annexin A11 Reveals a Stabilising N-Terminal Segment. Biomolecules. 10(4): 660.
  • Raasakka A. & Kursula P. (2020) Flexible Players within the Sheaths: The Intrinsically Disordered Proteins of Myelin in Health and Disease. Cells. 9(2): 470. Review.

2019

  • Raasakka A. & Kursula P. (2019) Stability and flexibility of full-length human oligodendrocytic QKI6. BMC Res Notes. 12: 609.
  • Raasakka A., Ruskamo S., Barker R., Krokengen O.C., Vatne G.H., Kristiansen C.K., Hallin E.I., Skoda M.W.A., Bergmann U., Wacklin-Knecht, H., Jones N.C., Hoffmann S.V & Kursula P. (2019) Neuropathy-related mutations alter the membrane binding properties of the human myelin protein P0 cytoplasmic tail. PLoS ONE. 14(6): e0216833.
  • Raasakka A., Linxweiler H., Brophy P.J., Sherman D.L. & Kursula P. (2019) Direct binding of the flexible C-terminal segment of periaxin to β4 integrin suggests a molecular basis for CMT4F. Front Mol Neurosci. 12: 84.
  • Raasakka A., Jones N.C., Hoffmann S.V. & Kursula P. (2019) Ionic strength and calcium regulate the membrane interactions of myelin basic protein and the cytoplasmic domain of myelin protein zero. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 511(1): 7-12.
  • Raasakka A., Ruskamo S., Kowal J., Han H., Baumann A., Myllykoski M., Fasano A., Rossano R., Riccio P., Bürck J., Ulrich A.S., Stahlberg H. & Kursula P. (2019) Molecular structure and function of myelin protein P0 in membrane stacking. Sci Rep. 9:642.

2018

  • Laulumaa S., Nieminen T., Raasakka A., Krokengen O.C., Safaryan A., Hallin E.I., Brysbaert G., Lensink M.F., Ruskamo S., Vattulainen I. & Kursula P. (2018) Structure and dynamics of a human myelin protein P2 portal region mutant indicate opening of the β barrel in fatty acid binding proteins. BMC Struct Biol. 18:8.
  • Raasakka A.*, Mahootchi E.*, Winge I., Luan W., Kursula P. & Haavik J. (2018) Structure of the mouse acidic amino acid decarboxylase GADL1. Acta Cryst. F74(1): 65-73. 

2017

  • Ruskamo S., Nieminen T., Kristiansen C.K., Vatne G.H., Baumann A., Hallin E.I., Raasakka A., Joensuu P., Bergmann U., Vattulainen I. & Kursula P. (2017) Molecular mechanisms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy linked to mutations in human myelin protein P2. Sci Rep. 7:6510. 
  • Raasakka A., Ruskamo S., Kowal J., Barker R., Baumann A., Martel A., Tuusa J., Myllykoski M., Bürck J., Ulrich A.S., Stahlberg H. & Kursula P. (2017) Membrane Association Landscape of Myelin Basic Protein Portrays Formation of the Myelin Major Dense Line. Sci Rep. 7:4974. 
  • Muruganandam G., Raasakka A., Myllykoski M., Kursula I. & Kursula P. (2017) Structural similarities and functional differences clarify evolutionary relationships between tRNA healing enzymes and the myelin enzyme CNPase. BMC Biochem. 18:7. 
  • Tuusa J., Raasakka A., Ruskamo S. & Kursula P. (2017) Myelin-derived and putative molecular mimic peptides share structural properties in aqueous and membrane-like environments. Mult Scler Demyelinating Disord. 2(4). 
  • Snaidero N., Velte C., Myllykoski M., Raasakka A., Ignatev A., Werner H.B., Erwig M.S., Möbius W., Kursula P., Nave K.A. & Simons M. (2017) Antagonistic functions of MBP and CNP establish cytosolic channels in central nervous system myelin. Cell Rep. 18(2):314-323.

2016

  • Myllykoski M., Seidel L., Muruganandam G., Raasakka A., Torda A.E. & Kursula P. (2016) Structural and functional evolution of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase. Brain Res. 1641(Pt A):64-78. Review.

2015

  • Raasakka A., Myllykoski M., Laulumaa S., Lehtimäki M., Härtlein M., Moulin M., Kursula I. & Kursula P. (2015) Determinants of ligand binding and catalytic activity in the myelin enzyme 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase. Sci Rep. 5:16520. 
  • Laulumaa S., Blakeley M.P., Raasakka A., Moulin M., Härtlein M. & Kursula P. (2015) Production, crystallization, and neutron diffraction of fully deuterated human myelin peripheral membrane protein P2. Acta Cryst. F71(11): 1391-1395. 
  • Chukhlieb M., Raasakka A., Ruskamo S. & Kursula P. (2015) The N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of neuregulin 1 type III is intrinsically disordered. Amino Acids. 47(8): 1567-1577. 

2014

  • Raasakka A. & Kursula P. (2014) The myelin membrane-associated enzyme 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase: on a highway to structure and function. Neurosci Bull. 30(6): 956-966. Review.

2013

  • Myllykoski M.*, Raasakka A.*, Lehtimäki M., Han H., Kursula I. & Kursula P. (2013) Crystallographic analysis of the reaction cycle of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase, a unique member of the 2H phosphoesterase family. J Mol Biol. 425(22): 4307-4322.

2012

  • Myllykoski M., Raasakka A., Han H. & Kursula P. (2012) Myelin 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase: Active-site ligand binding and molecular conformation. PLoS ONE. 7(2): e32336. 

 

* Equal contribution       Corresponding author

 

 

Citable conference abstracts

  • Raasakka A., Krokengen O.C., Schneider R. & Kursula P. (2023) Myelin protein zero - the structural foundation behind peripheral compact myelin. Biophys J. 122(3): S1,500a. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.2669. (67th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, San Francisco, CA, 18. - 22.2.2023)
  • Raasakka A., Han H., Myllykoski M. & Kursula P. (2018) Flexibility of the Myelin Scaffolding Protein Periaxin. Biophys J. 114(3): S1,407a. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.2254. (62nd Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, San Francisco, CA, 17. - 21.2.2018)
  • Chukhlieb M., Han H., Myllykoski M., Laulumaa S., Raasakka A., Ruskamo S., Wang C. & Kursula P. (2013) Membrane Interactions, Intrinsic Disorder, and Unknown Functions of Myelin Proteins. Biophys J. 104(2): S1,548a. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.11.3036. (57th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, Philadelphia, PA, 2. - 6.2.2013)

 

 

Popularization, highlights, news and other publications

  • An Unexpected Role for Heavy Proteins: Deuterated Proteins Make Bigger Crystals for High-Resolution Structural Studies. Highlights of ILL Research – Neutrons and Health 2. 2019: 20.
  • Towards Understanding Neurological Diseases: Neutron Studies Reveal How a Flexible Protein Sticks Together the Insulating Layers Protecting Nerve Cells. Highlights of ILL Research – Neutrons and Health 2. 2019: 21.
  • Study biomedical sciences in modern Norway. Interview for University of Bergen website [published 18.08.2017].
  • Protein-Lipid Interactions: Advanced Experimental and Computational Tools. Workshop report in NBS Nytt 3/2017: 30-31.

 

 

Theses

  • The Characterization of Disordered Membrane-Binding Proteins of Myelin: A Biophysical Approach. University of Bergen, Norway. 2019. ISBN: 978-82-308-3520-3. (PhD)
  • Structural Enzymology of 2′,3′-Cyclic Nucleotide 3′-Phosphodiesterase. University of Oulu, Finland. 2012. (MSc)
  • TNF-α ja etanersepti – sytokiini ja sen inhibiittori. University of Oulu, Finland. 2010. (BSc)

 

 

Talks, presentations and seminars

  • Conference: BioCat Annual Conference 2023, Sommarøy, Norway, 7.6.2023: Order and Disorder in the Myelin Membrane.
  • Conference: 18th International Conference on Chiroptical Spectroscopy, New York City, NY, USA, 26.7.2022: Structural biology of the myelin membrane: Unraveling the folding of myelin proteins in health and disease.
  • Conference: 56th Norwegian Biochemical Society Contact Meeting, Voss, Norway, 24.01.2020: The Role of Myelin Basic Protein in Health and Multiple Sclerosis – Recent Advances and Avenues for New Research.
  • Disputation: PhD degree, Bergen, Norway, 12.4.2019: The Characterization of Disordered Membrane-Binding Proteins of Myelin: A Biophysical Approach.
  • Trial lecture: PhD degree, Bergen, Norway, 12.4.2019: Intrinsically Disordered Proteins.
  • Meeting: SPIRE network meeting, Bergen, Norway, 13.6.2018: Protein-lipid interactions in myelin: A biophysical approach.
  • Conference: Health and Environmental Safety Day, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, 1.12.2017: Molecular Flexibility of Myelin Basic Protein Enables Tight Packing of Lipid Multilayers.
  • Seminar series: Early Stage Research Seminar, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, 19.10.2017: Protein-lipid interactions in myelin: A biophysical approach.
  • Conference: 7th Annual BioStruct Conference, Jægtvolden, Norway, 27.8.2016: Myelin Basic Protein and the Cytoplasmic Extension of Myelin Protein Zero: A Comparative Study.
  • Conference: 6th Annual BioStruct Conference, Jægtvolden, Norway, 28.8.2015: Structural Enzymology of 2′,3′-Cyclic Nucleotide 3′-Phosphodiesterase: A study of mutagenesis and perdeuteration.

 

 

Posters (presenter(s) marked with *)

  • Kind L.*, Molnes J., Tjora E., Raasakka A., Myllykoski M., Colclough K., Saint-Martin C., Adelfalk C., Dusatkova P., Pruhova S., Valtonen-André C., Bellanné-Chantelot C., Arnesen T., Kursula P. & Njølstad P.R. Molecular mechanism of HNF-1A mediated HNF4A gene regulation and promoter-driven HNF4A-MODY diabetes. 9th Meeting of the Study Group on Genetics of Diabetes. 17. – 19.4.2024, Exeter, United Kingdom.
  • Krokengen O.C.*, Raasakka A., & Kursula P. Investigation of disordered myelin proteins using AlphaFold2. BioCat Annual Conference. 2023. 7. - 9.6.2023, Sommarøy, Norway.
  • Raasakka A.*, Krokengen O.C., Schneider R. & Kursula P. Myelin Protein Zero – The Structural Foundation Behind Peripheral Compact Myelin. The 67th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. 18. - 22.2.2023, San Diego, CA, USA.
  • Raasakka A.*, Ruskamo S., Krokengen O.C., Schneider R. & Kursula P.Structural biology of the myelin membrane: Unraveling the folding of myelin proteins in health and disease. 18th International Conference on Chiroptical Spectroscopy. 24. – 27.7.2022, New York City, NY, USA.
  • Kind L.*, Raasakka A., Njølstad P.R., Kursula P. & Arnesen, T. Biophysical and functional studies on the transactivation domain of HNF-1A: Finding order in disorder? FEBS 2022 Advanced Course: Lost in Integration - Probing Biomolecules with Electrons, Photons, Neutrons and Magnetic Spins. 9. – 15.5.2022, Spetses, Greece.
  • Kind L.*, Molnes J., Raasakka A., Colclough K., Saint-Martin C., Bellanné-Chantelot C., Kursula P., Njølstad P.R. & Arnesen, T. Biochemical insights into HNF4A gene regulation and promoter-driven MODY1 diabetes. Diabesity Nordic conference. 9. – 11.3.2022, Solstrand, Norway.
  • Kind L.*, Raasakka A., Molnes J., Aukrust I., Njølstad P.R., Kursula P. & Arnesen, T. Structural and biophysical characterization of HNF-1A as a tool to study MODY3 diabetes variants. The 66th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. 19. – 23.2.2022, San Francisco, CA, USA.
  • Kind L.*, Raasakka A., Njølstad P.R., Kursula P. & Arnesen, T. Structural and biochemical characterization of the transcription factor HNF-1A. 6th European Crystallographic School. 4. – 10.7.2021, Budapest, Hungary (online).
  • Houry D.*, Raasakka A., Bockwoldt M., Niere M., Heiland I., Kursula P. & Ziegler M. Structural insights into the catalytic mechanism of human NAMPT. The NAD+ Metabolism and Signaling Conference. 23. - 28.6.2019, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Raasakka A., Myllykoski M., Ruskamo S., Baumann A., Kowal J., Stahlberg H., Eichel M., Werner H., Sherman D., Brophy P. & Kursula P*. Intrinsic Disorder and Myelin Protein Complexes. Current Topics in Myelin Research. 28.2. - 2.3.2019, Kassel, Germany.
  • Raasakka A.*, Han H., Myllykoski M. & Kursula P. Flexibility of the Myelin Scaffolding Protein Periaxin. The 62nd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. 17. - 21.2.2018, San Francisco, CA, USA.
  • Raasakka A.* & Kursula P. Molecular Flexibility of Myelin Proteins Enables Tight Packing of Lipid Multilayers. The Kavli Prize Symposium in Nanoscience. Atomic Force Microscopy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. 25.9.2017, Zürich, Switzerland.
  • Raasakka A.*, Baumann A., Barker R., Ruskamo S., Kowal J., Myllykoski M., Bürck J., Stahlberg H. & Kursula P. Myelin Basic Protein - Unraveling Lipid Interactions and Membrane Insertion. 7th Annual BioStruct Conference. 25. - 28.8.2016, Jægtvolden, Norway.
  • Raasakka A.*, Myllykoski M., Ruskamo S., Laulumaa S. & Kursula P. Exploring the Many Proteins of Myelin - Structural Enzymology and Membrane Stacking in vitro. HERCULES Specialized Course HSC16: Non-atomic resolution scattering in biology and soft matter. 15. - 19.9.2014, Grenoble, France.
  • Raasakka A.*, Laulumaa S.*, Chukhlieb M., Han H., Muruganandam G., Myllykoski M., Ruskamo S. & Kursula P. Structural Biology of the Myelin Membrane - A Biophysical Approach to a Biological Problem. Biocenter Oulu Discovery of the Year. 16.12.2014, Oulu, Finland.