Author

Şafak Er

University of HelsinkiORCID 0000-0002-6752-0655Unclaimed ORCID profile · follow to get notified of new preprints

Biology Disciplines

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Neuroscience· 3

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Organism:mouse· 3 Approach:experimental assay· 2 Research Focus:drug response / drug discovery· 1 Assay:proteomics· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Mikko AiravaaraiD· 3 shared Andrii DomanskyiiD· 2 shared Irena HlushchukiD· 2 shared Julia KonovalovaiD· 2 shared Kelvin C. LukiD· 2 shared Piotr ChmielarziD· 2 shared An-Sofie LenaertsiD· 1 shared Anne E. PanhelaineniD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2020-2025 · peak 1/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 30 mutual co-author links

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3 shared papersNeuroscience

Mikko AiravaaraORCID

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3 papers

Recent·Most cited

DDHD2 provides a critical flux of saturated fatty acids to support neuronal energy demands

Saber H. Saber, Nyakuoy Yak, Xuan Ling Hilary Yong, Yih Tyng Bong, Hannah C. Leeson, Chuan-Yang Dai, Tobias Binder, Siyuan Lu, Reshinthine Purushothaman, An-Sofie Lenaerts, Leonardo Almeida-Souza, Lidiia Koludarova, Şafak Er, Irena Hlushchuk, Arnaud Gaudin, , Merja Joensuu

The paper shows that DDHD2-generated saturated fatty acids are essential for neuronal energy production and synaptic function.

Nature Metabolism · Sep 30, 2025Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

PKB/AKT attenuates Lewy Body-like pathology in primary neurons via Cathepsins B and D

Julia Konovalova, Şafak Er, Justyna Barut, Katarzyna Rafa–Zabłocka, Kelvin C. Luk, Małgorzata Figiel, Mikko Airavaara, Andrii Domanskyi, Piotr Chmielarz

The paper shows that PKB/AKT activation protects dopamine neurons from ER stress and -syn aggregation via Cathepsins B and D, suggesting a potential gene therapy approach for Parkinson's disease.

bioRxiv · Sep 23, 2022 · PreprintNeuroscience

GDNF/RET signaling pathway activation eliminates Lewy Body pathology in midbrain dopamine neurons

Piotr Chmielarz, Şafak Er, Julia Konovalova, Laura Bandrés, Irena Hlushchuk, Katrina Albert, Anne E. Panhelainen, Kelvin C. Luk, Mikko Airavaara, Andrii Domanskyi

This study shows that activating the GDNF/RET signaling pathway prevents Lewy Body pathology in dopamine neurons by blocking α-synuclein aggregation.

Movement Disorders · Sep 16, 2020Peer-reviewedNeuroscience