Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Professor Gaspar Jekely

Professor Gaspar Jekely

Professor of Neuroscience

 G.Jekely@exeter.ac.uk

 7453

 +44(0)1392 727453

 Living Systems Institute T02.11

 

Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD

Overview

My research interests include the structure, function and evolution of neural circuits, the mechanisms of neuromodulation and the evolution of neuronal cell types and nervous systems. My group studies the ciliated larvae of the marine annelid Platynereis and other marine organisms.

Qualifications

1999    Ph.D. in Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary 

1995    Diploma in Biology and Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

Career

2017-    Professor of Neuroscience, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter

2017-    Associate Director, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter

2007-2017    Max Planck Research Group Leader, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen

2004-2007    FEBS Postdoctoral fellow, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany, Detlev Arendt’s laboratory

2003    Junior fellow at the Collegium Budapest, Institute for Advanced Study, Budapest, Hungary 

2000-2003    EMBO Postdoctoral fellow, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany, Pernille Rørth’s laboratory

Links

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Research

Research interests

We are interested in the neural circuit bases of behaviour and how neuromodulators confer flexibility to circuit activity and behaviours. Our aim is to study this at the single neuron level and for entiry neural circuits. This requres the mapping of circuits at synaptic resolution and the mapping of neuromodulators and their receptors to single neurons. Achieving this at cellular resolution in an entire nervous system is only possible by studying small animals that are also amenable to experimental manipulations. We study larval stages of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii to understand contextual neuromodulation in fully mapped, stereotypical circuits, and its changes during development. Since several modulators and their receptors found in Platynereis are conserved across bilaterians, including humans, the principles and mechanisms we uncover in the simple and tractable annelid nervous system may inform us about similar processes in more complex brains. We use whole-body connectomics and overlay neuromodulatory networks with single-cell resolution onto synaptic connectomes. We complement this with circuit-wide activity imaging, behavioural analysis, and neurogenetics to study how the sensory environment and the modulatory landscape influences circuit activity. Genome editing and transgenic access to single neurons in Platynereis allow us to link the network output to molecular function at the synapse. We hope to uncover how neuronal circuits coordinate body-wide circuit activity and behaviour and how neuromodulatory signals contribute to flexibility.

Research grants

  • 2020 Human Frontiers Science Program (HFSP)
    Deconstructing neurobiology of settlement decision-making in coral larvae
  • 2019 BBSRC
    HPF to enable high-quality ultrastructural analysis of biological samples
  • 2018 Leverhulme Trust
    Research Project Grant “Reconstruction of the pre-bilaterian ancestry of neuropeptide signalling”
  • 2018 Wellcome Trust
    Investigator Award "Modulation of circuit dynamics by noradrenergic signalling in the annelid model Platynereis"
  • 2017 European Commission
    European Commission Horizon 2020, Initial Training Network (ITN) “EvoCell”, “Animal evolution from a cell type perspective: multidisciplinary training in single-cell genomics, evo-devo and in science outreach”. https://www.evocell-itn.eu
  • 2016 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    DFG Grant JE 777/3-1 “Genetik und neuronale Netzwerke in Platynereis dumerilii, welche die Grundlage der Vermeidung von Fressfeinden durch mechanische Reize bilden”
  • 2015 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    DFG Grant JE 777/3-1 “Regulatorische Mechanismen von Neuropeptiden auf das Ansiedlungsverhalten der Larve des marinen Wurms Platynereis dumerilii”
  • 2012 European Commission
    European Commission FP7 Framework Programme, Initial Training Network (ITN) “Neptune”, “Multidisciplinary training in evo-devo and neurobiology of marine animal models”.
  • 2010 European Research Council
    ERC Starting Grant
  • 2008 Max Planck Society
    Max Planck Inter-institutional project. “Deep sequencing of the transcriptome of two marine annelid species for neurobiological, structural, and comparative genomic studies” (Co-PIs Fulvia Bono and Elena Conti).
  • 2007 Max Planck Society
    Max Planck Research Group core funding

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Publications

Books

Jekely G (2017). Story of Genetics, Development and Evolution, The: a Historical Dialogue., World Scientific Publishing Europe Limited. Abstract.
Jékely G (2016). The Story of Genetics, Development and Evolution, a Historical Dialogue., World Scientific Publishing.
Jékely G (2007). Eukaryotic Membranes and Cytoskeleton: Origins and Evolution - Preface.

Journal articles

(In Press). Abstract.
Wan K, Jékely G (In Press). Origins of eukaryotic excitability. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Paczkó M, Vörös D, Szabó P, Jékely G, Szathmáry E, Szilágyi A (2024). A neural network-based model framework for cell-fate decisions and development. Communications Biology, 7(1). Abstract.
Poon RN, Westwood TA, Laeverenz-Schlogelhofer H, Brodrick E, Craggs J, Keaveny EE, Jékely G, Wan KY (2023). Ciliary propulsion and metachronal coordination in reef coral larvae. Physical Review Research, 5(4).
Randel N, Jékely G (2023). Comparative connectomics: Wiring diagram of a miniature insect compound eye. Curr Biol, 33(23), R1226-R1228. Abstract.  Author URL.
Moggioli G, Panossian B, Sun Y, Thiel D, Martín-Zamora FM, Tran M, Clifford AM, Goffredi SK, Rimskaya-Korsakova N, Jékely G, et al (2023). Distinct genomic routes underlie transitions to specialised symbiotic lifestyles in deep-sea annelid worms. Nature Communications, 14(1). Abstract.
Thiel D, Yañez-Guerra LA, Jekely G (2023). GPCR deorphanization assay in HEK-293 cells. Bio-protocol
Kerbl A, Jékely G (2023). Hemichordates’ diffuse “skin brain” shows unexpected complexity. PLOS Biology, 21(9), e3002312-e3002312.
Brodrick E, Jékely G (2023). Photobehaviours guided by simple photoreceptor systems. Animal Cognition, 26(6), 1817-1835. Abstract.
Piovani L, Leite DJ, Yañez Guerra LA, Simpson F, Musser JM, Salvador-Martínez I, Marlétaz F, Jékely G, Telford MJ (2023). Single-cell atlases of two lophotrochozoan larvae highlight their complex evolutionary histories. Science Advances, 9(31). Abstract.
Jasek S, Verasztó C, Brodrick E, Shahidi R, Kazimiers T, Kerbl A, Jékely G (2022). Desmosomal connectomics of all somatic muscles in an annelid larva. eLife, 11 Abstract.
Gründer S, Ramírez AO, Jékely G (2022). Neuropeptides and degenerin/epithelial Na+ channels: a relationship from mammals to cnidarians. The Journal of Physiology, 601(9), 1583-1595.
Yañez-Guerra LA, Thiel D, Jékely G (2022). Premetazoan Origin of Neuropeptide Signaling. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 39(4). Abstract.
Jékely G, Budd GE (2021). Animal Phylogeny: Resolving the Slugfest of Ctenophores, Sponges and Acoels?. Current Biology, 31(4), R202-R204. Abstract.
Jasek S, Verasztó C, Brodrick E, Shahidi R, Kazimiers T, Kerbl A, Jékely G (2021). Desmosomal connectomics of all somatic muscles in an annelid larva. Abstract.
Burkhardt P, Jékely G (2021). Evolution of synapses and neurotransmitter systems: the divide-and-conquer model for early neural cell-type evolution. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 71, 127-138. Abstract.
Brodrick E, Jékely G (2021). Flatworm behaviour: Pieces behaving like wholes. Curr Biol, 31(22), R1472-R1474. Abstract.  Author URL.
Thiel D, Yañez-Guerra LA, Franz-Wachtel M, Hejnol A, Jékely G (2021). Nemertean, Brachiopod, and Phoronid Neuropeptidomics Reveals Ancestral Spiralian Signaling Systems. Mol Biol Evol, 38(11), 4847-4866. Abstract.  Author URL.
Thiel D, Yañez Guerra LA, Franz-Wachtel M, Hejnol A, Jékely G (2021). Nemertean, brachiopod and phoronid neuropeptidomics reveals ancestral spiralian signalling systems. Abstract.
Williams EA, Jékely G (2021). Nervous systems: Neuropeptides define enigmatic comb-jelly neurons. Curr Biol, 31(23), R1515-R1517. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Godfrey-Smith P, Keijzer F (2021). Reafference and the origin of the self in early nervous system evolution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 376(1821). Abstract.  Author URL.
Özpolat BD, Randel N, Williams EA, Bezares-Calderón LA, Andreatta G, Balavoine G, Bertucci PY, Ferrier DEK, Gambi MC, Gazave E, et al (2021). The Nereid on the rise: Platynereis as a model system. Evodevo, 12(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2021). The chemical brain hypothesis for the origin of nervous systems. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 376(1821). Abstract.  Author URL.
Benito-Gutiérrez È, Gattoni G, Stemmer M, Rohr SD, Schuhmacher LN, Tang J, Marconi A, Jékely G, Arendt D (2021). The dorsoanterior brain of adult amphioxus shares similarities in expression profile and neuronal composition with the vertebrate telencephalon. BMC Biol, 19(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Quiroga Artigas G, Lapébie P, Leclère L, Bauknecht P, Uveira J, Chevalier S, Jékely G, Momose T, Houliston E (2020). A G protein–coupled receptor mediates neuropeptide-induced oocyte maturation in the jellyfish Clytia. PLOS Biology, 18(3), e3000614-e3000614.
Bezares-Calderón LA, Berger J, Jékely G (2020). Diversity of cilia-based mechanosensory systems and their functions in marine animal behaviour. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792). Abstract.
Marinković M, Berger J, Jékely G (2020). Neuronal coordination of motile cilia in locomotion and feeding. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792). Abstract.
Wan KY, Jékely G (2020). On the unity and diversity of cilia. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792). Abstract.
Jékely G, Godfrey-Smith P, Keijzer F (2020). Reafference and the origin of the self in early nervous system evolution. Abstract.
Gintoli M, Mohanan S, Salter P, Williams E, Beard JD, Jekely G, Corbett AD (2020). Spinning disk-remote focusing microscopy. Biomedical Optics Express, 11(6), 2874-2888. Abstract.
Jékely G (2020). The chemical brain hypothesis for the origin of nervous systems. Abstract.
Verasztó C, Jasek S, Gühmann M, Shahidi R, Ueda N, Beard JD, Mendes S, Heinz K, Bezares-Calderón LA, Williams E, et al (2020). Whole-animal connectome and cell-type complement of the three-segmented <i>Platynereis dumerilii</i> larva. Abstract.
Thiel D, Bauknecht P, Jékely G, Hejnol A (2019). A nemertean excitatory peptide/CCHamide regulates ciliary swimming in the larvae of <i>Lineus longissimus</i>. Abstract.
Thiel D, Bauknecht P, Jékely G, Hejnol A (2019). A nemertean excitatory peptide/CCHamide regulates ciliary swimming in the larvae of Lineus longissimus. Frontiers in Zoology, 16(1). Abstract.
Jékely G, Arnone MI (2019). Editorial overview: Tissue-level dynamics in development and evolution. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development, 57, iii-v.
Jékely G (2019). Evolution: How Not to Become an Animal. Current Biology, 29(23), R1240-R1242. Abstract.
Bernardo-Garcia FJ, Syed M, Jékely G, Sprecher SG (2019). Glass confers rhabdomeric photoreceptor identity in Drosophila, but not across all metazoans. EvoDevo, 10(1). Abstract.
Williams EA, Jékely G (2019). Neuronal cell types in the annelid Platynereis dumerilii. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 56, 106-116. Abstract.
Quiroga Artigas G, Lapébie P, Leclère L, Takeda N, Deguchi R, Jékely G, Momose T, Houliston E (2018). A gonad-expressed opsin mediates light-induced spawning in the jellyfish clytia. eLife, 7 Abstract.
Verasztó C, Gühmann M, Jia H, Rajan VBV, Bezares-Calderón LA, Lopez CP, Randel N, Shahidi R, Michiels NK, Yokoyama S, et al (2018). Ciliary and rhabdomeric photoreceptor-cell circuits form a spectral depth gauge in marine zooplankton. Abstract.
Verasztó C, Gühmann M, Jia H, Rajan VBV, Bezares-Calderón LA, Piñeiro-Lopez C, Randel N, Shahidi R, Michiels NK, Yokoyama S, et al (2018). Ciliary and rhabdomeric photoreceptor-cell circuits form a spectral depth gauge in marine zooplankton. eLife, 7 Abstract.
Schmidt A, Bauknecht P, Williams EA, Augustinowski K, Gründer S, Jékely G (2018). Dual signaling of Wamide myoinhibitory peptides through a peptide-gated channel and a GPCR in Platynereis. FASEB J, 32(10), 5338-5349. Abstract.  Author URL.
Bernardo-Garcia FJ, Syed M, Jékely G, Sprecher SG (2018). Glass confers rhabdomeric photoreceptor identity in<i>Drosophila</i>, but not across all metazoans. Abstract.
Varoqueaux F, Williams EA, Grandemange S, Truscello L, Kamm K, Schierwater B, Jékely G, Fasshauer D (2018). High Cell Diversity and Complex Peptidergic Signaling Underlie Placozoan Behavior. Curr Biol, 28(21), 3495-3501.e2. Abstract.  Author URL.
Varoqueaux F, Williams EA, Grandemange S, Truscello L, Kamm K, Schierwater B, Jékely G, Fasshauer D (2018). High cell diversity and complex peptidergic signalling underlie placozoan behaviour. Abstract.
Bezares-Calderón LA, Berger J, Jasek S, Verasztó C, Mendes S, Gühmann M, Almeda R, Shahidi R, Jékely G (2018). Neural circuitry of a polycystin-mediated hydrodynamic startle response for predator avoidance. Abstract.
Bezares-Calderón LA, Berger J, Jasek S, Verasztó C, Mendes S, Gühmann M, Almeda R, Shahidi R, Jékely G (2018). Neural circuitry of a polycystin-mediated hydrodynamic startle response for predator avoidance. eLife, 7 Abstract.
Jékely G, Melzer S, Beets I, Kadow ICG, Koene J, Haddad S, Holden-Dye L (2018). The long and the short of it -A perspective on peptidergic regulation of circuits and behaviour. Journal of Experimental Biology, 221(3). Abstract.
Chartier TF, Deschamps J, Dürichen W, Jékely G, Arendt D (2018). Whole-head recording of chemosensory activity in the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. Open Biology, 8(10). Abstract.
Chartier TF, Deschamps J, Duerichen W, Jekely G, Arendt D (2018). Whole-head recording of chemosensory activity in the marine annelid<i>Platynereis dumerilii</i>. Abstract.
Thiel D, Bauknecht P, Jeákely G, Hejnol A (2017). An ancient FMRFamide-related peptide-receptor pair induces defence behaviour in a brachiopod larva. Open Biology, 7(8). Abstract.
Thiel D, Bauknecht P, Jékely G, Hejnol A (2017). An ancient FMRFamide-related peptide-receptor pair induces defense behavior in a brachiopod larva. Abstract.
Bauknecht P, Jékely G (2017). Ancient coexistence of norepinephrine, tyramine, and octopamine signaling in bilaterians. BMC Biology, 15(1). Abstract.
Bosch TCG, Klimovich A, Domazet-Lošo T, Gründer S, Holstein TW, Jékely G, Miller DJ, Murillo-Rincon AP, Rentzsch F, Richards GS, et al (2017). Back to the Basics: Cnidarians Start to Fire. Trends in Neurosciences, 40(2), 92-105. Abstract.
Verasztó C, Ueda N, Bezares-Calderón LA, Panzera A, Williams EA, Shahidi R, Jékely G (2017). Ciliomotor circuitry underlying whole-body coordination of ciliary activity in the platynereis larva. eLife, 6 Abstract.
Verasztó C, Ueda N, Bezares-Calderón LA, Panzera A, Williams EA, Shahidi R, Jékely G (2017). Ciliomotor circuitry underlying whole-body coordination of ciliary activity in the<i>Platynereis</i>larva. Abstract.
Kerbl A, Conzelmann M, Jékely G, Worsaae K (2017). High diversity in neuropeptide immunoreactivity patterns among three closely related species of Dinophilidae (Annelida). J Comp Neurol, 525(17), 3596-3635. Abstract.  Author URL.
Williams EA, Verasztó C, Jasek S, Conzelmann M, Shahidi R, Bauknecht P, Mirabeau O, Jékely G (2017). Synaptic and peptidergic connectome of a neurosecretory center in the annelid brain. eLife, 6 Abstract.
Williams EA, Verasztó C, Jasek S, Conzelmann M, Shahidi R, Bauknecht P, Jékely G (2017). Synaptic and peptidergic connectome of a neurosecretory centre in the annelid brain. Abstract.
Bauknecht P, Jékely G (2016). Ancient coexistence of norepinephrine, tyramine, and octopamine signaling in bilaterians. Abstract.
Randel N, Jékely G (2016). Phototaxis and the origin of visual eyes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 371(1685). Abstract.  Author URL.
Bezares-Calderón LA, Jékely G (2016). Think small. Elife, 5 Abstract.  Author URL.
Williams EA, Jékely G (2016). Towards a systems-level understanding of development in the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development, 39, 175-181. Abstract.
Shahidi R, Williams E, Conzelmann M, Asadulina A, Veraszto C, Jasek S, Bezares-Calderon LA, Jekely G (2015). A Serial Multiplex Immunogold Labeling Method for Identifying Peptidergic Neurons in Connectomes. Abstract.
Shahidi R, Williams EA, Conzelmann M, Asadulina A, Verasztó C, Jasek S, Bezares-Calderón LA, Jékely G (2015). A serial multiplex immunogold labeling method for identifying peptidergic neurons in connectomes. Elife, 4 Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Keijzer F, Godfrey-Smith P (2015). An option space for early neural evolution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 370(1684). Abstract.  Author URL.
Doumpas N, Jékely G, Teleman AA (2015). Erratum to: Wnt6 is required for maxillary palp formation in Drosophila. BMC Biol, 13  Author URL.
Randel N, Shahidi R, Verasztó C, Bezares-Calderón LA, Schmidt S, Jékely G (2015). Inter-individual stereotypy of the Platynereis larval visual connectome. Elife, 4 Abstract.  Author URL.
Bauknecht P, Jékely G (2015). Large-Scale Combinatorial Deorphanization of Platynereis Neuropeptide GPCRs. Cell Rep, 12(4), 684-693. Abstract.  Author URL.
Williams EA, Conzelmann M, Jékely G (2015). Myoinhibitory peptide regulates feeding in the marine annelid Platynereis. Front Zool, 12(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Asadulina A, Conzelmann M, Williams EA, Panzera A, Jékely G (2015). Object-based representation and analysis of light and electron microscopic volume data using Blender. BMC Bioinformatics, 16 Abstract.  Author URL.
Hanswillemenke A, Kuzdere T, Vogel P, Jékely G, Stafforst T (2015). Site-Directed RNA Editing in Vivo can be Triggered by the Light-Driven Assembly of an Artificial Riboprotein. J Am Chem Soc, 137(50), 15875-15881. Abstract.  Author URL.
Gühmann M, Jia H, Randel N, Verasztó C, Bezares-Calderón LA, Michiels NK, Yokoyama S, Jékely G (2015). Spectral Tuning of Phototaxis by a Go-Opsin in the Rhabdomeric Eyes of Platynereis. Curr Biol, 25(17), 2265-2271. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Paps J, Nielsen C (2015). The phylogenetic position of ctenophores and the origin(s) of nervous systems. Evodevo, 6 Abstract.  Author URL.
Randel N, Asadulina A, Bezares-Calderón LA, Verasztó C, Williams EA, Conzelmann M, Shahidi R, Jékely G (2014). Neuronal connectome of a sensory-motor circuit for visual navigation. Elife, 3 Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2014). Origin and evolution of the self-organizing cytoskeleton in the network of eukaryotic organelles. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol, 6(9). Abstract.  Author URL.
Conzelmann M, Williams EA, Tunaru S, Randel N, Shahidi R, Asadulina A, Berger J, Offermanns S, Jékely G (2013). Conserved MIP receptor-ligand pair regulates Platynereis larval settlement. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 110(20), 8224-8229. Abstract.  Author URL.
Holder T, Basquin C, Ebert J, Randel N, Jollivet D, Conti E, Jékely G, Bono F (2013). Deep transcriptome-sequencing and proteome analysis of the hydrothermal vent annelid Alvinella pompejana identifies the CvP-bias as a robust measure of eukaryotic thermostability. Biol Direct, 8 Abstract.  Author URL.
Randel N, Bezares-Calderón LA, Gühmann M, Shahidi R, Jékely G (2013). Expression dynamics and protein localization of rhabdomeric opsins in Platynereis larvae. Integr Comp Biol, 53(1), 7-16. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2013). Global view of the evolution and diversity of metazoan neuropeptide signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 110(21), 8702-8707. Abstract.  Author URL.
Lapraz F, Rawlinson KA, Girstmair J, Tomiczek B, Berger J, Jékely G, Telford MJ, Egger B (2013). Put a tiger in your tank: the polyclad flatworm Maritigrella crozieri as a proposed model for evo-devo. Evodevo, 4(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Conzelmann M, Williams EA, Krug K, Franz-Wachtel M, Macek B, Jékely G (2013). The neuropeptide complement of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. BMC Genomics, 14 Abstract.  Author URL.
Doumpas N, Jékely G, Teleman AA (2013). Wnt6 is required for maxillary palp formation in Drosophila. BMC Biol, 11 Abstract.  Author URL.
Conzelmann M, Jékely G (2012). Antibodies against conserved amidated neuropeptide epitopes enrich the comparative neurobiology toolbox. Evodevo, 3(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Asadulina A, Panzera A, Verasztó C, Liebig C, Jékely G (2012). Whole-body gene expression pattern registration in Platynereis larvae. Evodevo, 3(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Conzelmann M, Offenburger S-L, Asadulina A, Keller T, Münch TA, Jékely G (2011). Neuropeptides regulate swimming depth of Platynereis larvae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108(46), E1174-E1183. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2011). Origin and early evolution of neural circuits for the control of ciliary locomotion. Proc Biol Sci, 278(1707), 914-922. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2009). Evolution of phototaxis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 364(1531), 2795-2808. Abstract.  Author URL.
Satir P, Mitchell DR, Jékely G (2008). How did the cilium evolve?. Curr Top Dev Biol, 85, 63-82. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Colombelli J, Hausen H, Guy K, Stelzer E, Nédélec F, Arendt D (2008). Mechanism of phototaxis in marine zooplankton. Nature, 456(7220), 395-399. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2008). Origin of the nucleus and Ran-dependent transport to safeguard ribosome biogenesis in a chimeric cell. Biol Direct, 3 Abstract.  Author URL.
Arendt D, Denes AS, Jékely G, Tessmar-Raible K (2008). The evolution of nervous system centralization. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 363(1496), 1523-1528. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Arendt D (2007). Cellular resolution expression profiling using confocal detection of NBT/BCIP precipitate by reflection microscopy. Biotechniques, 42(6), 751-755. Abstract.  Author URL.
Denes AS, Jékely G, Steinmetz PRH, Raible F, Snyman H, Prud'homme B, Ferrier DEK, Balavoine G, Arendt D (2007). Molecular architecture of annelid nerve cord supports common origin of nervous system centralization in bilateria. Cell, 129(2), 277-288. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2007). Origin of eukaryotic endomembranes: a critical evaluation of different model scenarios. Adv Exp Med Biol, 607, 38-51. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2007). Origin of phagotrophic eukaryotes as social cheaters in microbial biofilms. Biol Direct, 2 Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2006). Did the last common ancestor have a biological membrane?. Biol Direct, 1 Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Arendt D (2006). Evolution of intraflagellar transport from coated vesicles and autogenous origin of the eukaryotic cilium. Bioessays, 28(2), 191-198. Abstract.  Author URL.
Fritzsch B, Piatigorsky J, Tessmar-Raible K, Jékely G, Guy K, Raible F, Wittbrodt J, Arendt D (2005). Ancestry of Photic and Mechanic Sensation?. Science, 308(5725), 1113-1114.  Author URL.
Tessmar-Raible K, Jékely G, Guy K, Raible F, Wittbrodt J, Arendt D (2005). Ancestry of photic and mechanic sensation?: Response. SCIENCE, 308(5725), 1114-1114.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2005). Glimpsing over the event horizon: evolution of nuclear pores and envelope. Cell Cycle, 4(2), 297-299. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2005). Least of all visible things. FEBS Letters, 579(15).
Jékely G, Sung H-H, Luque CM, Rørth P (2005). Regulators of endocytosis maintain localized receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in guided migration. Dev Cell, 9(2), 197-207. Abstract.  Author URL.
Farkas A, Tompa P, Schád E, Sinka R, Jékely G, Friedrich P (2004). Autolytic activation and localization in Schneider cells (S2) of calpain B from Drosophila. Biochem J, 378(Pt 2), 299-305. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Rørth P (2003). Hrs mediates downregulation of multiple signalling receptors in Drosophila. EMBO Rep, 4(12), 1163-1168. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G (2003). Small GTPases and the evolution of the eukaryotic cell. Bioessays, 25(11), 1129-1138. Abstract.  Author URL.
Schád E, Farkas A, J́ekely G, Tompa P, Friedrich P (2002). A novel human small subunit of calpains. Biochemical Journal, 362(2), 383-388. Abstract.
Jékely G (2002). Evolution in a nutshell. EMBL PhD student symposium on evolution. EMBO Rep, 3(4), 307-311.  Author URL.
Jekely G (2002). The human genome sequence. A triumph of chemistry: If the history of molecular biology is written in the future, the first chapter should be devoted to the chemists who did the ground work. EMBO Rep, 3(7), 594-595.  Author URL.
Szabó K, Jékely G, Rørth P (2001). Cloning and expression of sprint, a Drosophila homologue of RIN1. Mech Dev, 101(1-2), 259-262. Abstract.  Author URL.
Duchek P, Somogyi K, Jékely G, Beccari S, Rørth P (2001). Guidance of cell migration by the Drosophila PDGF/VEGF receptor. Cell, 107(1), 17-26. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Pintér M, Friedrich P (2000). Drosophila calpains. Purification of a calpain-like enzyme from fruit flies, and expression in Escherichia coli. Methods Mol Biol, 144, 67-74.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Friedrich P (1999). Characterization of two recombinant Drosophila calpains. CALPA and a novel homolog, CALPB. J Biol Chem, 274(34), 23893-23900. Abstract.  Author URL.
Jékely G, Friedrich P (1999). The evolution of the calpain family as reflected in paralogous chromosome regions. J Mol Evol, 49(2), 272-281. Abstract.  Author URL.
Pintér M, Jékely G, Szepesi RJ, Farkas A, Theopold U, Meyer HE, Lindholm D, Nässel DR, Hultmark D, Friedrich P, et al (1998). TER94, a Drosophila homolog of the membrane fusion protein CDC48/p97, is accumulated in nonproliferating cells: in the reproductive organs and in the brain of the imago. Insect Biochem Mol Biol, 28(2), 91-98. Abstract.  Author URL.

Chapters

Buchholz TO, Krull A, Shahidi R, Pigino G, Jékely G, Jug F (2019). Content-aware image restoration for electron microscopy. In  (Ed) Methods in Cell Biology, 277-289. Abstract.
Arendt D, Denes AS, Jékely G, Tessmar-Raible K (2009). The evolution of nervous system centralization. In  (Ed) Animal Evolution: Genomes, Fossils, and Trees. Abstract.
Jékely G (2008). Evolution of the Golgi complex. In  (Ed) The Golgi Apparatus: State of the Art 110 Years after Camillo Golgi's Discovery, 675-691. Abstract.
Jékely G, Pintér M, Friedrich P (2000). Drosophila Cal pains. In  (Ed) Calpain Methods and Protocols, Springer Nature, 67-74.

Conferences

Thiel D, Jekely G, Hejnol A (2016). Changing the mode: neuropeptide evolution in trochozoans.  Author URL.
Randel N, JeKely G (2013). Mechanism of negative phototaxis in Platynereis larvae.  Author URL.
Jekely G (2013). Mechanism of phototaxis in marine zooplankton and origin of simple visual circuits.  Author URL.
Arendt D, Tomer R, Denes A, Jekely G, Raible F (2008). Annelid Neurodevelopment Supports Dohrn's "Annelid Theory" for the Origin of Vertebrates.  Author URL.
Friedrich P, Tompa P, Jékely G, Farkas A, Schád T (2001). Calpains in cellular signalling.  Author URL.

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards and Honours

2012    John Kendrew Award, EMBL 

2004-2006    FEBS Long Term Postdoctoral Fellowship

2003-2004    Junior Fellowship of the Collegium Budapest

2000-2002    EMBO Long Term Fellowship

2002    EMBO science writing prize 2002 

2000    Young Researchers’ Prize of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

1995-2000    PhD Fellowship, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

1999    Qualitas Biologica Hungarica – BRC of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences


Editorial responsibilities

since 2009      Member of Editorial Board, EvoDevo

2008        Book editor for Springer “Eukaryotic Membranes and Cytoskeleton: Origins and Evolution”

2004-2005        Guest Editor of FEBS Letters Budapest Special Issue 2005

since 2004         Member of Editorial Board, Biology Direct

since 2008         Reviewed for several funding agencies and Universities: European Research Council; National Science Foundation; Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research; Agence Nationale de la Recherche; College for Life Sciences, Berlin; Hungarian Scientific Research Fund; Research Foundation - Flanders; Vienna Science and Technology Fund; Dickinson College; The Leverhulme Trust; BBSRC; Wellcome Trust

since 2004        Peer reviewer for 48 journals, including eLife, PNAS, Cell, Development, Current Biology; full reviewer history at https://publons.com/author/312296


Conferences and invited presentations

2020 Oct    “Motile Active Matter” Forschungszentrum Caesar, Bonn, keynote lecture     

2020 Sept    Bernstein Conference, Berlin, “Modelling in studying the evolution of nervous                 systems” symposium

2020 Sept    Visegrad Group Society for Developmental Biology Meeting, keynote lecture                 (postponed)

2020 April    “Neuropeptide Signaling: Bridging Cell Biology, Neurophysiology, and Behavior”, Janelia Research Campus (postponed) 

2020 Mar    “Neuro-Evo: A Comparative Approach to Cracking Circuit Function III”, Janelia Research Campus (postponed)

2020 Mar    Wellcome Trust meeting “Neuroscience and Mental Health”, De Vere Latimer                 Estate (postponed)

2019 Nov    9th International Conference 'Aspects of Neuroscience', University of Warsaw, keynote lecture     

2019 Nov    Joint France-UK conference on Cilia, Flagella and Centrosomes, Institut Imagine                 Paris, keynote lecture

2019 Nov    “Evolution of Morphogenesis” think tank, Janelia Research Campus

2019 Oct    “The Origin of Eukaryotes” The Agouron Institute, Pasadena

2019 May    Gordon Research Conference “Modulation of neuronal circuits and behavior”, Les Diablerets, Switzerland

2019 Jan    Heraeus-Seminar, “Physik und Physiologie motiler Zilien und Geißeln”, Bad Honnef, Germany

2018 July    Workshop on “Biophysical Constraints and Evolutionary Cell Biology”, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Lisbon 

2018 June    Ground-floor of Cognition Workshop, KLI, Vienna

2018 Feb    Neurobiology Symposium, University of Vienna

2017 May     EMBO | EMBL Symposium on Neural Circuits

2017 March    Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society (NWG) 2017

2017 March    Joint Meeting of the German and Japanese Societies of Developmental Biologists, Kiel

2016 Oct    German Society for Developmental Biology School, Castle Reisensburg        

2016 Sept    Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society (DZG), Kiel

2016 Sept    “Principles of biological and robotic navigation”, Dresden, MPI for Physics of Complex Systems

2016 Aug    European Society for Comparative Endocrinology 2016 Conference, Leuven

2016 May     7th Max Planck LeadNet Meeting, Neuroscience workshop, Berlin

2016 May    “Brain Evolution Symposium”, Université de Lausanne, DNF

2015 Sept    Euretina Congress, Novartis Evolution in Ophthalmology (NEO) Event, Nice

2015 Sept    “Animal evolution: new perspectives from early emerging metazoans”, Tutzing, Germany 

2015 Sept    “Early metazoan nervous systems: development, structure, divergence, and nonconventional roles”, Aidling, Germany

2015 Aug    “Systems biology of the brain: insights from simple brains”, University of Fribourg     

2015 July    “Frontiers of Brain Science”, Sendai, Japan

2015 June    Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg, COS Symposium “Evolution & Ecology”

2015 March    Royal Society Meeting – "On the origin and evolution of the nervous system" London     

2015 Feb    University of Mainz, Neurobiology Symposium

2015 Feb     Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Lisbon, IGC Selection Colloquium

2014 Aug    Berlin 2014 International Congress of Invertebrate Morphology

2014 July    5th meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED), Vienna

2014 July      “Science Day”, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna

2014 May     Molecular Frontiers in Evolution and Ecology Symposium, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen

2014 Feb    Minisymposium – “From genome to structure and function” Biocenter, University Köln

2014 Feb    New Year’s Meeting of the Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, keynote speaker

2013 Dec     Heraeus-Seminar – "Physics and Biology of directed movements of cells and organisms", Bad Honnef

2013 Oct    Evolution of Vision. Les Treilles

2013 July    EMBO practical course – “Marine Animal Models in Evolution and Development” Kristineberg Marine Station, 

2013 Jan    Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Meeting

2012 Aug    International Congress of Neuroethology, University of Maryland

2012 May     “New Perspectives in Integrative Neuroscience” Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen

2012 Mar    Annual Meeting of the German Society of Cell Biology, Dresden 

2011 Mar    103rd International Titisee Conference  - Genetic analysis of neural circuits

2010 Sep     EMBO/EMBL Symposium, Structure and Function of Neuronal Circuits

2010 Apr    Meeting of Tübingen Neuroscientists, Reutlingen

2009 Nov    Meeting of the Max Planck Society, Biology & Medicine Section

2009 Oct    Ischia, EMBO Workshop Evo-Devo meets Marine Ecology

2009 July    EMBO practical course – “Molecular Approaches to Evolution and Development” Kristineberg Marine Station

2009 Feb    Collegium Budapest, Darwin Day

2008 Nov     ZooNet meeting on Perspectives on the Evolution of Animal Form, Budapest

2008 Nov    University of London, Gatsby Unit, Simple Cognitive Systems Workshop

2008 Aug    Gordon conference on Visual System Development, Salve Regina University, Newport

2008 Sept     Meeting of the Hungarian Biochemical Society, Szeged, Hungary

2007 Febr    CellNetworks Symposium, BZH Heidelberg

2005 April    Symposium on Cell and Developmental Biology, Eger, Hungary

2004 July     Workshop on the origin and evolution of the eukaryotic nucleus, Les Treilles

2004 July     Meeting of the International Society of Invertebrate Reproduction, Life Science Centre, Newcastle


Invited lectures

2021 May    University of Wolverhampton, host: Evi Goggolidou

2020 Dec     Nencki Institut, Warsaw and University of Buenos Aires, Transatlantic Systems Neuroscience Seminar, host: PhD students (online)

2020 Mar    MRC LMB Cambridge, host: William Schafer

2019 Nov    University of Hull, host: Jörg Hardage

2019 Nov    University of Braunschweig, host: Ralf Schnabel

2019 Oct    Academia Sinica, Taiwan, host: Stephan Schneider

2019 March    University of York, host: Daniel Ungar

2019 March    University of Bristol, host: Michael Bok

2018 Nov    University of Oxford, The Department of Zoology, host: Sebastian Shimeld 

2018 June    King’s College London, host: Darren Williams

2018 April    University of Warwick, host: Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics Group

2018 March    Brain Awareness Week, University of Exeter

2018 Jan    University of Cambridge, host: Michael Akam

2017 Nov    Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, host: Guillaume Balavoine

2017 Oct     Queen Mary University of London, host: Paul Hurd

2017 Oct    University of Oxford, CNCB, host: Gero Miesenböck

2017 Oct    Universidad Pablo de Olavide-CSIC, Seville, host: Damien Devos

2017 June    Biological Research Centre, Szeged, host: Laszlo Vigh

2017 Jan    University of Bayreuth, Evolutionary Ecology Symposium

2016 Sept    University of Fribourg

2016 June    University of Vienna, host: Ulrich Technau

2016 Apr    University of Durham

2016 Feb    Université de Lausanne, DNF

2015 Dec    University of Copenhagen, host: Katrine Worsaae

2015 Dec    University of Lund, host: Dan-Eric Nilsson

2015 Nov    IST Austria, host: Ryuichi Shigemoto

2015 Nov    University of Tübingen, Evolution and Ecology Seminar Series, host: Oliver Betz

2015 Aug    Asamushi Marine Station, Japan, host: Gaku Kumano

2015 May    Stazione Zoologica Napoli, host: Marina Montresor

2015 Jan    Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute, Gif sur Yvette, host: Sylvie Retaux

2015 Jan    Marine Ecology Department Seminar at GEOMAR in Kiel, host: Frank Melzner

2014 Oct    Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon (IGFL)

2014 June    University College London, host: Max Telford

2014 March    Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Lisbon, host: Jonathan Howard

2014 Jan    Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, host: Stefan Gründer

2013 Nov    Cambridge University, Evolution and Development Seminar, host: PhD students

2013 Oct    Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, host: Ulf Jondelius

2013 Apr    Caesar, Bonn, Neuroscience Series, host: Benjamin Kaupp 

2012 Nov    University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter

2012 Apr    FU Berlin, Research Kolloquium Series, host: Constance Scharff

2012 Feb    Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, host: Chris Lowe

2011 Sep    CNRS, Observatoire Océanologique de Villefranche-sur-Mer, host: Evelyn Houliston

2011 July    Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Lisbon, host: Luis Teixeira

2010 Oct    Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, host: Gilles Laurent

2010 Apr    Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, host: Björn Hof

2009 Dec    Kewalo Marine Lab, University of Hawaii, host: Mark Q. Martindale

2008 Oct    University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Evo-devo seminar series

2008 June    Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Tübingen

2006 Dec    Institut Curie, Paris hosts: Michel Bornens and Bruno Goud

2006 Oct    Sars Centre, Bergen host: Daniel Chourrout


Workshops/Conferences organised

2021 June    Swedish KVA Fund practical course – “Marine Animal Models in Evolution and Development” Kristineberg Marine Station, Co-organiser with Detlev Arendt and Maria Ina Arnone 

2021 May    High-pressure freezing and volume EM course, University of Exeter

2019 March    “Unity and diversity of ciliary systems in locomotion and transport”, Royal Society Theo Murphy Meeting, Co-organiser with Kirsty Wan and Raymond Goldstein

2018 May    “Neuro-evo: A Comparative Approach to Cracking Circuit Function” Janelia Farm Conference, Co-organiser with Albert Cardona and Melina Hale

2017 July    EMBO practical course – “Marine Animal Models in Evolution and Development” Kristineberg Marine Station, Co-organiser with Detlev Arendt and Maria Ina Arnone

2017 March    “Evolution and functional biology of neuropeptide signalling: from genomes to behaviour”, Royal Society Symposium, Co-organiser with Maurice Elphick and Lindy Holden-Dye

2016 May    “Neuro-evo: A Comparative Approach to Cracking Circuit Function” Janelia Farm Conference, Co-organiser with Albert Cardona and Melina Hale

2015 July    EMBO practical course – “Marine Animal Models in Evolution and Development” Kristineberg Marine Station, Co-organiser with Detlev Arendt

2014 Oct     “Early evolution of nervous systems – philosophical and biological perspectives”, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Germany, co-organiser with Peter Godfrey Smith and Fred Keijzer

2012 Mar    Annual Meeting of the German Society of Cell Biology, Dresden, Organizer of “Cell Evolution Symposium”

2011 Nov    “Trends and Controversies in Evolutionary Developmental Biology” Ringberg Castle, Germany, co-organiser with Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and Ralf Sommer

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Teaching

  • 2020-    BIO2088 Advanced Cell Biology, bachelor module, University of Exeter

  • 2017-    BIO3091 Animal Developmental Biology, bachelor module, University of Exeter

  • 2013-2017    Yearly graduate schools and student courses Marie Curie Initial Training Network Neptune

  • 2014-2016    3-week practical course “Cell nucleus” to the MSc students in the curriculum “Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology”, University of Tübingen

  • 2014    Course instructor and lecturer at the summer school “An integrated approach to marine invertebrate biodiversity: evolutionary and functional adaptations” in Chioggia, Italy

  • 2011-20165    One-day lecture and practical course on the reconstruction of neural circuits by EM at the MPI for Developmental Biology

  • 2011-2012    Two-day ImageJ Macro Programming Course at the MPI for Developmental Biology

  • 2009-2020    One-day lecture and journal club module at the EMBL PhD Course, Evolution Module “Origin of life and origin of eukaryotes”

  • 2008-2011    Lectures in the Current topics in evolutionary and developmental biology lecture series at the MPI for Developmental Biology “Origin and evolution of the nervous system”

  • 20013-2014     University of Tübingen, Marine biology course, special seminars

  • 2008-2017    Course organiser, instructor and lecturer at the “Molecular Approaches to Evolution and Development” EMBO Practical Courses (biyearly course), Kristineberg, Sweden

  • 2008-2012    Teacher and co-organiser of a one week Advanced Light Microscopy Course at the MPI for Developmental Biology

  • 2008-2016   Lectures and practicals at the PhD course at the MPI for Developmental Biology

  • 2007     Two lectures at the University of Stockholm, Graduate School of Astrobiology, PhD course on origin & evolution of life 

  • 2005-2008     Evolutionary neurobiology lectures at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest

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Supervision / Group

Research Fellows

  • Milena Marinkovic

Postdoctoral researchers

  • Luis Bezares-Calderon
  • Emelie Brodrick
  • Cameron Hird
  • Sanja Jasek
  • Kei Jokura
  • Reza Shahidi
  • Daniel Thiel
  • Luis Yanez Guerra

Alumni

  • James Beard
  • Konrad Heinz
  • Cameron Hird
  • Elizabeth Williams

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