Good to try things out

Claes Andrèasson with an SDS-PAGE running in the lab. Photo: Margareta Ohné.

Claes first realized how important it is to be structured and clear when, in his twenties, he was a substitute biology teacher at a secondary school. But it probably took a whole semester before things calmed down enough in the classroom for him to develop his talent for teaching. "Trying out the job as a teacher in school was useful," he says, "but it didn't pay off, it was too much education. 

His interest in biology, on the other hand, stayed with him since childhood. But he also had another great interest, namely how our society and our democracy work, and that led to two semesters of studies in political science. But that was it; he couldn't cope with the relativistic thinking that prevailed in the subject at the time, he was simply more at home in the natural sciences. 

Among proteases and chaperones

Claes then chose to study biology and completed his undergraduate studies with an external thesis at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research on the Karolinska Institute campus. He continued as a PhD student and defended his thesis on cell signaling in 2004. During his thesis work, he discovered a new protease and became fascinated by proteolytic enzymes, so when he was looking for a lab where he could do his postdoc, he was looking for a lab that studied proteases. He found it in Heidelberg with Bernd Bukau at ZMBH-DKFZ, a major German cancer research center. But once there, he discovered that there is an even more interesting group of proteins, namely chaperones, proteins that help other proteins to fold. 

The correct folding of newly formed proteins as they leave the ribosome is essential for them to get to the right place in the cell and perform their proper function. But folding is a complicated process and many things can go wrong. For example, mutations or harmful substances such as heavy metals or solvents can cause problems. However, chaperones can save the day and help proteins get back into shape. Proteins that have been misfolded anyway are broken down or stored in aggregates. It's easy to understand how someone like Claes can become completely captivated by this intricate quality control, the so-called proteostasis system!

The time in Heidelberg thus determined the further direction of Claes' research. After just over four years, he returned to Sweden and was given a research assistant position funded by the Swedish Research Council. He chose to focus his research at the then Wenner-Grens Institute and now has a lively research group at MBW with the chaperones in focus. This spring, he also became more firmly attached to the department by being given a lectureship. 

A major course responsibility 

This semester, Claes is the course coordinator for the large 30-credit course Cell and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Genetics. It is no small task to coordinate this long course, where many of the department's teachers participate. The course is organized so that different teachers are responsible for different levels, but it is Claes who sits at the top of the pyramid. It's the first time he's done this and he's humbled by the task. 

- "I let the whole course go once and try to understand it and document it," says Claes. "Then we'll think about what we can do better. But I don't think you should make any radical changes all at once. It's better to do one thing better every year - after a few years you can have achieved fantastic results! And although it is a challenge to keep a semester-long course together, the conditions are good, because the responsibility lies with a single institution, which has also developed a common culture, according to Claes. 

"We bombard students with concepts!"

As a course leader, Claes spends a lot of time in meetings and administration, but of course he also teaches, which he enjoys. He enjoys being the one who knows things and he is good at simplifying and explaining things to others, whether they are students on an undergraduate course, project students at master's level or PhD students in his own lab. 

And explanations are needed, because Claes believes that biology is a subject with an extreme number of concepts. "No subject has as many concepts as biology, and we expect students to take it all in! We bombard students with concepts! Biology is the subject of study horses," says Claes, laughing. 

Claes Andrèassons bluelight lit aquarium with GFP-forming corals. Photo: Margareta Ohné.

With garden and aquarium

During the weekends, Claes tries to avoid working too much and is ideally in his large garden in Lästringe in Sörmland, not far from Tovetorp. A serious digging job is the best way to relax! Ever since childhood, he has had a great interest in both gardens and aquariums.

And speaking of aquariums, the interview ends with him showing the nice aquarium he has in his office. It's not just any aquarium: there are no fish to be seen here, but there are plenty of corals that express fluorescent proteins. They spread their beautiful blue-green light of different wavelengths in the LED-lit aquarium - a sight that can enchant any molecular biologist.