Prof. Dr. Jan Krützfeldt

University of Zurich, Universitätsspital Zürich Prof. Dr. Jan Krützfeldt Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition LAB C51a Sternwartstrasse 14 8091 Zurich SWITZERLAND Phone: +41 44 255 36 27 Fax: +41 44 255 97 41 E-Mail:

MicroRNAs are novel regulators of gene expression that play important roles in many biological processes. Our group studies the control of glucose homeostasis by microRNAs in mammalian systems. As a model, we are employing myogenic progenitors from adult skeletal muscle from both animals and humans. We are analysing microRNA expression in myogenic progenitors and skeletal muscle from different metabolic states and use loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches to study the impact of microRNAs on fiber type differentiation, oxidative phosphorylation capacity and insulin responsiveness. In addition to genetic approaches, our group is especially interested in silencing microRNAs using oligonucleotides such as antagomirs that have promising clinical applications. With our studies we hope to gain new insights into posttranscriptional control mechanisms in skeletal muscle and their role in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.