Pirjo Apaja

Research Interests

Biochemistry and Cell Biology Brain Cancer Cell Biology Cellular Nervous System Gene Expression Neurosciences Protein Trafficking Proteins and Peptides Proteomics and Intermolecular Interactions Receptors and Membrane Biology

Pirjo Apaja

School of Biological Sciences

College of Science

A/Prof Apaja is a principal investigator of Organelle Proteostasis Diseases laboratory in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences and SA Health and Medical Research InstitutePhysiological conditions such as ageing, inflammation, stress insults as well as many brain diseases, cancers and numerous Mendelian diseases are directly driven or cause a short or long-term dysbalance in protein homeostasis.This research is focused on finding ways to reprogram Protein Homeostasis (Proteostasis) Stress in human diseases, specifically through post-translational signalling and surveillance quality control systems to adapt to changing physiological conditions.We are focusing on identifying key proteostasis networks, compounds and post-translational modifications in inflammation-related diseases, specifically connected to membrane organelle/protein targets in cancers, neurodegenerative and other brain diseases.The research combines screenings, omics and protein networks, testing of targeted compounds, advance light microscopy for protein and membrane organelles with other biochemical and cell biological approaches in disease models.

 

Year Citation
2025 Ben, W. B., & Pirjo, A. M. (2025). ATG8 in single membranes: Fresh players of endocytosis and acidic organelle quality control in cancer, neurodegeneration, and inflammation. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 749, 8 pages.
DOI
2025 Wang, B. B., & Apaja, P. M. (2025). Corrigendum to “ATG8 in single membranes: Fresh players of endocytosis and acidic organelle quality control in cancer, neurodegeneration, and inflammation” [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 749 (2025) 151384] (Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (2025) 749, (S0006291X25000981), (10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.151384)). Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 755, 1 page.
DOI
2023 Rashidieh, B., Bain, A. L., Tria, S. M., Sharma, S., Stewart, C. A., Simmons, J. L., . . . Khanna, K. K. (2023). Alpha-B-Crystallin overexpression is sufficient to promote tumorigenesis and metastasis in mice. Experimental Hematology & Oncology, 12(1), 1-19.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC3
2022 Wang, B. B., Xu, H., Isenmann, S., Huang, C., Elorza-Vidal, X., Rychkov, G. Y., . . . Apaja, P. M. (2022). Ubr1-induced selective endophagy/autophagy protects against the endosomal and Ca²⁺-induced proteostasis disease stress. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 79(3), 167-1-167-22.
DOI Scopus9 WoS7 Europe PMC9
2022 Wang, B. B., & Apaja, P. M. (2022). Reprogramming endo-lysosomal proteostasis disease stress by UBR1- and arginylation-driven endophagy and autophagy protein quality control. Autophagy Reports, 1(1), 260-263.
DOI Scopus1
2021 Xu, H., Isenmann, S., López-Hernández, T., Estévez, R., Lukacs, G. L., & Apaja, P. M. (2021). Control of membrane protein homeostasis by a chaperone-like glial cell adhesion molecule at multiple subcellular locations.. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 18435-1-18435-17.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC8
2021 Kazan, J. M., Desrochers, G., Martin, C. E., Jeong, H., Kharitidi, D., Apaja, P. M., . . . Pause, A. (2021). Endofin is Required for HD-PTP and ESCRT-0 Interdependent Endosomal Sorting of Ubiquitinated Transmembrane Cargoes.. iScience, 24(11), 103274-1-103274-27.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC11
2019 Kazan, J. M., Lukacs, G. L., Apaja, P. M., & Pause, A. (2019). Single Cell Fluorescence Ratio Image Analysis for Studying ESCRT Function in Receptor Trafficking. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 1998, 93-103.
DOI Scopus5 Europe PMC8
2018 Okiyoneda, T., Veit, G., Sakai, R., Aki, M., Fujihara, T., Higashi, M., . . . Lukacs, G. L. (2018). Chaperone-Independent Peripheral Quality Control of CFTR by RFFL E3 Ligase. Developmental Cell, 44(6), 694-708.e7.
DOI Scopus61 WoS60 Europe PMC58
2017 Bagdany, M., Veit, G., Fukuda, R., Avramescu, R. G., Okiyoneda, T., Baaklini, I., . . . Lukacs, G. L. (2017). Chaperones rescue the energetic landscape of mutant CFTR at single molecule and in cell. Nature Communications, 8(1), 15 pages.
DOI Scopus54 WoS55 Europe PMC53
2017 Gaitán-Peñas, H., Apaja, P., Arnedo, T., Castellanos, A., Elorza-Vidal, X., Soto, D., . . . Estévez, R. (2017). Leukoencephalopathy-causing CLCN2 mutations are associated with impaired Cl− channel function and trafficking. Journal of Physiology, 595(22), 6993-7008.
DOI Scopus29 WoS29 Europe PMC30
2017 Hein, L., Apaja, P., Hattersley, K., Grose, R., Xie, J., Proud, C., & Sargeant, T. (2017). A novel fluorescent probe reveals starvation controls the commitment of amyloid precursor protein to the lysosome. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research, 1864(10), 1554-1565.
DOI Scopus22 WoS20 Europe PMC21
2016 Veit, G., Oliver, K., Apaja, P., Perdomo, D., Bidaud-Meynard, A., Lin, S., . . . Lukacs, G. (2016). Ribosomal stalk protein silencing partially corrects the ΔF508-CFTR functional expression defect. PLoS Biology, 14(5), e1002462-1-e1002462-32.
DOI Scopus47 Europe PMC46
2016 Veit, G., Oliver, K., Apaja, P. M., Perdomo, D., Bidaud-Meynard, A., Lin, S. -T., . . . Lukacs, G. L. (2016). Ribosomal Stalk Protein Silencing Partially Corrects the ΔF508-CFTR Functional Expression Defect. PLOS BIOLOGY, 14(5), 32 pages.
DOI WoS47
2015 Kharitidi, D., Apaja, P. M., Manteghi, S., Suzuki, K., Malitskaya, E., Roldan, A., . . . Pause, A. (2015). Interplay of Endosomal pH and Ligand Occupancy in Integrin α5β1 Ubiquitination, Endocytic Sorting, and Cell Migration. Cell Reports, 13(3), 599-609.
DOI Scopus52 WoS53 Europe PMC58
2014 Veit, G., Avramescu, R. G., Perdomo, D., Phuan, P. W., Bagdany, M., Apaja, P. M., . . . Lukacs, G. L. (2014). Cystic fibrosis: Some gating potentiators, including VX-770, diminish ΔF508-CFTR functional expression. Science Translational Medicine, 6(246), 13 pages.
DOI Scopus274 WoS269 Europe PMC245
2014 Chu, C. Y., King, J., Berrini, M., Rumley, A. C., Apaja, P. M., Lukacs, G. L., . . . Cordat, E. (2014). Degradation mechanism of a Golgi-retained distal renal tubular acidosis mutant of the kidney anion exchanger 1 in renal cells. American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, 307(3), C296-C307.
DOI Scopus13 WoS12 Europe PMC9
2014 Apaja, P. M., & Lukacs, G. L. (2014). Protein homeostasis at the plasma membrane. Physiology, 29(4), 265-277.
DOI Scopus41 WoS36 Europe PMC34
2013 Apaja, P. M., Foo, B., Okiyoneda, T., Valinsky, W. C., Barriere, H., Atanasiu, R., . . . Shrier, A. (2013). Ubiquitination-dependent quality control of hERG K+ channel with acquired and inherited conformational defect at the plasma membrane. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 24(24), 3787-3804.
DOI Scopus43 WoS41 Europe PMC44
2013 Capdevila-Nortes, X., López-Hernández, T., Apaja, P. M., de Heredia, M. L., Sirisi, S., Callejo, G., . . . Estévez, R. (2013). Insights into MLC pathogenesis: GlialCAM is an MLC1 chaperone required for proper activation of volume-regulated anion currents. Human Molecular Genetics, 22(21), 4405-4416.
DOI Scopus48 WoS48 Europe PMC49
2012 Apaja, P. M., Okiyondea, T., Barriere, H., Lam, H., Atanasiu, R., Foo, B., . . . Shrier, A. (2012). hERG Quality Control at the Plasma Membrane. BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 102(3), 677A.
DOI
2011 Okiyoneda, T., Apaja, P. M., & Lukacs, G. L. (2011). Protein quality control at the plasma membrane. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 23(4), 483-491.
DOI Scopus70 WoS66 Europe PMC60
2011 Barrière, H., Apaja, P., Okiyoneda, T., & Lukacs, G. L. (2011). Endocytic Sorting of CFTR Variants Monitored by Single-Cell Fluorescence Ratiometric Image Analysis (FRIA) in Living Cells. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 741, 301-317.
DOI Scopus13 Europe PMC13
2010 Apaja, P. M., Xu, H., & Lukacs, G. L. (2010). Quality control for unfolded proteins at the plasma membrane. Journal of Cell Biology, 191(3), 553-570.
DOI Scopus52 WoS51 Europe PMC47
2007 Tuusa, J. T., Markkanen, P. M. H., Apaja, P. M., Hakalahti, A. E., & Petäjä-Repo, U. E. (2007). The Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-pump SERCA2b Interacts with G Protein-coupled Receptors and Enhances their Expression at the Cell Surface. Journal of Molecular Biology, 371(3), 622-638.
DOI Scopus19 WoS18 Europe PMC19
2006 Apaja, P. M., Tuusa, J. T., Pietilä, E. M., Rajaniemi, H. J., & Petäjä-Repo, U. E. (2006). Luteinizing hormone receptor ectodomain splice variant misroutes the full-length receptor into a subcompartment of the endoplasmic reticulum. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 17(5), 2243-2255.
DOI Scopus45 WoS42 Europe PMC39
2005 Pietilä, E. M., Tuusa, J. T., Apaja, P. M., Aatsinki, J. T., Hakalahti, A. E., Rajaniemi, H. J., & Petäjä-Repo, U. E. (2005). Inefficient maturation of the rat luteinizing hormone receptor: A putative way to regulate receptor numbers at the cell surface. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280(28), 26622-26629.
DOI Scopus67 WoS63 Europe PMC59
2005 Apaja, P. M., Aatsinki, J. T., Rajaniemi, H. J., & Petäjä-Repo, U. E. (2005). Expression of the mature luteinizing hormone receptor in rodent urogenital and adrenal tissues is developmentally regulated at a posttranslational level. Endocrinology, 146(8), 3224-3232.
DOI Scopus40 WoS31 Europe PMC26
2004 Apaja, P. M., Harju, K. T., Aatsinki, J. T., Petäjä-Repo, U. E., & Rajaniemi, H. J. (2004). Identification and Structural Characterization of the Neuronal Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Associated with Sensory Systems. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279(3), 1899-1906.
DOI Scopus84 WoS66 Europe PMC59

Year Citation
2014 Foo, B., Apaja, P., Okiyoneda, T., Barriere, H., Ficker, E., Lukacs, G., & Shrier, A. (2014). A peripheral protein quality control machinery involved in acquired and inherited LQT syndrome. In BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY-BIOCHIMIE ET BIOLOGIE CELLULAIRE Vol. 92 (pp. 581). CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS.
2014 Avramescu, R. G., Perdomo, D., Phuan, P. W., Bagdany, M., Apaja, P. M., Borot, F., . . . Veit, G. (2014). Exposure to some gating potentiators, including VX-770, diminishes dF508-CFTR correction efficiency. In BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY-BIOCHIMIE ET BIOLOGIE CELLULAIRE Vol. 92 (pp. 580). CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS.
2010 Lukacs, G. L., & Apaja, P. (2010). Membrane protein quality control in post-Golgi compartments. In BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY-BIOCHIMIE ET BIOLOGIE CELLULAIRE Vol. 88 (pp. 406). NATL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA-N R C RESEARCH PRESS.
2009 Apaja, P., & Lukacs, G. L. (2009). Membrane protein quality control in post-Golgi compartments. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 23 (pp. 1 page). FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL.
DOI

Year Citation
2015 Veit, G., Oliver, K. E., Apaja, P. M., Perdomo, D., Lin, S., Guo, J., . . . Lukacs, G. L. (2015). RIBOSOMAL STALK PROTEIN SILENCING CORRECTS THE ΔF508-CFTR FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION DEFECT. Poster session presented at the meeting of PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY. WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2014 Veit, G., Avramescu, R. G., Perdomo, D., Phuan, P., Bagdany, M., Apaja, P. M., . . . Lukacs, G. L. (2014). SOME GATING POTENTIATORS, INCLUDING VX-770, DIMINISH ΔF508-CFTR FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION. Poster session presented at the meeting of PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY. WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Year Citation
2025 Wang, B. B., & Apaja, P. M. (2025). ATG8 in Single Membranes: Fresh players of Endocytosis and Acidic Organelle Quality Control in Cancer, Neurodegeneration, and Inflammation.
DOI
2025 Rashidieh, B., Yang, Y., Bain, A. L., Theron, P., Vosloo, C., Ahangar, P., . . . Khanna, K. K. (2025). Genetic Ablation and Multi-Omics Profiling Reveal CEP55 as a Key Driver of Tumorigenesis in Diverse Cancer Models.
DOI
2022 Rashidieh, B., Bain, A. L., Tria, S. M., Sharma, S., Stewart, C. A., Simmons, J. L., . . . Khanna, K. K. (2022). Alpha-B-Crystallin overexpression is sufficient to promote tumorigenesis and metastasis in mice.
DOI
2021 Wang, B., Xu, H., Isenmann, S., Huang, C., Elorza-Vidal, X., Rychkov, G., . . . Apaja, P. (2021). Ubr1-induced selective endo-phagy/autophagy protects against the endosomal and Ca<sup>2+</sup>-induced proteostasis disease stress.
DOI

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