Uldis KALNENIEKS

Dr. Uldis KALNENIEKS Head of the Laboratory of Bioenergetics Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology University of Latvia Professor, Faculty of Biology University of Latvia Kronvalda bulvaris, 4 Riga, LV 1586 Latvia Phone: +371 67034887 Fax: +371 67034885 E-mail: kalnen@lanet.lv

Born: April 28, 1957, Saldus, Latvia

Interests:

• Physiology and Bioenergetics of Microorganisms
• History and Philosophy of Science

Current research interests are focused on the structure and function of respiratory chain in the aerotolerant anaerobic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis

Languages: Latvian, Russian, English

Education:

• University of Latvia (Faculty of Biology), 1980
• Dr. biol. (Candidate of Science in former USSR, Ph.D. in Western countries), Institute of Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology, Puschino, Russia, 1989

Experience:

• Engineer, Researcher, and Senior Researcher - A. Kirchenstein Institute of Microbiology, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1981 - 1990
• Head, Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Bioengineering, A. Kirchenstein Institute of Microbiology, 1991
• Guest Researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology, Juelich Research Centre, Germany, 1992
• Leading Researcher, Head of Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, 1993 -
• Acting Head of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, 1996 - 1998
• Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, 2001 - 2005; Professor, 2005 -

Honors and Awards

• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2007

Professional Activities and Memberships:

• Member (Chairman, 2003 - 2007), Latvian Council of Science Expert Committee for Microbiology, Virology, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology, 1993 - 2007

Courses:

University of Latvia:

• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Bioenergetics and Cultivation of Microorganisms
• Enzymology

Recent / Representative Publications:

• Kalnenieks U., Pankova L., Shvinka J. Proton motive force in Zymomonas mobilis. -Biokhimiya, 1987, vol. 52, pp. 720-723 (in Russian).
• Kalnenieks U., Pankova L., Shvinka J. Energy spent for maintaining the transmembranous pH gradient in Zymomonas mobilis. - Mikrobiologiya, 1987, vol. 56, pp. 770-773 (in Russian).
• Kalnenieks U., Saulitis J., Galinina N., Liepins E., Shvinka J. Protonmotive force in Brevibacterium flavum: The lack of intracellular pH homeostasis. - Arch. Microbiol., 1989, vol. 151, pp. 213-219.
• Kalnenieks U., de Graaf A. A., Bringer-Meyer S. and Sahm H. Oxidative phosphorylation in Zymomonas mobilis. - Arch. Microbiol., 1993, vol. 160, pp. 74-79.
• Kalnenieks U., Galinina N., Irbe I., Toma M. (1995) Energy coupling sites in the electron transport chain of Zymomonas mobilis. - FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 1995, vol. 133, pp. 99-104.
• Kalnenieks U., Galinina N., Toma M., Skards I. (1996) Electron transport chain in aerobically cultivated Zymomonas mobilis. - FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 1996, vol. 143, pp. 185-189.
• Kalnenieks U., Galinina N., Bringer-Meyer S., Poole R.K. Membrane D-lactate oxidase in Zymomonas mobilis: evidence for a branched respiratory chain. - FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 1998, vol. 168, pp. 91-97.
• Kalnenieks U., Galinina N.,  Poole R.K. Cyanide inhibits respiration yet stimulates aerobic growth of Zymomonas mobilis. - Microbiology, 2000, vol. 146, pp. 1259-1266.
• R.K.Poole, U.Kalnenieks. Introduction to light absorption:visible and ultraviolet spectra. - In: Spectrophotometry and Spectrofluorimetry. A Practical Approach (M.G.Gore, ed.), 2000, Oxford University Press,  pp. 1-32.
• U.Kalnenieks, N.Galinina, M.M. Toma, U.Marjutina.   Ethanol cycle in an ethanologenic bacterium. - FEBS Lett., 2002, vol. 522, pp. 6-8.
• U.Kalnenieks, M.M. Toma, N.Galinina, R.K.Poole. The paradoxical cyanide-stimulated respiration of Zymomonas mobilis: cyanide sensitivity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH II). - Microbiology, 2003, vol. 149, pp. 1739-1744.
• M.M.Toma, U.Kalnenieks, A.Berzins, A.Vigants, M.Rikmanis, U.Viesturs. The effect of  mixing on glucose fermentation by Zymomonas mobilis continuous culture. - Process Biochemistry, 2003, vol. 38, pp. 1347-1350.
• U.Kalnenieks, N.Galinina, M.M. Toma. Physiological regulation of the properties of alcohol dehydrogenase II (ADH II) of  Zymomonas mobilis: NADH renders ADH II resistant to cyanide and aeration. -  Arch. Microbiol., 2005, vol. 183, pp. 450-455.
• U.Kalnenieks, N.Galinina, M.M. Toma, J.L.PZickfpord, R.Rutkis, R.K.Poole.Respiratory behaviour of a Zymomonas mobilis adhB:: kan' mutant supports the hypothesis of two alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes catalysing opposite reactions. - FEBS Lett., 2006, vol. 580, pp. 5084-5088.
• U.Kalnenieks. Physiology of  Zymomonas mobilis: some unanswered questions. - Advances in Microbial Physiology, 2006, vol. 51, pp. 73-117.

Research Projects:

• U.Kalnenieks (Head of Latvian Part of Project). Zusammensetzung und Funktion der Elektronentransportkette in Zymomonas mobilis. Volkswagen Foundation, Germany, 1997-1998.
• U.Kalnenieks (Head of  Project). NADPH-dependent Aerobic Energetics of Zymomonas mobilis. Latvian Council of Science (2001 - 2003 ).
• U.Kalnenieks (Head of  Project). Alternative Mechanisms of Cyanide-resistance in Bacteria. Latvian Council of Science (2004 -  ).

Last update 25.11.2007