Understanding Proteins in the Sulfur Cycle In her doctoral thesis, Dr. Seseg Bolotova has contributed to our understanding of proteins involved in the metabolism of sulfur compounds. She used X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron micros- copy to determine the structures of the enzymes and sub- strate-binding proteins involved in the metabolism of sul- fur-containing amino acid derivatives. By combining the structural data with biochemical, biophysical, and se- quence-based analyses, Seseg was able to elucidate the rela- tionships between the structures, sequences, and functions of these proteins. She identified the molecular basis of enzy- matic substrate specificity and catalytic activity. Subse- quently, Seseg proposed catalytic mechanisms for enzymes with previously uncharacterized activity and functions of related proteins unannotated in genomic databases. Publication Targeted use of protein-membrane interactions In his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Piotr Jaśko investigated how bi- ological membranes work and how their properties can be rep- licated in a targeted manner in artificial systems. He demon- strated that proteins can actively modify membranes, for example by supporting the fusion of lipid vesicles. He succeed- ed in integrating light-driven proteins into synthetic polymer membranes, which transport ions and convert energy. Addi- tionally, he showed that the incorporation of pore proteins into membranes successfully ensures selective molecular trans- port—a prerequisite for complex reactions in vesicle networks. SNI post with video Publication Piotr Jasko worked at the Department of Chemistry and the Paul Scherrer Institute while completing his doctoral thesis. (Photo: P . Jasko) Seseg Bolotova worked on her doctoral thesis at the Department of Che- mistry and at the Biozentrum. 27 SNI INSight June 2026