Matthias Soller received his PhD in 1997 at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He then moved to Brandeis University, Boston, USA to study RNA binding proteins and their function in alternative splicing regulation in axon guidance, synaptic plasticity and neuronal degeneration using Drosophila as a model system with Kalpana White.

In 2006, Matthias Soller started his own research group in the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham, UK. He continued to work on post-transcriptional control of gene-expression in the brain, adaptive immunity and cancer as well as in the regulation of behaviour. The Soller laboratory has been pioneering in studying mRNA methylation in a genetic model organism. Fundamental contributions to the discovery of biological functions of mRNA internal m6A methylation in the regulating gene expression include an essential role in sex determination and dosage compensation. More recently, the Soller laboratory has generated the first animal knock-out for methylation of mRNA cap-adjacent nucleotides and discovered an essential role in local translation at synapses relevant to reward learning.

In 2024, Matthias Soller joined the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Function as Professor of RNA Biology to expand his work on essential functions of mRNA methylation in neuronal development, function and sex determination

Post-transcriptional control of gene expression in neuronal development, function and sex determination

Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression is a major mechanism to generate organismal complexity from a limited number of genes. Miss-regulation of pre-mRNA processing, including mRNA methylation and alternative splicing, as a result of genetic polymorphisms or of toxicity from small molecules, results in numerous diseases like cancer, metabolic or neurological disorders. Our laboratory investigates mechanisms of alternative pre-mRNA processing with a particular focus on the brain and sex determination using the sophisticated genetic tools of the fruit fly Drosophila in combination with chemical genetics.

The role of mRNA methylation in gene expression

Modifications in mRNA are known since the heydays of molecular biology, yet their biological functions remain to be fully discovered. Using Drosophila as genetically tractable model, we have generated the first animal knock-outs for the writers of internal m6A and cap-adjacent ribose methylation. Having the unique advantage that Drosophila null mutants are viable, we know characterise the molecular machinery introducing methyl marks and their reader proteins, and investigate how mRNA methylation regulates gene expression important for neuronal function and sex determination.

Alternative splicing regulation

ELAV/Hu RNA binding proteins are highly conserved neuronal splicing regulators. We aim to determine the code ELAV/Hu proteins use to decode the degenerate sequence information present in short and spaced regulatory elements of pre-mRNA to generate high fidelity in gene-specific regulation and how they are regulated by cellular signalling.

Another focus in the laboratory is how mutually exclusive splicing in Drosophila Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (Dscam) is regulated and how this regulation contributes to neuronal function. Dscam generates massive molecular diversity by splicing of a single exon out of a cluster of variable exons. Using a combination of Drosophila and honey bee models, our aim is to identify the mechanisms that prevents splicing together of variable exons and determines inclusion of a specific exon.

Neuro-connectomics of the Drosophila post-mating response

Male-derived sex-peptide is the master regulator of female post-mating response most prominently inducing an increase in egg laying and refractoriness to remate.

We have shown that sex peptide passes the blood-brain barrier to target neurons in the brain to induce the post-mating response via multiple pathways. In a neuro-connectomics approach, we are now characterizing the neuronal circuitry through which sex peptide induces the post-mating response by integrating multiple sensory modalities.

Interested in RNA biology, neuronal gene expression and/or neuroconncectomics? Get in touch to join the lab as an undergraduate or PhD student or as post-doc.

PhD students: A range of PhD studentships are offered by the University of Manchester, or you can self-fund your PhD. We also can support your application for external studentships from your home country (e.g. China Scholarship Council). Please get in touch by sending your CV and a statement of your intentions.

Postdocs: Please inquire for vacant UKRI funded positions. We also support your effort to obtain your own funding through a fellowship (e.g. EMBO-LTF, HFSP, FEBS-LTF, Marie-Curie, Newton International, or a national programme). Please get in touch by sending your CV and a statement of your intentions.