Research

The section’s research is focused on understanding the structural basis for biochemical processes, with structure determination of biological macromolecules. Both X-ray crystallography and NMR are used as research tool. A large part of the research is basic science where the aim is to clarify biochemical reactions and mechanisms at the molecular level.

The molecular targets for structure determination are mainly proteins derived from many different sources, e.g. animals, plants, and bacteria. Examples of biological systems under study include DNA synthesis, photosynthesis, cellulose degradation, penicillin synthesis, protein folding and assembly, bacterial infection processes.

Owing to the broad field of research interests and the wide scope of problems addressed we have extensive and close collaborations with many scientific groups from many different research fields.

The results of our research can be applied to e.g. drug design or for improving the efficiency of enzymes used in industrial processes. The latter is possible through site-directed mutagenesis (protein engineering) which is a crucial instrument in our research.

In order to make effective use of expensive equipment necessary for our research and to broaden our scientific competence basis we have a close cooperation with structural-biology groups from Uppsala University at Uppsala Biomedical Center (BMC) - Uppsala Structural Biology lab.

Research groups

Finding your way to/within BMC

BMC, corridor B9 level 2

• Inger Andersson, Professor in Plant Biochemistry
• Karin Valegård, Assoc Professor (Molecular Biology,UU)
• Michel van Lun, PhD student

Under construction...

BMC, korridor B9 plan 1

• Hans Eklund, Professor emeritus
• Margareta Ingelman, Research engineer

The group’s main interests are structure and function relations of (1) enzymes in the deoxyribonucleotide synthesis, as reductases and kinases (2) metal enzymes of interest in bioremediation, like dioxygenases, reductases and ferredoxins (3) light activation of chloroplast enzymes, with emphasis on the thioredoxin: ferredoxin reductase system thioredoxins (4) redox enzymes like dehydrogenases, thioredoxins and flavin enzymes.

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Torleif Härd, Professor
• Anatoly Dubnovitsky, PhD, research engineer 
• Henrik Biverstål, PhD, postdoc
• Christofer Lendel, PhD, postdoc
• Frida Jacobson, PhD, postdoc

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Stefan Knight, Professor in Biochemistry
• Gelareh Askarieh, PhD student

Research in the group is focused on understanding the molecular basis for assembly and function of bacterial adhesion organelles. The assembly of such organelles via the chaperone/usher pathway offers unique possibilities to study protein folding, fiber assembly, and secretion processes, and paves the way for development of novel ways of fighting not only bacterial but also protein misfolding diseases.

BMC, corridor C10 level 2

• Sherry Mowbray, Professor in Biochemistry
• Agata Naworyta, PhD student
• Sanjeewani Sooroiyaarachchi, PhD student

Structural and biochemical investigations of: proteins of bacterial transport and chemotaxis, enzymes of ribose metabolism, chitin-active enzymes, cellulases, epoxide hydrolases, proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Mats Sandgren, forskare
• Henrik Hansson, forskare
• Saeid Karkehabadi, forskare
• Nils Egil Mikkelsen, forskare
• Mikael Gudmundsson, PhD student
  

Under construction...

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Jerry Ståhlberg, Assoc Professor (Biochemistry, UU)
• Jonas Vasur, PhD student
Miao Wu, PhD student
Majid Haddad, diploma student

Structure-function studies and engineering of sugar polymer active proteins (e.g. cellulase, dextranase, mannanase, expansin, xyloglycan endotransglycosidase) relating to their present and potential future use in biotechnical applications, e.g. textile, food, pulp fibre processing and production of fuel ethanol from cellulosic wastes. Biological interest in their roles in plant cell wall and wood formation, cellulose digestion and plant biomass recycling.

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Fredrik Söderbom, Assoc Professor (Molecular Biology, SLU)
• Åsa Fransson, postdoc
• Lotta Avesson, PhD student

Function and metabolic stability of small and large RNAs in control of development: i) factors, i.e. proteins and RNAs, involved in RNA decay, ii) role of small non-coding RNAs in cellular processes.

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Ulla Uhlin, Assoc Professor (Molecular Biology, SLU)

Main interest in enzymes involved in synthesis of DNA-building blocks, especially Ribonucleotide Reductase. Knowledge about these structures are of interest for development of drugs against certain viruses, bacteria and cancer.

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Huang YAFEI, forskarassistent

Structure-determination of membrane transport-proteins.

BMC, corridor B9 level 1

• Anton Zavialov, Assoc Professor (Molecular Biology, SLU)
• Xiaodi Yu (Dee), PhD student

Research in the group is primarily focused on understanding mechanisms of action of molecular chaperones, proteins that assist the non-covalent folding/unfolding and the assembly/disassembly of other macromolecular structures. In addition, we perform structure-function studies of a family of surface organelles of Gram negative pathogens (e.g. Yersinia and Salmonella spp), which we call “polyadhesins assembled via the FGL chaperone-usher pathway”, a novel family of extracellular signaling proteins, adenosine deaminase related growth factors (ADGFs), and a family of cystein proteases, metacaspases, which are involved in the programmed cell death in plants.