Billede af Birthe Brandt Kragelund

Birthe Brandt Kragelund

Cand Scient Biokemi, Ph. D. i Biokemi

  • Ole Maaløes Vej 5

    2200 København N.

Personlig profil

Kort præsentation

Jeg leder en af fire forskningsgrupper i Strukturbiologi og NMR Laboratoriet (SBiNLab) på Biologisk Instituts. I gruppen beskæftiger vi os primært med protein interaktioner, struktur-funktion relationer som vi undersøger med NMR spektroskopi og biofysiske metoder. Et kendetegn er stærke samarbejder med biologi, medicin og industri. 

Jeg har betydelig erfaring med undervisning og vejledning af studerende og har altid projektforslag på hånden. 

Primære forskningsområder

Protein-Protein Interactions - Understanding Functional Interactions from a Structural Platform

Intrinsically disordered proteins represents a paradigm shift in protein biology

One facet of the complexity of life is the cascade of signaling caused by thousands of proteins transferring unambiguous signals that instantly will regulate production and activities in the cell at the molecular level. Signal transfer is often conveyed through protein-protein interactions via specific atomic interactions. In the cell there are a multitude of different types of interaction between proteins and their partner molecules. The understanding of the molecular details of these interactions is a key to steering of protein function. By application of NMR spectroscopy, x-ray crystallography, protein engineering and biophysical techniques we seek to map mechanisms of interactions involved in i.e. receptor activation, cell division, signal transduction, immune activation and protein degradation. We focus on

  • Membrane bound protein receptors
  • Intrinsically unfolded proteins
  • Anti-microbial peptides 

The interactions involving these protein classes are particularly important as they make possible either the transfer of signal across membranes or the transfer of information from an unstructured protein which is a profound challenge to the structure-function paradigm. All three classes of proteins recognize and interact with an equal or even bigger number of proteins of different sizes, structures and mechanisms of function. To understand how a biological active molecule selects and discriminates between different possible interaction partners as well as the principles behind these interactions are important questions in protein science and molecular biology of today.

We currently pursue our goals within the areas of membrane proteins and intrinsically unfolded proteins in the context of REPIN, a Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Center. Read more about REPIN here.

Collaborations

Our research is strongly dependent on collaborations with cell biology and biology laboratories as well as with industry. At present, we collaborate closely with Dr. Vincent Goffin, INSERM, Paris France, Prof. Joseph Martial, and Dr. Ingrid Struman, Université de Liege, Belgium; Prof Antony Carr and Dr. Kostas Nestorastos, University of Sussex, England; Prof Ciro Cicconi, University of Modena, Italy; Dr. Med. Ole E. Sørensen, BMC, Lunds University, Dr. Paul Hansen, LIFE, University of Copenhagen, Dr. Egon Persson, Novo Nordisk A/S, Prof. Olaf NielsenDr. Stine Falsig PedersenDr. Karen SkriverDr. Kresten Lindorff-Larsen and Dr. Kaare Teilum, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.

CV

RESEARCH INTERESTS AND KEY QUALIFICATIONS

Protein interaction principles, protein structure and function relationships, protein-receptor interactions and mechanisms of activation, membrane proteins, protein folding, intrinsically unfolded proteins, structure determination of larger protein systems by NMR spectroscopy, hormone action, anti-angiogenesis, amyloids.

  • NMR spectroscopy and Optical spectroscopy
  • Protein refolding and purification, protein chemistry
  • Mechanism of protein-receptor activation - Protein-protein interactions

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

2014-Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Full Professor
2002- 2014Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Associate Professor
2000-2002Department of Protein Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Physiology, Unversity of Copenhagen,  Assistant Professor
1998-2000Department of Chemistry, Carlsberg Laboratory, Denmark - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
1996-1998Chemical Center, Lund University, Sweden - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
1992-1996Department of Chemistry, Carlsberg Laboratory and Insitute of Biochemistry, Odense University, Ph. D.
1993EMBO fellowship - Dobson Laboratory, OCMS, Oxford University, UK

ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANISATION SKILLS

2019-Novo Nordisk Foundation, Chair of Committee on Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine
2017-2020Danish academic delegate EMBL, Heidelberg, D
2017-2020Novo Nordisk Foundation, board member Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine
2016-2019Member of the Academic Council for the Dean at the Faculty of Science, UCPH
2014-2017Villum Foundation – Board member Young Investigator Programme, chairman '16
2012-Head of the Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory (SBiNLab)
2002-Head of research group
2002-Censorships at University of Odense, University of Århus, DTU
2007-2009Appointed member of the Research Committee, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen
2005-2008Member of the Institute Communication Committee, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Copenhagen
2004-2007Member of the study board for Molecular Biomedicine, University of Copenhagen.
2005-2008Head of project: Structure and Interactions of Large Protein Systems by "Combinatorial" NMR Spectroscopy financed by the Danish Natural Research Councils Yngre Forskere (Young Scientists)
2007Course in "Reseach Management", CBS
1998+2002Summed one year maternity leave 

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

  • Responsible teacher for the course Protein Science (3rd year courses).
  • Teacher at the course Protein Chemistry and Enzymology (1st year course).
  • Adviser for a total of 5 Ph. D. students and 23 master students.
  • Graduated master students since 2003: 18
  • Graduated Ph. D. students since 2005: 4

 

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