Research Group: Dynamic Metabolons
Vi arbejder på dynamisk samling af biosyntetiske enzymkomplekser, også kaldet metaboloner, til fremstilling af naturstoffer.
Planter producerer et enormt antal bioaktive forbindelser, der potentielt kan anvendes som lægemidler, farvestoffer og smagsstoffer. På trods af naturstoffers kemiske diversitet involverer deres biosyntese en meget modulær samling af specifikke enzymklasser såsom oxidoreduktaser, cytochrom P450 og transferaser. Samling af metaboloner letter direkte overførsel af substrater og mellemprodukter mellem sekventielle enzymer, hvilket resulterer i øget flux uden samtidig frigivelse af toksiske eller labile mellemprodukter. Vi er interesserede i at forstå, hvordan planter efter behov samler metaboloner som respons på miljømæssige udfordringer.
- Structural organization
We are studying the structural organization of metabolons and their different configurations. We are interested in general mechanisms regulating the assembly of metabolons such as scaffolding proteins, protein-protein interactions and the local membrane environment.
- Dynamic assembly
We are uncovering the dynamics of metabolon assembly at the single molecule level. The diffusion of individual enzymes and entire metabolons provides kinetic insight on the assembly and disassembly. In the process, we are developing new platforms for studying protein-protein interactions, membrane sorting and binding of soluble enzymes.
- Functional consequences
We apply our findings to study the functional consequences of enzyme engineering and lipid composition on substrate channeling using in vivo and in vitro systems. As part of this research topic we are optimizing biomimetic membrane systems for studying multienzyme complexes.
For students wishing to work within these topics. M.Sc. and B.Sc. projects are currently available. Please contact tola@plen.ku.dk
2019-2024 The language of plant metabolic highways, Emerging Investigator Novo Nordisk Foundation (Primary Investigator: Tomas Laursen)
2018-2022 Directing plant metabolism towards formation of high value bioactive products, Sapere Aude Starting Grant, Independent Research Fund Denmark (Primary Investigator: Tomas Laursen)
- Stabilization of dhurrin biosynthetic enzymes from Sorghum bicolor using a natural deep eutectic solvent
Knudsen, C., Bavishi, K., Viborg, K.M., Drew, D.P., Simonsen, H.T., Motawia, M.S., Møller, B.L., Laursen, T.
(2020) Phytochemistry 170:112214
Link to publication: - Molecular snapshots of dynamic membrane-bound metabolons
Bassard, J.E., Laursen, T.*
(2019) Methods in Enzymology 617, 1-27
Link to publication: - Dynamic metabolic solutions to the sessile life style of plants
Knudsen, C., Gallage, N.J., Hansen, C.C., Møller, B.L., Laursen, T.*
(2018) Natural Product Reports 35()11, 1140-1155
Link to publication: - Direct observation of multiple conformational states in Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase and their modulation by membrane environment and ionic strength
Bavishi, K., Li, D., Eiersholt, S., Hooley, E., Petersen, T., Møller, B.L., Hatzakis, N.S.*, Laursen, T.*
(2018) Scientific Reports, 8(1), 6817
Link to publication: - Controlling Styrene Maleic Acid Lipid Particles through RAFT
Smith A.A.A., Autzen H.E., Laursen T., Wu V., Yen M., Hall A., Hansen SD., Cheng Y., Xu T.
(2017) Biomacromolecules, 13;18(11), 3706-3713
Link to publication:
- Characterization of a dynamic metabolon producing the defense compound dhurrin in sorghum
Laursen, T., Borch, J., Knudsen, C., Bavishi, K., Torta, F., Martens, H.J., Silvestro, D., Hatzakis, N.S., Wenk, M.R., Dafforn, T.R., Olsen, C.E., Motawia, M.S., Hamberger, B., Møller, B.L., Bassard, J-E.
(2016) Science 354(6314), 890-893
Link to publication:
- Single molecule activity measurements of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase reveal the existence of two discrete functional states
Laursen, T.*, Singha, A.*, Rantzau, N., Tutkus, M., Borch, J., Hedegard, P., Stamou, D., Møller, B.L., Hatzakis, N.S.
(2014) ACS Chemical Biology 9(3), 630-634
Link to publication:
Hvis du er interesseret i at lave et projekt, kan du læse mere om dine muligheder i projektdatabasen:
Institut for Plante- og Miljøvidenskab har forskellige bachelor- og kandidatuddannelser:
Our research group take an interdisciplinary basic science approach to elucidate fundamental mechanisms governing the plasticity of the biosynthesis of phytochemicals, which is well positioned between multiple groups at the Section for Plant biochemistry working on pathway discovery and heterologous production, including:
- Biochemical engineering (Sotirios Kampranis)
- Synthetic Biology (Birger Lindberg Møller)
- High-Value Phytochemicals (Irini Pateraki)
- Molecular Evolution of Specialized Metabolism (Søren Bak)
Our basic science approach benefits from collaboration with additional internal groups with expertise in plant physiology and metabolomics, including:
- Plant Ecophysiology (Elisabeth Heather Neilson)
- Plant Metabolic plasticity (Nanna Bjarnholt)
We are actively collaborating with world leading external experts, which provide access to state-of-the-art technologies and knowledge, including:
- Cryo Electron Microscopy (Bjørn Panyella Pedersen, Aarhus University, DK)
- Native Mass Spectrometry (Jonathan T. Hopper and Carol Robinson, Oxford University, UK)
- Neutron Reflectometry (Marité Cardenas, Malmö University, SE)
- SMALP technology (Timothy Dafforn, University of Birmingham, UK)
- Single Molecule Microscopy (Jay T. Groves, UC-Berkeley, USA and Nikos Hatzakis, University of Copenhagen, DK)
- Computational modeling (Flemming Jørgensen, University of Copenhagen, DK)
Gruppemedlemmer
Navn | Titel | Telefon | |
---|---|---|---|
Javiera Patricia Aravena Calvo | Ph.d.-stipendiat | ||
Khuanpiroon Ratanasopa | Postdoc | +4535331643 | |
Mette Sørensen | Adjunkt | +4535331101 |
Specialestuderende
- Kasper Hinz
Kontakt forskergruppeleder
Tomas Laursen
Adjunkt
E-mail: tola@plen.ku.dk
Tlf.: +45 35 33 33 29
Nyheder fra Plantebiokemi
-
EliteScience Travel Grant for Victor Forman
27.02.2020 -
Danske forskere afslører hvordan giftige mandler blev spiselige
18.06.2019 -
Danish researchers unravel how toxic almonds became edible
17.06.2019 -
EliteScience Travel Grant for Cecilie Cetti Hansen
01.03.2019 -
Saponins – eco-friendly pesticides
09.11.2018 -
Plant-based bioactive compounds for medical and agrochemical applications
09.11.2018