During his studies, Andrés Chana Muñoz researched the development of the plasminogen activation system from an evolutionary angle. In human, plasminogen activation leads to the generation of the serine protease plasmin, the main fibrinolytic enzyme, which controls vascular patency in the circulatory system and plays a central role in matrix remodeling processes, including angiogenesis. The generation of plasmin, is temporal and spatially controlled by several serine proteases, inhibitors and binding proteins which encompass the plasminogen activation system. Due to the importance of this enzyme system in human physiological and pathological processes it has been extensively studied in mammals, however, studies in non-mammalian vertebrates remain scarce. The new research contribute to the understanding on the origin of plasminogen activation system and its role in non-mammalian vertebrates. This new knowledge provides insights into the development of new strategies against the pathological processes this system is involved in human. Finally, the transcriptomic datasets associated with this study provide the first reference assemblies for several model and non-model species, expanding the molecular resources in this animal group.

The PhD degree was completed at the section of Molecular Genetics and System Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Wednesday 8 November 2017, at 13.00
Place: Meetingroom 2, AU Foulum, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of dissertation: Evolution of plasminogen activation system genes among chordates
Contact information: Andrés Chana Muñoz, email: andres.munoz@mbg.au.dk , tel.: +45 8715 7826
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Kåre Lehmann Nielsen, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section for Biotechnology, Aalborg University.
Researcher Bjørn Høyheim, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Associate professor Knud Larsen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University (chair).
Main supervisor:
Senior Researcher Frank Panitz, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University.
Co-supervisor:
Research Professor Christian Bendixen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University.
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST,
Ny Munkegade 120, building 1520, rooms 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.