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Dennis Vestergaard Pedersen: Structural insight into the mechanism of complement factor P as a positive regulator of the alternative pathway of complement

PhD defence, Thursday 1 December 2016. Dennis Vestergaard Pedersen

Dennis Vestergaard Pedersen

During his PhD studies, Dennis V. Pedersen investigated proteins of the alternative pathway (AP) of the human complement system which is an essential arm of within the innate immune system. The complement system acts as a first line defense against invading pathogens and altered host cells. Complement factor P (FP) plays an important role in regulation of the complement system, where it stabilizes a proteolytic enzyme complex called the AP C3 convertase. Furthermore FP is believed to be able to recruit complement proteins to damaged cells and certain pathogens. Therefore, understanding how FP functions constitutes an important question in innate immunity.

By using X-ray crystallography Dennis V. Pedersen has discovered how FP binds to the AP C3 convertase thereby increasing the understanding of how FP stabilizes the AP C3 convertase tremendously. Furthermore, functional studies with different versions of FP helped Dennis V Pedersen to understand how the ability of FP to form oligomers contributes to its function. Importantly, these studies also explained why a mutant FP protein found in a few patients give rise to a lethal defect in the immune system.


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

This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Thursday 1 December 2016 at 9.30
Place: Building 1532, room 122, Auditorium G2, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 118, 8000 Aarhus C, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of dissertation: Structural and functional characterization of human complement factor P  
Contact information: Dennis Vestergaard Pedersen, e-mail: dennisvp@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 29634392
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Brian Geisbrecht, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University
Associate Professor Søren Werner Karlskov Hansen, Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, University of Southern Denmark
Associate Professor Ditlev Egeskov Brodersen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University 
Main supervisor:
Professor Gregers Rom Andersen, 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.