Fungi have a high impact on our society both in a negative and positive way, due to the ability to produce secondary metabolites. Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are multi-modular enzymes responsible for the synthesis of some of these compounds by a mechanism of action which bypasses the ribosomal machinery. These compounds are of a great value due to their bioactive properties, as for example, the cytotoxicity displayed towards some cancer cell lines. Therefore, NRPSs and their products are important targets of study.

During her studies, Patricia researched about NRPSs in two Fusarium species. The first aim of the thesis was the application of molecular approaches to relate the production of some known compounds to possible candidate NRPS genes found in F. graminearum and F. solani. Additionally, a second aim was the elucidation of the protein structure of a partial NRPS found in F. solani to obtain more knowledge about the mechanism of action for these synthetases

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

This résumé is prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday 11 December 2015 at 13.00
Place: Building 1253, room 211, Lake Auditorium-Merete Barker Auditorium
Title of dissertation: Non-Ribosomal Peptide synthetases in Fusarium species: Genetic and Functional studies.
Contact information: Patricia Romans Fuertes, e-mail: fuertes@mbg.au.dk
Members of the assessment committee:
Senior Lecturer, Mikko Metsä-Ketelä, Institut for Biokemi, Turku Universitet, Finland
Professor Jens Christian Frisvad, DTU SYSTEMS BIOLOGY, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Associate professor, Charlotte Rohde Knudsen (Chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Associate professor, Ditlev E. Brodersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisors:
Professor Henriette Giese, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience - Section for Biotechnology, Aalborg University, Denmark
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, room 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.