Tobias Kromann-Tofting: Development of camelid-derived antibody fragments for the study and inhibition of activity in serine proteases
Development of camelid-derived antibody fragments for the study and inhibition of activity in serine proteases
During his PhD studies, Tobias Kromann-Tofting worked with a new type of antibody fragments called nanobodies, which are developed in animals within the camelid family. He developed nanobodies with high affinity for the serine protease urokinase. Unregulated activity of urokinase is implicated with serious diseases, including cancer and arthritis.
Using a variety of biochemical and biophysical methods, including X-ray crystallography, Tobias Kromann-Tofting studied how the anti-urokinase nanobodies can be used to regulate the activity of urokinase at an atomic level. The research project provided an in-depth understanding of new methods to study and inhibit the activity of serine proteases using nanobodies. The research results also provide hope for using nanobodies in a range of new applications, including the development of new therapeutic agents.
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 17 December 2015 at 13.00
Place: iNANO Lecture Theatre, building 1593, room 012 , Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of dissertation: Orthosteric and Allosteric regulation in Trypsin-Like Serine Peptidases
Contact information: Tobias Kromann-Tofting, tobiaskh@mbg.au.dk, +45 2445 2009
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Hans Brandstetter, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Austria
Professor Birte Svensson, Department of Systems Biology, Enzyme and Protein Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark
Associate Professor Ernst-Martin Füchtbauer (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Peter Andre Andreasen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Language: The 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.