Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics

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New interdisciplinary consortium at AU will study membrane-less organelles

News

The consortium, BOUNDLESS, has received DKK 14.4 M from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The consortium consists of Frans Mulder, Lene N. Nejsum, and Magnus Kjærgaard from Aarhus University as well as Siewert Jan Marrink from University of Groningen (NL). (Photos: private)

2021.01.18 | Grant

New interdisciplinary consortium at AU will study membrane-less organelles

Associate Professor Magnus Kjærgaard participates in a new consortium, BOUNDLESS, headed by Associate Professor Frans Mulder and funded by the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. With the grant of DKK 14.4 M, the consortium will study how membrane-less organelles control key biological processes.

The LysM receptors on the outside of root cells from the legume <em>Lotus japonicus</em> determine whether harmful or beneficial microbes from the soil are recognised by the plant. The structure of the symbiotic receptor LYK3 and comparison with the immune chitin receptor CERK6 helped the researchers map important elements for recognition (figure: Kasper Røjkjær Andersen)

2021.01.05 | Research

Top 5 science result in 2020: Signal molecules are the key to less use of fertilisers

Results published in Science from Aarhus University describe how legumes pick up special signalling molecules to distinguish between harmful and beneficial microbes. These results have been nominated by the Danish technical news journal “Ingeniøren” (the Engineer) as being among the five most important results in Denmark in 2020.

RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) initiates transcription at a multitude of positions in the human genome. However, only a fraction of these sites is associated with genes that give rise to functional RNA. The ‘Integrator’ complex by default terminates RNAPII shortly after its initiation (top), unless specific gene-defining elements are present allowing for transition to productive elongation (bottom). In the latter case, transcription is typically terminated by the ‘Cleavage & Polyadenylation’ Complex that recognizes specific ‘terminator’ sequence elements in the genome (bottom, red box). In the former case the produced short RNA is by default rapidly degraded by the RNA exosome, whereas snRNAs constitute a special case that avoids degradation. Figure: Søren Lykkke-Andersen.

2020.12.31 | Research

Integrator: A guardian of the human transcriptome

In a joint collaboration, Danish and German researchers have characterized a cellular activity that protects our cells from potentially toxic by-products of gene expression. This activity is central for the ability of multicellular organisms to uphold a robust evolutionary ‘reservoir’ of gene products.

Events

Mon 25 Jan
08:00-13:00 | Will be held virtually
PhD conference
The conference will be held from 25-26 January 2021
Wed 27 Jan
09:00-11:00 | Will be held virtually
Qualifying exam: Analyzing food ingredients by a novel APTA-SHAPE technology
Asger Givskov Jørgensen
Wed 27 Jan
13:15-15:00 | Will be held virtually
Qualifying exam: Investigation of structural features leading to cold activity in carbohydrate degrading enzymes
Christian Dybdahl Andersen

PhD defences

Liviu I. Moldovan

2021.02.05 | PhD defense

Liviu I. Moldovan: CircRNAs: Big new deal in inflamed skin?

PhD defence, Friday 5 February 2021, Liviu I. Moldovan.

Henrik Pedersen

2020.11.20 | PhD defense

Henrik Pedersen: Development of new tools for studies of the complement system

PhD Defence, Friday 20 November 2020. Henrik Pedersen.

Revised 21.01.2021 - 
Lisbeth Heilesen