During his PhD studies, Joachim Pold Vilstrup researched the molecular function of specific proteins involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Elevated levels of plasma cholesterol are the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Joachim Pold Vilstrup studied how a specific protein, the so-called PCSK9 protein, interacts with carbohydrates and how this translates to cholesterol uptake.

The new research findings contribute to the understanding of how PCSK9 modulates cholesterol homeostasis and highlight a new mechanism for cholesterol lowering.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Wednesday, 29 April 2020 at 13:00
Place: The PhD defence will be held online. More information to be announced.
Title of PhD thesis: Insight into the Molecular Structure and Function of Human PCSK9, SorCS2 and LAR
Contact information: Joachim Pold Vilstrup, e-mail: jpv@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 60174277
Members of the assessment committee:
ERC Group Leader Joris de Wit, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, KU Leuven, Belgium
Professor Lloyd W. Ruddock, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
Associate Professor Ditlev E. Brodersen (chairman), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Søren Skou Thirup, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Associate Professor Simon Glerup Pedersen, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
Due to the coronavirus situation, Aarhus University is physically closed at the moment. Therefore, the PhD thesis will not be available for reading at the Graduate School offices. Instead, interested parties may send an e-mail to gradschool.scitech@au.dk to receive a copy by e-mail.