During her studies, Josephine researched the inner workings of neurons by imaging intact cells in 3D using cryo-electron microscopy, and as a side project studied the structure of a plasma membrane calcium ATPase. Neurons are specialized cells that form large networks and to be able to communicate, they need to tightly control how ions move across their plasma membrane. Josephine has worked towards a protocol to “see it all” in a crowded cellular environment inside the axon initial segment of the neuron, aiming to elucidate how action potentials are created and regulated in this specialized compartment of the cell.  

The research performed by Josephine lets us have a peek of what is possible to do with cryo-electron tomography and paves the way for many exciting future studies of the axon initial segment and the proteins maintaining its interesting functions.

The PhD degree 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: Monday 17th February 2025 at 13.00
Place: Tvillingeauditorium 1324-011
Title of dissertation: Neuronal functions elucidated by electron microscopy – from calcium transport to the Axon Initial Segment
Contact information: Josephine Karlsen Dannersø, e-mail: jkd@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 26204023
Members of the assessment committee:
Head of Molecular Systems Biology Unit Julia Mahamid, EMBL Heidelberg
Associate professor Claire Meehan, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen
Professor Daan van Aalten, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Poul Nissen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Senior Researcher Thomas Boesen, iNANO, Aarhus University
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defense is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.