Kaare Bjerregaard-Andersen: The sodium-coupled bicarbonate-chloride exchanger – structural insights into the role of the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain

During his studies, Kaare Bjerregaard-Andersen, investigated and characterized the sodium-coupled chloride-bicarbonate exchanger, a membrane protein predominantly found in the choroid plexus of the brain and highly involved in pH homeostasis of the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain. He determined the atomic structure of the N-terminal cytoplasmic region of the protein and identified novel ligands. He characterized regions of intrinsically disordered regions in the cytoplasmic domain and recognized these regions in the super family of bicarbonate transporters. In addition, he determined the atomic structure of isatin hydrolase including a proton wire water channel.

These new findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular structure and function of sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporters as well as detailed understanding of the structural basis of catalysis by the isatin hydrolase.

The PhD degree was completed at the Norwegian Center for Molecular Medicine, Oslo University, and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark, as part of a double degree agreement.

Time: Monday 30 June 2014 at 13.15
Place: Auditorium I, Kristine Bonnevies Hus, Oslo University, Norway
Title of dissertation: Structural and biophysical studies of the mammalian Na⁺-dependent Cl^--HCO₃^- exchanger NCBE and the bacterial enzyme isatin hydrolase
Contact information: Kaare Bjerregaard-Andersen, e-mail: kaarebj@ncmm.uio.no, tel.: +47 92553589
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Birte Svensson, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Dr. Ehmke Pohl, Department of Chemistry, Durham University, United Kingdom
Professor Pål Falnes (chair), Department of Biosciences, Oslo University, Norway
Associate professor Charlotte Rohde Knudsen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Associate professor Michael Etzerodt, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Dr. Jens Preben Morth, Norwegian Center for Molecular Medicine, Oslo University
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 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.