Lise Refstrup Linnebjerg Pedersen: Structural and functional studies of the milk protein PP3

In her PhD project, Lise Refstrup Linnebjerg Pedersen described the structure and biological function of PP3. Her studies show that PP3 maintains its structure at the low levels of acidity and high temperatures typically used in many dairy processes. They also show that PP3 exists in tetrameric structures in milk, and that enzymatic splitting of PP3 results in the release of a peptide that is capable of inhibiting bacterial growth. Her studies thus indicate that PP3 is part of the milk’s natural immune defence, and that the protein could potentially be used in products where an antibacterial effect is desired.

The PhD degree was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

Time: Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 13.00
Place: AU Conference Centre, meeting room 2.3, Fredrik Nielsens Vej, Aarhus University
Title of dissertation: The milk protein PP3: structural and functional studies
Contact information: Lise Refstrup Linnebjerg Pedersen, lrlp@mb.au.dk
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Gerd E. Vegarud, Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
Professor Thomas Ledet, Research Laboratory for Biochemical Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital
Professor Jørgen Kjems (chair), iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Dr Esben Skipper Sørensen, iNANO and 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 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.