During his PhD studies, Nevin Korath Zacharia carried out research on the intraflagellar transport protein IFT172, a crucial player involved in the proper formation and function of cilia. Cilia are hair-like organelles that play a vital role in sensing extracellular signals and coordinating crucial signaling pathways in the human body. Despite being a hotspot for human disease mutations, a detailed understanding of IFT172's ciliary functions remains unknown. Nevin employed X-ray crystallography and an array of biochemical tools to investigate the structure and functions of IFT172. His research also explored the impact of mutations in IFT172 on signaling pathways coordinated by the cilium. The findings provided novel insights into IFT172's ciliary functions, interaction partners, and potential molecular mechanisms underlying IFT172 associated diseases. 

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

This summary has been prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday, 20^th February 2024 at 14:00
Place: Building 1870, room 816, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 81, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Structural and biochemical characterization of the intraflagellar transport protein IFT172 uncovers an atypical U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase domain.
Contact information: Nevin Korath Zacharia, e-mail: nevin@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 50238859

Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Daniel Wüstner, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Professor Helen Walden, School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Professor Daan van Aalten (Chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Esben Lorentzen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.