Various biological processes in organisms depend on sterols to be accessible in the right amount and at the right location. If sterol homeostasis in humans becomes disrupted, an inherited condition known as Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease or “childhood dementia” could be the underlying cause. During her PhD, Lynette Nel researched the corresponding NPC proteins in S. cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) to understand how these proteins work. To do this, Lynette Nel mainly used cryo-electron microscopy and gained insights into how the structure of NPC proteins enable them to bind and move sterols.

The novel content of this thesis deepens our fundamental understanding on how NPC proteins function and their role regarding the intricacies of sterol homeostasis.

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: Monday, 4 November 2024 at 11:00
Place:  Building 1870, room 816 (Faculty Club), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, University City 81, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Colouring in mechanistic details: Structural investigations reveal how Niemann-Pick type C proteins contribute to sterol homeostasis in eukaryotes
Contact information: Lynette Nel, e-mail: lnel@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 91104974

Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Nicholas Taylor, Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Professor Bruno André, Molecular Physiology of the Cell, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium

Professor Ditlev E. Brodersen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Professor Bjørn Panyella Pedersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisor:
Not applicable

Language: The PhD thesis will be defended in English
The defence 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