Defects in the cell's cilia are the cause of many different diseases. Therefore, there is a great focus on identifying the function of cilia, so that drugs can be developed against these diseases. A research team has now taken another step towards this, as they have uncovered the structure of the IFT-B complex, which is crucial for the formation of cilium organelles.
Molecular motors produce the force that powers the beat of sperm cell tails to generate movement toward the egg cell for fertilization. New research now shows how the molecular motors that power the movement of sperm cells are recognized and specifically transported into the tail region of the cell. This knowledge can pave the way for a better understanding of disease causing mutations causing sterility.
Esben Lorentzen has been appointed Professor in Computational Structural Biology at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University as of 1 May 2024. His research focuses on understanding the structure and mechanism of large protein complexes driving cellular organization and function.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has launched a new grant type – the NNF Young Investigator Award program – which provides individual grants of DKK 20 million over seven years to attract highly talented younger scientists to Denmark.
Esben Lorentzen is the first to receive this award to establish a research group at Aarhus University from 1 December 2016. He comes from a position as group leader at Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried, Tyskland, where he has been working since 2009.
