During her PhD studies, Emma Birkeskov Kleister Sørensen researched the intracellular mode of infection during root nodule symbiosis between legumes and rhizobial soil bacteria. Legumes distinguish compatible from incompatible bacteria through the recognition of bacterial exopolysaccharides. Emma Birkeskov Kleister Sørensen studied how the two plant proteins, EPR3 and EPR3a, are involved in exopolysaccharide recognition and which transcriptional networks they activate to accommodate infection of the root cells.

The new research findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of EPR3 and EPR3a and what triggers progression or termination of infection.

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

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 13:00
Place: Building 1252, room 204, Lecture Theatre Eduard Biermann, Søauditorierne, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Transcriptional gene regulation downstream of the LjEPR3 and LjEPR3a exopolysaccharide receptors
Contact information: Emma Birkeskov, e-mail: emb@mbg.au.dk
Members of the assessment committee:
Research Director Fernanda de Carvalho-Niebel, Laboratory of Plant-Microorganism Interactions (LIPM), France
Professor Morten Petersen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Professor Christian Kroun Damgaard (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Jens Stougaard, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor: Professor Stig Uggerhøj Andersen, 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, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C