tRNA selection represents a critical step during protein synthesis, preventing the misincorporation of incorrect amino acids. During her PhD studies, Pernille Nedergaard Madsen has established a pipeline of methods that set a solid foundation for future studies of the structural dynamics of eukaryotic elongation factor 1A during translational decoding. Pernille designed and applied a strategy for the efficient engineering, production, and characterization of yeast eEF1A variants, allowing future studies of the dynamic properties of the elongation factor with an advanced single-molecule microscopy technique.

Uncovering the dynamic behavior of the elongation factor during translation will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms behind tRNA selection and holds many promises for therapeutic and biotechnological applications, including the design of new cancer treatments and drugs against multi-resistant bacteria.

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: Thursday, 27 June 2024 at 13:00
Place: Building 1871, room 120, Auditorium Nucleus, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 81, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Structural dynamics of yeast eEF1A during translation – Design of a pipeline for efficient engineering of eEF1A variants for single-molecule microscopy
Contact information: Pernille Nedergaard Madsen, e-mail: pnm@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 40459896
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Suparna Sanyal, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden
Associate Professor Michael Askvad Sørensen, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Associate Professor Anni Hangaard Andersen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Charlotte Rohde Knudsen, 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.