During his PhD studies, Tomáš Heger researched human copper transporter ATP7B. In humans, this protein is impaired in Wilson's disease leading to inability to detoxify copper from the body and disfunction of copper-dependent biological processes. Despite several structures being available now, there is a lack of knowledge on how ATP7B participates in copper handling by its internal regulation as well as interactions with metal chaperones.

The new research findings presented pave the way for cryo-EM structure elucidation and isolation of endogenous native complexes of ATP7B with its interacting partners. This will help to better understand ATP7B structure and function thus also the molecular pathology in Wilson's disease.

The PhD study was completed at DANDRITE - Danish Research Institute of Translational and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 17 January 2025 at 13.30
Place: Tvillingeauditorium, Building 1324, room 011, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 10, 8000 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: Structural and Functional Studies of the Copper Transporter ATP7B
Contact information: Tomáš Heger, e-mail: heger@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 50 33 31 20
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Henriette Elisabeth Autzen, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Research Group Leader, Dr. Melanie McDowell, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Germany
Professor Daan van Aalten, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University (Chair)
Main supervisor:
Professor Poul Nissen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Assistant Professor Charlott Stock, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Chair Professor Junior Thibaud Dieudonné, Membrane Proteins and Membrane Systems Laboratory - I2BC, Université Paris-Saclay, France
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