Research groups

Associated to The PhD school in Molecular and Structural Biology (MSB) are eight research groups from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology and Faculty of Health Sciences. About 30 students are presently associated to the school. A brief summary of the groups' research and contact information is listed below.

The Norwegian Structural Biology Centre
Group Leaders:
Arne O Smalås	arne.smalas@uit.no
Rickhard A. Engh	richard.engh@uit.no
Nils P. Willassen	nils-peder.willassen@uit.no
Trond Ø. Jørgensen	trond.jorgensen@uit.no

The Molecular Biosystems Research Group
Group Leader:
Nils P. Willassen	nils-peder.willassen@uit.no

The Molecular Modeling Group
Group Leader:
Ingebrigt Sylte	ingebrigt.sylte@uit.no

Molecular Pathology Research Group
Group Leader:
Ole Petter Rekvig	ole.p.rekvig@uit.no

Molecular Cancer Research Group
Group Leader:
Terje Johansen	terje.johansen@uit.no

The Cellular Signalling and Gene Regulation Research Group
Group Leader:
Ugo Moens	ugo.moens@uit.no

RNA and Transcriptome Research Group
Group Leader:
Steinar Johansen	steinar.johansen@uit.no

The Molecular Genetics Research Group
Group Leader:
Invild Mikkola	ingvild.mikkola@uit.no


Norwegian Structural Biology Centre NorStruct is a national service and competence centre in structural biology generally, and in X-ray crystallographic methods specifically. The Centre is, as an external collaborator, involved in a range of projects nation-wide, in addition to projects governed by the 4 group leaders. The in-house projects covers structure-function relation studies of molecules involved in fish pathogen-host interactions, molecular adaptation (to temperature & salinity), basic mechanisms of protein-protein interactions, DNA-repair enzymes, protein kinases, proteinase specificity, enzyme redesign, development of bioinformatics tools and computational methods. NorStruct is also running a genome project on the fish pathogenic bacteria, Vibro salmonicida.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/norstruct
	The Molecular Biosystems Research Group The protein research group current focus is on molecular adaptation using the psychrophilic and moderate halophilic fish pathogen V. salmonicida as a model system. Our goal is to understand adaptation to specific environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity and host (pathogen-host interactions) using a genome-based approach (functional genomics) which includes comparative genomics, expression profiling, RNomics and structural genomics.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/ansatte/organisasjon/artikkel?p_document_id=169391&p_dimension_id=88139&p_menu=28713&p_lang=1
The Molecular Modeling Group Molecular modeling techniques are used to study the structure-function relationships of proteins and their ligands. The molecular modeling techniques include homology modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, ligand docking, methods for predicting the free energy of protein – ligand association, and sequence/structure analysis. The work is focusing on proteins involved in a variety of basic cellular processes with a potential as targets for therapeutic intervention. The ongoing projects cover the study of (1) membrane bound receptors and transporters, (2) dehydrogenases/reductases, (3) nuclear receptors and (4) Zinc containing proteinases.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/medbiologi/farmakologi-forskning/
	Molecular Pathology Research Group The Molecular Immunology Research Group is characterizing the molecular and cellular origin of autoimmunity to DNA and nucleosomes, and how this highly specific autoimmunity initiates potentially fatal glomerulonephritis in SLE. These studies imply cell biology, generation of tetracycline regulated transgenic mice, morphological studies and gene-expression studies. Experimentally and in vitro obtained results and information are further validated in human SLE patients. Practical aims of these studies include development of more specific diagnostic assays relevant to distinguish SLE from less serious disorders that may mimick SLE.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/ansatte/organisasjon/hjem?p_dimension_id=92428&p_menu=42374&p_lang=1
Molecular Cancer Research Group The molecular characterization and functional role(s) of specific protein-protein interactions in intracellular signal transduction and transcriptional regulation is a major focus of the research. The roles of atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) isozymes in signaling pathways affecting cell growth and differentiation, cell survival and apoptosis, cell polarity and morphology are focused, along with members of the Pax family of transcription factors playing decisive roles in organogenesis during embryonic development. A novel, large nuclear protein, SPBP, which may act both as a sequence-specific transcription factor and as a coactivator is also being studied.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/ansatte/organisasjon/hjem?p_dimension_id=92429&p_menu=42374&p_lang=1
	The Cellular Signalling and Gene Regulation Research Group Our research is focusing on the regulation of the transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) and the different signalling pathways that convert to this transcription factor. We are also studying the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, with special attention on MAPK-activated protein kinase MK5 (also referred to as PRAK). The major aims of these studies are to unravel the biological role of this protein kinase.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/medbiologi/research/2
RNA and Transcriptome Research Group The focus of this lab is to study the biology, reaction, and structure of catalytic RNA (ribozymes). RNA is a close chemical relative to DNA, and can possess enzymatic activities without essential assistance of proteins. Principal interests are the structural and functional basis of group I self-splicing ribozymes, and the application of ribozymes as tools in medical therapy. The ribozyme mediated medical strategies include mRNA repair by group I ribozymes and mRNA inactivation by self-cleaving hammerhead ribozymes. The group is also using group I ribozymes and other specific regions of RNA genes as molecular markers in phylogenetic analyses.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/ansatte/organisasjon/hjem?p_dimension_id=92436&p_menu=42374&p_lang=1
	Molecular Genetics Research Group Pax6 is an evolutionary conserved transcription factor, expressed in the central nervous system, the eye, nose and pancreas during vertebrate embryo development. Pax6 mutants lead to the eye phenotype Aniridia in humans, and is also coupled to glucose intolerance. Several cancer cell lines show deregulated expression of Pax6. None of he published Pax6 targets genes are able to explain the phenotypes observed when Pax6 is mutated, or what Pax6 possible could contribute to in tumors. The purpose of this research project is therefore to identify new target genes for the transcription factor Pax6, both in normal cells and in cancer.
The group's home page: https://uit.no/ansatte/organisasjon/artikkel?p_document_id=90738&p_dimension_id=88118&p_menu=42374&p_lang=2

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