Bjørn Panyella Pedersen
@bjornppedersen.bsky.social
🌿Structural biologist. Dept Molecular Biology & Genetics at Aarhus University 🇩🇰. Pedersenlab.dk. Plant membrane proteins. Metabolite transport. Mostly hormones, sugar and lipids. Crystallography/cryo-EM methods.
A Good Day in the lab 🤩:
August 14, 2025 at 1:21 PM
A Good Day in the lab 🤩:
8/ We also show that AUX/LAX proteins transport auxin-like herbicides. These compounds account for 20% of worldwide herbicide usage in agriculture🌽🌾🍞.
August 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
8/ We also show that AUX/LAX proteins transport auxin-like herbicides. These compounds account for 20% of worldwide herbicide usage in agriculture🌽🌾🍞.
7/ After that we worked tirelessly to get all the data needed to support this initial structural breakthrough.
LAX3 turns out to be a very high affinity importer with a Km in the nanomolar range, as compared to the PIN exporters that have a Km in the micromolar range.
LAX3 turns out to be a very high affinity importer with a Km in the nanomolar range, as compared to the PIN exporters that have a Km in the micromolar range.
August 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
7/ After that we worked tirelessly to get all the data needed to support this initial structural breakthrough.
LAX3 turns out to be a very high affinity importer with a Km in the nanomolar range, as compared to the PIN exporters that have a Km in the micromolar range.
LAX3 turns out to be a very high affinity importer with a Km in the nanomolar range, as compared to the PIN exporters that have a Km in the micromolar range.
6/ AND this is also a cautionary tale to follow-up on experiments. Running 100's of processing jobs🖥️ we missed the solution. It was sitting on the cluster for ~2 months unnoticed before a routine check by Lam before deleting old jobs caught the solution. This was around Xmas 2023🎄. A perfect gift🎁.
August 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
6/ AND this is also a cautionary tale to follow-up on experiments. Running 100's of processing jobs🖥️ we missed the solution. It was sitting on the cluster for ~2 months unnoticed before a routine check by Lam before deleting old jobs caught the solution. This was around Xmas 2023🎄. A perfect gift🎁.
4/ LAX3 and AUX/LAX proteins belong to the APC super family (think LeuT-fold for you structure aficionados out there🤓).
We managed to get 4 structures in 3 different conformational states with 3 different substrates and inhibitors.😅🤩
We managed to get 4 structures in 3 different conformational states with 3 different substrates and inhibitors.😅🤩
August 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
4/ LAX3 and AUX/LAX proteins belong to the APC super family (think LeuT-fold for you structure aficionados out there🤓).
We managed to get 4 structures in 3 different conformational states with 3 different substrates and inhibitors.😅🤩
We managed to get 4 structures in 3 different conformational states with 3 different substrates and inhibitors.😅🤩
3/ PAT is defined by cellular export🔼 by the PIN family, and by cellular auxin IMPORT⏬ by the AUX/LAX family.
This paper target how AUX/LAX proteins recognize auxin and drive import. We use the protein LAX3 for this purpose, central for development of lateral roots (nutrients and water).
This paper target how AUX/LAX proteins recognize auxin and drive import. We use the protein LAX3 for this purpose, central for development of lateral roots (nutrients and water).
August 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
3/ PAT is defined by cellular export🔼 by the PIN family, and by cellular auxin IMPORT⏬ by the AUX/LAX family.
This paper target how AUX/LAX proteins recognize auxin and drive import. We use the protein LAX3 for this purpose, central for development of lateral roots (nutrients and water).
This paper target how AUX/LAX proteins recognize auxin and drive import. We use the protein LAX3 for this purpose, central for development of lateral roots (nutrients and water).
1/ A real tour de force by ⭐@unglam.bsky.social (now starting a group at IPBS-Toulouse) with a lot of support from a whole range of people from our newly started DNRF Center of Excellence Plant-PATH (plant-path.au.dk). Especially our close collaborator and center partner @uhammes.bsky.social.
August 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
1/ A real tour de force by ⭐@unglam.bsky.social (now starting a group at IPBS-Toulouse) with a lot of support from a whole range of people from our newly started DNRF Center of Excellence Plant-PATH (plant-path.au.dk). Especially our close collaborator and center partner @uhammes.bsky.social.
Best thing is to come back from ⛰️vacation☀️ to find a manuscript has metamorphosed into a published paper, so..
🚀 Check out our paper on hormone import⏬ into plant cells in @natplants.nature.com 🌱👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🚀 Check out our paper on hormone import⏬ into plant cells in @natplants.nature.com 🌱👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Best thing is to come back from ⛰️vacation☀️ to find a manuscript has metamorphosed into a published paper, so..
🚀 Check out our paper on hormone import⏬ into plant cells in @natplants.nature.com 🌱👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🚀 Check out our paper on hormone import⏬ into plant cells in @natplants.nature.com 🌱👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Just had our 2025 Lab Retreat 🥳. Great science🌱 and interactions 🐛🐝 at Aarhus Harbour🏊♀️🛥️ in the nice weather🌞.
May 13, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Just had our 2025 Lab Retreat 🥳. Great science🌱 and interactions 🐛🐝 at Aarhus Harbour🏊♀️🛥️ in the nice weather🌞.
5/
Ultimately we show that we can swap the affinity of fructose and glucose by moving a single methyl group!🤓
This highlights that very minute structural differences that manifest during transport are sufficient to modify transport selectivity.🤯
Ultimately we show that we can swap the affinity of fructose and glucose by moving a single methyl group!🤓
This highlights that very minute structural differences that manifest during transport are sufficient to modify transport selectivity.🤯
April 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
5/
Ultimately we show that we can swap the affinity of fructose and glucose by moving a single methyl group!🤓
This highlights that very minute structural differences that manifest during transport are sufficient to modify transport selectivity.🤯
Ultimately we show that we can swap the affinity of fructose and glucose by moving a single methyl group!🤓
This highlights that very minute structural differences that manifest during transport are sufficient to modify transport selectivity.🤯
4/
👀 relevant for transporter aficionados, we have tested 3 different methodologies to derive apparent affinities (Km) and show that biophysical parameters are highly dependent on protein environment and methodology..
If you compare transport between protein isoforms and methodologies ⚠️BEWARE⚠️
👀 relevant for transporter aficionados, we have tested 3 different methodologies to derive apparent affinities (Km) and show that biophysical parameters are highly dependent on protein environment and methodology..
If you compare transport between protein isoforms and methodologies ⚠️BEWARE⚠️
April 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
4/
👀 relevant for transporter aficionados, we have tested 3 different methodologies to derive apparent affinities (Km) and show that biophysical parameters are highly dependent on protein environment and methodology..
If you compare transport between protein isoforms and methodologies ⚠️BEWARE⚠️
👀 relevant for transporter aficionados, we have tested 3 different methodologies to derive apparent affinities (Km) and show that biophysical parameters are highly dependent on protein environment and methodology..
If you compare transport between protein isoforms and methodologies ⚠️BEWARE⚠️
3/
this is relevant because the main sugar derived from photosynthesis is sucrose🍭 which is equal parts glucose🍬 and fructose 🍡.
this is relevant because the main sugar derived from photosynthesis is sucrose🍭 which is equal parts glucose🍬 and fructose 🍡.
April 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
3/
this is relevant because the main sugar derived from photosynthesis is sucrose🍭 which is equal parts glucose🍬 and fructose 🍡.
this is relevant because the main sugar derived from photosynthesis is sucrose🍭 which is equal parts glucose🍬 and fructose 🍡.
1/
💎💎💎💎 💎💎💎💎
sitting drop membrane protein CRYSTALS 💓
Look at that packing..💖
💎💎💎💎 💎💎💎💎
sitting drop membrane protein CRYSTALS 💓
Look at that packing..💖
April 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
1/
💎💎💎💎 💎💎💎💎
sitting drop membrane protein CRYSTALS 💓
Look at that packing..💖
💎💎💎💎 💎💎💎💎
sitting drop membrane protein CRYSTALS 💓
Look at that packing..💖
🚀 Check out our latest paper on the selectivity of sugar transport in plants👇
Amazing work initiated by ⭐Laust Bavnhøj and spearheaded by 💫Camilla Andersen:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also
💎💎💎💎 CRYSTALS💎💎💎💎
Amazing work initiated by ⭐Laust Bavnhøj and spearheaded by 💫Camilla Andersen:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also
💎💎💎💎 CRYSTALS💎💎💎💎
April 28, 2025 at 1:22 PM
🚀 Check out our latest paper on the selectivity of sugar transport in plants👇
Amazing work initiated by ⭐Laust Bavnhøj and spearheaded by 💫Camilla Andersen:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also
💎💎💎💎 CRYSTALS💎💎💎💎
Amazing work initiated by ⭐Laust Bavnhøj and spearheaded by 💫Camilla Andersen:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also
💎💎💎💎 CRYSTALS💎💎💎💎
DLS safety training. At least I'll get this one right..😂
March 4, 2025 at 7:51 AM
DLS safety training. At least I'll get this one right..😂
⭐8 days left to apply for 👇 postdoc position ⭐
and join an international group of great people😊
and join an international group of great people😊
February 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
⭐8 days left to apply for 👇 postdoc position ⭐
and join an international group of great people😊
and join an international group of great people😊
Interested in membrane proteins, biophysics, structures and hormone transport in plants?☘️🔬👩🔬🧪
Our new Plant-PATH center is launching soon, and we are looking for 1-2 PhD students to join from day 1.⭐
- Deadline 1. Feb 2025.
- Details and application link: tinyurl.com/44hf9zkd
Please repost 💚
Our new Plant-PATH center is launching soon, and we are looking for 1-2 PhD students to join from day 1.⭐
- Deadline 1. Feb 2025.
- Details and application link: tinyurl.com/44hf9zkd
Please repost 💚
January 14, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Interested in membrane proteins, biophysics, structures and hormone transport in plants?☘️🔬👩🔬🧪
Our new Plant-PATH center is launching soon, and we are looking for 1-2 PhD students to join from day 1.⭐
- Deadline 1. Feb 2025.
- Details and application link: tinyurl.com/44hf9zkd
Please repost 💚
Our new Plant-PATH center is launching soon, and we are looking for 1-2 PhD students to join from day 1.⭐
- Deadline 1. Feb 2025.
- Details and application link: tinyurl.com/44hf9zkd
Please repost 💚
Welp.. I guess that's it then😂. I'll be back in the office Jan 6th.🎄
December 20, 2024 at 10:54 AM
Welp.. I guess that's it then😂. I'll be back in the office Jan 6th.🎄
Four days left for our open position for a postdoc in beautiful Aarhus/Denmark👇👇. If you are interested in structural biology and membrane protein transport⭐ I hope you apply. A fantastic group. Here seen in the wild at our last lab retreat😊😊
December 17, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Four days left for our open position for a postdoc in beautiful Aarhus/Denmark👇👇. If you are interested in structural biology and membrane protein transport⭐ I hope you apply. A fantastic group. Here seen in the wild at our last lab retreat😊😊
And we use biophysical methods to determine the affinity of binding. A non-trivial task given the extremely hydrophobic nature of the substrates. 🤬
6/
6/
November 19, 2024 at 2:03 PM
And we use biophysical methods to determine the affinity of binding. A non-trivial task given the extremely hydrophobic nature of the substrates. 🤬
6/
6/
We show that the NTD has specificity of a range of lipids and sterols that overlap with NCR2.
5/
5/
November 19, 2024 at 2:03 PM
We show that the NTD has specificity of a range of lipids and sterols that overlap with NCR2.
5/
5/
We solve crystal structures🔮 of the N-terminal Domain (NTD) of NCR1 in complex with different substrates. This is the domain that recognizes substrates, delivered by the protein NPC2, and 'load' the membrane protein for lipid/sterol integration.
4/
4/
November 19, 2024 at 2:03 PM
We solve crystal structures🔮 of the N-terminal Domain (NTD) of NCR1 in complex with different substrates. This is the domain that recognizes substrates, delivered by the protein NPC2, and 'load' the membrane protein for lipid/sterol integration.
4/
4/
If you like crystallography💎 (who doesn't) and the bitter-sweet pain of hard-to-work-with-ligands😭, then check out our latest publication,👇
“Structural and biochemical analysis of ligand binding in yeast Niemann–Pick type C1–related protein”
1/
“Structural and biochemical analysis of ligand binding in yeast Niemann–Pick type C1–related protein”
1/
November 19, 2024 at 2:03 PM
If you like crystallography💎 (who doesn't) and the bitter-sweet pain of hard-to-work-with-ligands😭, then check out our latest publication,👇
“Structural and biochemical analysis of ligand binding in yeast Niemann–Pick type C1–related protein”
1/
“Structural and biochemical analysis of ligand binding in yeast Niemann–Pick type C1–related protein”
1/
Reposting😊:
OPEN CALL: Lundbeck Foundation Scientific Enrichment Prize
DKK 100,000. The prize celebrates leaders in biomedical, health, and clinical sciences who embrace diversity to drive innovative solutions.
• Deadline: January 22, 2025
• About: lundbeckfonden.com/uddelinger-p...
#grant
#dkforsk
OPEN CALL: Lundbeck Foundation Scientific Enrichment Prize
DKK 100,000. The prize celebrates leaders in biomedical, health, and clinical sciences who embrace diversity to drive innovative solutions.
• Deadline: January 22, 2025
• About: lundbeckfonden.com/uddelinger-p...
#grant
#dkforsk
November 15, 2024 at 7:23 AM
Reposting😊:
OPEN CALL: Lundbeck Foundation Scientific Enrichment Prize
DKK 100,000. The prize celebrates leaders in biomedical, health, and clinical sciences who embrace diversity to drive innovative solutions.
• Deadline: January 22, 2025
• About: lundbeckfonden.com/uddelinger-p...
#grant
#dkforsk
OPEN CALL: Lundbeck Foundation Scientific Enrichment Prize
DKK 100,000. The prize celebrates leaders in biomedical, health, and clinical sciences who embrace diversity to drive innovative solutions.
• Deadline: January 22, 2025
• About: lundbeckfonden.com/uddelinger-p...
#grant
#dkforsk
Huge Congratulations 🥳 to Lynette Nel who just successfully defended her PhD. Amazing effort 🌟with great papers as the outcome working on the sterol NPC system.
Very proud supervisor! 🤩😄🥂
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38568972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39455279/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34897668/
Very proud supervisor! 🤩😄🥂
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38568972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39455279/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34897668/
November 12, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Huge Congratulations 🥳 to Lynette Nel who just successfully defended her PhD. Amazing effort 🌟with great papers as the outcome working on the sterol NPC system.
Very proud supervisor! 🤩😄🥂
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38568972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39455279/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34897668/
Very proud supervisor! 🤩😄🥂
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38568972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39455279/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34897668/