Molecular Biochemistry

The Molecular Biochemistry group conducts research in the fields of biotechnology, enzymology, structural biology, vaccinology, UV photobiology, laser action spectroscopy, and plant physiology. With high class equipment and dedicated staff we are at the forefront of the research within the topics in which we take part. Of special note is the unique instrumentation in the form of a high resolution (0.4 nm) tunable laser in the UV region (220-400 nm) with which we can perform a range of photochemical and photobiological studies on biological tissues, solutions of proteins and other biomolecules, and organic and inorganic materials alike. We especially welcome suggestions for collaboration in which our laser can be of use ().

Our research has lead to discovery and investigations into for instance UV photoreceptors, antioxidative properties of vitamins, protein manufacturing in green plants, development of vaccines, and development of drugs against atherosclerosis. Several of these results and their products are subjects for commercialization efforts.

Selected publications

Morales, L.O., Brosché, M., Vainonen, J., Jenkins, G.I., Wargent, J., Sipari, N., Strid, Å., Lindfors, A., Tegelberg, R. & Aphalo, P.J. (2013) Multiple roles for the UV RESISTANT LOCUS 8 in regulating gene expression and metabolite accumulation in Arabidopsis under solar UV radiation. Plant Physiol. 161, 744-759.

Hideg, É., Jansen, M. & Strid, Å. (2013) UV-B radiation, ROS and stress; inseparable companions or loosely linked associates? Trends in Plant Science 18, 107-115.

Wu, M., Eriksson, L.A. & Strid, Å. (2013) Theoretical prediction of the protein-protein interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana COP1 and UVR8. Theor. Chem. Acc. 132:1371.

Wu, M., Strid, Å. & Eriksson, L.A. (2013) Interactions and Stabilities of the UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) Protein Dimer and its key Mutants. J. Chem. Inf. Model. 53, 1736-1746.

Wu, M., Strid, Å. & Eriksson, L.A. (2013) Development of Non-standard Arginine Residue Parameters for use with the AMBER Force Field. Chem. Phys. Lett. 584, 188-194.
doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2013.08.071

Ateia Elmabsout, A., Kumawat, A., Saenz-Méndez, P., Krivospitskaya O., Sävenstrand, H., Eriksson, L.A., Strid, Å., Törmä, H. & Sirsjö A. (2012) Cloning and functional studies of a splice variant of CYP26B1 expressed in vascular cells. 
PLoS ONE 7, e36839.

Comont, D., Abaigar, J.M., Albert, A., Aphalo, P., Causton, D.R., Figueroa, F.L., Gaberscik, A., Llorens, L., Hauser, M.-T., Jansen, M.A.K., Kardefelt, M., de la Coba Luque, P., Neubert, S., Núñez-Olivera, E., Olsen, J., Robson, M., Schreiner, M., Sommaruga, R., Strid, Å., Torre, T., Turunen, M., Veljovic-Jovanovic, S., Verdaguer, D., Vidovic, M., Wagner, J., Winkler, J.B., Zipoli, G. & Gwynn-Jones D. (2012) UV-responses of Lolium perenne raised along a latitudinal gradient across Europe: A filtration study. Physiol Plant. 145, 604-618.

Saenz-Méndez P., Elmabsout A.A., Sävenstrand, H., Awadalla, M.H.A., Strid, Å., Sirsjö A. & Eriksson L.A. (2012) Homology Models of Human all-trans-Retinoic Acid Metabolizing Enzymes CYP26B1 and CYP26B1 Spliced-Variant. J. Chem. Inf. Model. 52, 2631-2637.

Aphalo, P.J., Albert, A., McLeod, A., Heikkilä, A., ván Gómez, I., López Figueroa, F. & Strid, Å. (2012) Chapter 2. Manipulating UV radiation. In ”Beyond the visible: A handbook of best practice in plant UV photobiology. COST action F0906 ‘UV4growth’ ” Edited by: Aphalo, P.J., Albert, A., Björn, L.O., McLeod, A.R., Robson, T.M. & Rosenqvist, E. Helsinki University, Division of Plant Biology, Helsinki, Finland. 1st edition. pp. 35-70. ISBN 978-952-10-8362-4 (paperback), 978-952-10-8363-2 (PDF).

Ristilä, M., Strid, H., Eriksson, L.A., Strid, Å. & Sävenstrand, H. (2011) The role of the pyridoxine (vitamin B₆) biosynthesis enzyme PDX1 in ultraviolet-B radiation responses in plants. Plant Physiol Biochem 49, 284-292.

Tian, B., Strid, Å. & Eriksson, L.A. (2011) Catalytic Roles of Active Site Residues in 2-Methyl-3-hydroxypyridine-5-carboxylic Acid Oxygenase: An ONIOM/DFT Study. J. Phys. Chem. B. 115, 1918–1926.

Scherbak, N., Ala-Häiväla, A., Böwer, N., Strid, H., Grahn, E., Brosché, M., Eriksson, L.A., Gittins, J.R. & Strid, Å. (2011) The pea SAD short chain dehydrogenase/reductase: quinone reduction, tissue distribution, and heterologous expression. Plant Physiol. 155, 1839-1850.

Wu M., Grahn E., Eriksson, L.A. & Strid, Å. (2011) Computational evidence for the role of Arabidopsis thaliana UVR8 as UV-B photoreceptor, and identification of its chromophore amino acids. J. Chem. Inf. Model. 51, 1287-1295.

Kalbina I., Wallin A., Lindh I., Engström P., Andersson S. & Strid Å. (2011) A novel chimeric MOMP antigen expressed in Escherichia coli, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Daucus carota as a potential Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine candidate. Prot. Expr. Purif. 80, 194-202.

Wu M., Xu, Q., Strid, Å., Martell J.M. & Eriksson, L.A. (2011) Theoretical Study of Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) Photolysis. J Phys Chem A. 115, 13556–13563.