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Gisela Brändén

Professor

Department of Chemistry & Molecular Biology
Telephone
+46 708-11 32 15
Mail
gisela.branden@gu.se
Visiting address
Medicinaregatan 7 B
41390 Göteborg
Postal address
Box 462
40530 Göteborg

About Gisela Brändén

I am a structural biologist/biochemist with expertise in cellular metabolism, enzymology and structure-based drug design. Since 2014, I lead a research group at the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg.

Research: The focus of my research is to study protein structure, function and dynamics. We use a combination of different biochemical and biophysical methods to describe proteins in detail as they work, including X-ray crystallography, absorbance spectroscopy, X-ray Scattering and X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) diffractive imaging. We put a lot of effort into development of time resolved synchrotron- and XFEL-based methods, including serial crystallography. Using these methods, we investigate cellular metabolism and map the energy converting systems of the cell. Specifically, I am interested in the protein cytochrome c oxidase of the respiratory chain and how it links a redox reaction to the transfer of charges across a biological membrane. I collaborate closely with MAX IV Laboratories on advancing synchrotron-based serial crystallography.

Another area of focus is novel methods for structure-based drug design. In collaboration with AstraZeneca, MAX IV and German partners, we explore the use of serial crystallography in drug discovery. Serial crystallography provides detailed structural information at room-temperature and has potential for higher automation than conventional crystallography.

The cytochrome P450s make up the main drug-metabolizing system in the body. We are specifically interested in the dynamic properties of the human proteins and track these by use of different X-ray methods as well as single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. In a collaboration with Chalmers within biotechnology and enzymology, we study microbial biomass degradation and the reactions catalyzed by glucuronoyl esterases. Another interest is related to finding novel targets to overcome the acutely developing problem of antibiotic resistance, for example through studies of the membrane-bound protein MraY which is essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Link to Google scholar: https://scholar.google.se/citations?user=A9uO-GIAAAAJ&hl=eng

Teaching: I am course responsible for our second-year biochemistry course KEM060 (15 hec) where I lecture on cell metabolism. In addition, I lecture on structure-based drug design on the advanced course KEM360. I regularly supervise and examine project students on various levels and programs.

Other: I am Vice Dean at the Faculty of Science and Technology since 2021 with responsibility for cooperation, innovation and internationalization. Among other things, I drive our collaboration within Life Sciences with other regional actors. I am also a member of the Research Quality committee at the university.

As vice chair and representative of the University of Gothenburg in the national University Reference Group for MAX IV (URG), I work to strengthen activities at the university related to MAX IV. I am also elected member of the ESRF Science Advisory Committee.

I am co-founder of the company Serial X (www.serialx.se) that provides sample delivery devices for Life Science applications.

Group members: Andreas Dunge (PhD student), Gabrielle Wehlander (PhD student), Johan Glerup (PhD student), Josefin Rideus (project student)

PhD students to have graduated: Elin Dunevall (2019), Cecilia Safari (2019), Jenny Hering (2020), Owens Uwangue (2023), Doris Zoric (2023), Jonatan Johannesson (2025)

Funding: Swedish Research Council, Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research