Søren Bak
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology/Plant Biochemistry Laboratory
Address:
Thorvaldsensvej 40
DK-1871Frederiksberg C
Research:
The long term goals of the Molecular Evolution research group is to elucidate the impact of evolution of plant multigene families and their impact on plant genomes, natural products, natural variation and interactions with insects and microbes.
Plants have evolved a refined and dynamic adaptation to abiotic and biotic stress based on the ability to synthesize a vast array of secondary metabolites/ natural products. Cytochromes P450 and family1 glycosyltransrerases are key multigene familes that constantly are being recruited for biosynthesis of natural product, while β–glucosidases are important for the bioactivation of stored inactive defence compounds. To learn more about these three gene families, please visit our website www.p450.kvl.dk/ (The Arabidopsis P450, cytochrome b5, P450 reductase, and Glycosyltransferase Family 1 Site at PlaCe).
To study the impact of these three key multigene families, we take a sysmbiology approach based on the following technical platform based on 1) metabolomics by LC-MS methods, 2) transcriptomics 3) metabolic engineering and molecular genetics, 4) molecular phylogeny and 5) homology modeling of enzymes combined with docking of substrates supported by biochemistry, 6) insects. For further information please visit http://www.plbio.life.ku.dk/English/Sections/plchem/Research/Molecular_Evolution.aspx
Academic degrees:
1997: Ph.D., KVL.
1993: Cand. scient. University of Copenhagen.
Employment:
Present: Professor, Dept. of Plant Biology, LIFE, KU.
2000 - 2005 Assistant & Associate Prof. Dept. of Plant Biology, KVL.
1998 - 2000: Visiting Scientist. The University of Arizona, USA.
Teaching:
Course responsible for Biochemistry 2
Course responsible for Plant Genomics together with Professor Sven Bode Andersen.
Currently involved in teaching in: Plant Genomics (BSc and MSc course), Biochemistry 2 (BSc course), Bioinformatics 1 (BSc course), Advanced Plant Biology (BSc course), Bioinformatics 2 (MSc course), Molecular Plant Biochemistry and Physiology (MSc course), Advances in Plant Biology (PhD course).
Other scientific merits:
Board member of Center for Applied Bioinformatics at LIFE, KU.
Bioinformatics website: “The Arabidopsis P450, UGT, cytochrome b5, and P450 Reductase Site at PlaCe” (www.p450.kvl.dk).