Poul Nissen

Poul Nissen says: “The project is about solving structures of key receptors involved in nutrient uptake. A key system for control of our load of available sugar in blood stream versus deposition of energy resources is insulin and the insulin receptor. We will investigate how insulin activates the receptor to perform downstream control of other molecules and metabolic systems in the cell, and we will investigate its regulation in for example brain. Similarly, we will investigate a major amino acid (from protein in the diet) uptake system. Nutrient uptake is of key importance to all organisms and in humans it involves and controls numerous physiological processes and behaviour so that we seek food and eat properly without missing nutrients or overloading our system. Our studies will be highly enlightening for novel ideas and strategies in development of new medicine or procedures for treatment of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.”