Researcher from LTH receives SEK 36 million from the Wallenberg Foundation

Mikael Akke, professor of biophysical chemistry, receives SEK 36 million in order to “crack the allosteric code” – research that will lead to increased knowledge about why certain mutations cause diseases as well as how drugs can be developed based on predictive methods.

Allostery is a basic characteristic of proteins – the body’s molecular machines that maintain vital functions. Allostery occurs when a certain type of molecule binds to a part of the protein and affects the protein’s ability to bind other molecules. Allostery leads to a “gradual setting” of the protein’s activity instead of abrupt on-off regulation. Knowledge about this gradual setting of the protein makes it possible to better understand certain diseases, as well as develop drugs that can more successfully fine-tune the function of proteins.

“I am now looking forward to recruiting doctoral students and postdocs who want to get involved in our novel approach to studying allostery. I am extremely pleased to receive this prestigious grant, which enables me to take on this exciting research project together with my colleagues in Lund and Stockholm,” says Mikael Akke.

This year, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is granting a total of SEK 700 million to 23 innovative basic research projects at Swedish higher education institutions. The other researchers from Lund University are Göran Jönsson, Sara Linse and Mathieu Gisselbrecht.