Malene JENSEN explains : “By analyzing the structure and dynamics of proteins using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, I am gaining detailed insight into the conformational behavior of disordered proteins and their interactions with physiological partners. I am particularly interested in cell signaling and how intrinsically disordered scaffold proteins contribute to signaling specificity in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. “
In the Impulscience® project, Malene Jensen will characterize disordered scaffold proteins at atomic resolution to study their interactions with kinases and GTPases. The goal is to reveal the molecular mechanisms that control the function of scaffold proteins.
The study of specific mechanisms of cell signaling is particularly relevant as deregulation of many signaling pathways is associated with diseases such as metabolic disorders and cancer. Malene Jensen's work could therefore lead to new avenues for drug discovery by targeting the recruitment of enzymes to scaffold proteins.
Each year,
Impulscience® awards 7 new grants to researchers in life sciences. The Foundation provides up to 2.3 million euros for each project, including management costs and a personal bonus for the researcher, over a period of 5 years.
The selection process is carried out by the Fondation Bettencourt Schueller's scientific committee.