prof. dr. A. (Arjan) Kortholt

Dr. Arjan Kortholt studied Chemistry and received his PhD degree from the University of Groningen in 2009. During his PhD he studied the molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic cell movement and the role of small G-proteins in the navigation in gradients of diffusive molecules. In 2007 he started working on the biochemical and structural characterization of small G-proteins in the laboratory of Dr. Wittinghofer (MPI Dortmund). In 2009 he received a Research fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and since 2010 he has been associate professor at the University of Groningen. The primary aim of his current research is therapeutic targeting of LRRK2-mediated Parkinson’s disease by elucidating the structure, activation mechanism and function of LRRK2 and related Roco family proteins. In addition he investigates the molecular basis of gradient sensing and polarity in Dictyostelium.  Towards this end, he has used a combination of genetic investigations to probe the basis of gradient amplification and biochemical interaction screens to identify novel effectors of small and heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in Dictyostelium.  He publishes on a regularly basis in high ranking journals such as PNAS,  EMBO, Developmental Cell, Journal of Biological chemistry and Journal of Cell Biology. He received various prestigious grants and awards, including a major young research grant of the Dutch government (VIDI) and the NVBMB prize 2017 from the Dutch Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He is since 2010 member of the LRRK2 function and structure consortium which is supported by the Michael J. FOX Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Kortholt has over 40 peer-reviewed papers; his h-index is 19 (Google Scholar) and 19 (Web of Science).

For a complete publication list see also My Bibliography.