We are delighted to announce the successful thesis defense of Dr Magali Schwob, marking the culmination of three years of dedicated research on GPCRs and their expression in yeast.
“Exploring the bioproduction potential of the Pichia pastoris system for the structural study of GPCR-Protein G signaling complexes”
Her thesis, titled in French “Exploration du potentiel de bioproduction du système Pichia pastoris pour l’étude structurale de complexes de signalisation RCPG-Protéines G”, was carried out in collaboration between Novalix and IMPReSs (Integral Membrane Proteins Research and Services) through a CIFRE grant.
Supervised by Dr Renaud Wagner, Platform Manager at IMPReSs (UAE3286 PCBIS CNRS) and Dr Gilbert Bey, Head of Membrane Proteins at Novalix, this research aimed to explore new strategies to enhance process efficiency, reducing both costs and timeframes.
A thesis defense praised by the jury
During her thesis defense, Magali Schwob delivered a structured and engaging presentation, showcasing her work on optimizing the expression of four GPCRs and G proteins in Pichia pastoris to produce GPCR-G protein complexes. Despite the challenges of expressing these complexes in yeast, she successfully purified native A2AAR-Gσq complexes using insect cells—leading to the first-ever cryo-EM structure of A2AAR in its native form. Her findings pave the way for advancements in co-expression systems and will contribute to multiple high-impact publications.
The jury praised Dr Schwob’s perseverance, expertise, and mastery of literature, methodologies, and analyses, emphasizing the challenges of membrane protein purification and the significance of her work.
This achievement underscores our commitment to innovation in membrane protein research, pushing boundaries to support our clients and advancing knowledge of these complex yet crucial pharmacological targets.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Magali Schwob and wish her a fulfilling career in science. May her journey inspire the next generation of women and girls in research!