Kristina Hedfalk

Professor Kristina Hedfalk is a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Gothenburg, where she leads research on membrane-bound proteins with particular focus on aquaporins. She serves as Mission Deputy Prefect at her department and heads the yeast expression node within Protein Production Sweden (PPS), a national research infrastructure established in 2022 that supports protein production for Swedish researchers.

Her research group investigates the structure, function, and regulation of membrane proteins, with significant contributions to understanding aquaporin-mediated water and hydrogen peroxide transport. The laboratory specializes in overcoming the 'bottleneck' in eukaryotic membrane protein production through advanced expression systems, particularly in yeast platforms. Current research includes protein-protein interactions involving aquaporins, structural characterization of novel aquaporin folds, and development of quantitative transport assays.

Analysis of recent publications (2025-2015) reveals consistent focus on membrane protein expression challenges, with particular emphasis on aquaporins and transporters. The work spans structural biology, biophysics, and cellular physiology, demonstrating strong methodological innovation in membrane protein production and characterization techniques. Publications frequently appear in high-impact journals including Scientific Reports, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, and PLoS series journals.

Professor Hedfalk's research is supported through the national Protein Production Sweden infrastructure, which provides comprehensive protein production services to the Swedish research community. Her laboratory maintains active collaborations across multiple disciplines including structural biology, neuroimmunology, and marine physiology.

The laboratory currently comprises PhD student Johannes Panagiotidis and research engineer Ulrika Lind, focusing on specialized membrane protein research that bridges fundamental biochemistry with potential biomedical applications. Her work on aquaporin-calmodulin interactions and hydrogen peroxide transport mechanisms represents cutting-edge research with implications for understanding cellular signaling and disease mechanisms.