I am Professor at the Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway and PI in the Metabolism and Cancer group. Our research aims to understand molecular interactions at the atomic level and the nuanced relationships between structure, dynamics and function of biomolecules. We develop and apply computational methods to simulate molecular motions, complementing experimental observations. Through collaboration with groups that develop the Amber software package for molecular simulations, we have developed the Amber force field to simulate molecular interactions of lipid complexes. With the Amber lipid force field, we are currently able to simulate complex molecular systems of any composition. We apply these methods to understand the function of large molecular systems based on intermolecular forces and inherent dynamics. Our force field development is also relevant to methods for virtual screening of compound databases against any macromolecular target and integrates well with the experimental screening of small compounds at the Department of Biomedicine. I am cofounder and shareholder of the company Pluvia Pharma AS, a startup biotech company in Bergen that seeks to develop small molecule pharmacological chaperones with potential to correct protein misfolding diseases.

I am member of the Program Commitee for medical education at UiB and responsible for the second semester of medical school. I teach subjects in biochemistry and cell biology for pharmacy, dentistry, and medical students and am also involved in teaching structural biology as part of master's and PhD courses at the Department of Biomedicine. I offer master's projects for students in pharmacy, nanoscience, biomedicine, and medical technology, as well as projects for the research program in medicine. Through the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), I am involved in the development of biochemistry education and participate in FEBS forums as the Norwegian ambassador for biochemistry education.

When not teaching biochemistry I am very passionate about skiing and am part of the educational board of Snowsports Norway where I am involved in education and international certification of snowsport instructors.

Academic article

• Frederico F. Miranda; Matthias Thorolfsson; Knut Teigen et al. (2004). Structural and stability effects of phosphorylation � Localized structural changes in phenylalanine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Line Pedersen; Pouda Panahandeh; Muntequa Ishtiaq Siraji et al. (2020). Golgi-Localized PAQR4 Mediates Antiapoptotic Ceramidase Activity in Breast Cancer. (external link)
• Olena Dobrovolska; Maxim Brilkov; Noëlly Madeleine et al. (2020). The Arabidopsis (ASHH2) CW domain binds monomethylated K4 of the histone H3 tail through conformational selection. (external link)
• Nibal Betari; Kristoffer Sahlholm; Xavier Morató et al. (2020). Inhibition of Tryptophan Hydroxylases and Monoamine Oxidase-A by the Proton Pump Inhibitor, Omeprazole—In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations. (external link)
• Angel Pey; Matthias Thorolfsson; Knut Teigen et al. (2004). Thermodynamic characterization of the binding of tetrahydropterins to phenylalanine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Erlend Hodneland; Knut Teigen (2007). A simple method to calculate the accessible volume of protein-bound ligands: Application for ligand selectivity. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Mauro Mileni; Anne Baumann et al. (2014). The N-terminal sequence of tyrosine hydroxylase is a conformationally versatile motif that binds 14-3-3 proteins and membranes. (external link)
• Knut Teigen; Vidar Remi Jensen; Aurora Martinez (2005). The reaction mechanism of phenylalanine hydroxylase. A question of coordination. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Benjamin D. Madej; Callum J. Dickson et al. (2015). All-atom lipid bilayer self-assembly with the AMBER and CHARMM lipid force fields. (external link)
• Janne Molnes; Knut Teigen; Ingvild Aukrust et al. (2011). Binding of ATP at the active site of human pancreatic glucokinase - nucleotide-induced conformational changes with possible implications for its kinetic cooperativity. (external link)
• Jessica Siltberg-Liberles; Marte Innselset Flydal; Knut Teigen et al. (2009). Evolution of regulation, structure and function in phenylalanine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Marte Innselset Flydal; Trond-André Kråkenes; Mary Dayne Sia Tai et al. (2020). Levalbuterol lowers the feedback inhibition by dopamine and delays misfolding and aggregation in tyrosine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Sara Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2011). Formation of the Iron-Oxo Hydroxylating Species in the Catalytic Cycle of Aromatic Amino Acid Hydroxylases. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Bengt Erik Haug; Henning Lygre et al. (2011). Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in articaine can be related to superior bone tissue penetration: A molecular dynamics study. (external link)
• Magnus Hole; Jarl Underhaug; Hector Diez et al. (2015). Discovery of compounds that protect tyrosine hydroxylase activity through different mechanisms. (external link)
• Khanh Kim Dao; Knut Teigen; Reidun Kristin Kopperud et al. (2006). Epac1 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme have similar cAMP affinity, but their cAMP domains have distinct structural features and cyclic nucleotide recognition. (external link)
• Lene Elisabeth Myhren; Gyrid Nygaard; Gro Gausdal et al. (2013). Iodinin (1,6-dihydroxyphenazine 5,10-dioxide) from streptosporangium sp. induces apoptosis selectively in myeloid leukemia cell lines and patient cells. (external link)
• Knut Teigen; Nils Åge Frøystein; Aurora Martinez (1999). The structural Basis of the Recognition of Phenylalanine and Pterine Cofactors by Phenylalanine Hydroxylase. Implications for the Catalytic Mechanism. (external link)
• Josephine Prener Holtan; Knut Teigen; Ingvild Aukrust et al. (2019). Dominant ARL3-related retinitis pigmentosa. (external link)
• Ingeborg Winge; Knut Teigen; Agnete Fossbakk et al. (2015). Mammalian CSAD and GADL1 have distinct biochemical properties and patterns of brain expression. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Knut Teigen; Aurora Martinez (2009). Overview of computational methods employed in early-stage drug discovery. (external link)
• Valentina L. Kouznetsova; Hannah Hu; Knut Teigen et al. (2017). Cripto stabilizes GRP78 on the cell membrane. (external link)
• Knut Teigen; Khanh Kim Dao; Jeffrey Alan Mckinney et al. (2004). Tetrahydrobiopterin binding to aromatic amino acid hydroxylases. Ligand recognition and specificity. (external link)
• Lars Herfindal; Camilla Krakstad; Lene Elisabeth Myhren et al. (2014). Introduction of aromatic ring-containing substituents in cyclic nucleotides is associated with inhibition of toxin uptake by the hepatocyte transporters OATP 1B1 and 1B3. (external link)
• Svein Isungset Støve; Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Knut Teigen et al. (2022). Inhibition of VMAT2 by β2-adrenergic agonists, antagonists, and the atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone. (external link)
• Ianire Martin; Jarl Underhaug; Garbiñe Celaya et al. (2013). Screening and evaluation of small organic molecules as ClpB inhibitors and potential antimicrobials. (external link)
• João Leandro; Anne Jorunn Stokka; Knut Teigen et al. (2017). Substituting Tyr138 in the active site loop of human phenylalanine hydroxylase affects catalysis and substrate activation. (external link)
• Sara Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2011). Substrate Hydroxylation by the Oxido-Iron Intermediate in Aromatic Amino Acid Hydroxylases: A DFT Mechanistic Study. (external link)
• Angel Pey; Aurora Martinez; Ramamurthy Charubala et al. (2006). Specific interaction of the diastereomers 7(R)- and 7(S)-tetrahydrobiopterin with phenylalanine hydroxylase: implications for understanding primapterinuria and vitiligo. (external link)
• Callum J. Dickson; Benjamin D. Madej; Åge Aleksander Skjevik et al. (2014). Lipid14: The amber lipid force field. (external link)
• María Teresa Bueno-Carrasco; Jorge Cuellar; Marte Innselset Flydal et al. (2022). Structural mechanism for tyrosine hydroxylase inhibition by dopamine and reactivation by Ser40 phosphorylation. (external link)
• Nibal Betari; Kristoffer Sahlholm; Yuta Ishizuka et al. (2020). Discovery and biological characterization of a novel scaffold for potent inhibitors of peripheral serotonin synthesis. (external link)
• Lars Skjærven; Barry Grant; Arturo Muga et al. (2011). Conformational sampling and nucleotide-dependent transitions of the GroEL subunit probed by unbiased molecular dynamics simulations. (external link)
• Aidan Zhang; Knut Teigen; Valentina L. Kouznetsova et al. (2022). Modeling of mutant superoxide dismutase 1 octamers with cross-linked disulfide bonds. (external link)
• Anu Humisto; Jouni Jokela; Knut Teigen et al. (2019). Characterization of the interaction of the antifungal and cytotoxic cyclic glycolipopeptide hassallidin with sterol-containing lipid membranes. (external link)
• Nibal Betari; Knut Teigen; Kristoffer Sahlholm et al. (2021). Synthetic corticosteroids as tryptophan hydroxylase stabilizers. (external link)
• Knut Teigen; Nils Åge Frøystein; Aurora Martinez (1999). The structural basis of the recognition of phenylalanine and pterin cofactors by phenylalanine hydroxylase. Implications for the catalytic mechanism. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Benjamin D. Madej; Ross C. Walker et al. (2012). LIPID11: A modular framework for lipid simulations using amber. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Benjamin D. Madej; Callum J. Dickson et al. (2016). Simulation of lipid bilayer self-assembly using all-atom lipid force fields. (external link)
• Olena Dobrovolska; Øyvind Strømland; Ørjan Sele Handegård et al. (2021). Investigating the Disordered and Membrane-Active Peptide A-Cage-C Using Conformational Ensembles. (external link)
• Marte Innselset Flydal; Tonje Cecilie Mohn; Rodroguez Angel Luis Pey et al. (2010). Superstoichiometric binding of L-Phe to phenylalanine hydroxylase from Caenorhabditis elegans: evolutionary implications. (external link)
• Sara Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2010). Water dissociation and dioxygen binding in phenylalanine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Rune I. Lindstad; Knut Teigen; Lars Skjeldal (2013). Inhibition of sorbitol dehydrogenase by nucleosides and nucleotides. (external link)
• Khanh Kim Dao; Angel L. Pey; Anja Underhaug Gjerde et al. (2011). The regulatory subunit of PKA-I remains partially structured and undergoes beta-aggregation upon thermal denaturation. (external link)

Academic book chapter

• Sara Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2010). The aromatic amino acid hydroxylase mechanism: a perspective from computational chemistry. (external link)
• Lars Skjærven; Knut Teigen; Aurora Martinez (2014). Structure–Function Relationships in the Aromatic Amino Acid Hydroxylases Enzyme Family: Evolutionary Insights. (external link)

Master’s thesis

• Maria Teresa Bezem; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen (2012). Stabilisation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Nanoparticles for Enzyme Replacement Therapy. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Knut Teigen; Anja Underhaug Gjerde et al. (2008). INTERACTION OF A LOCAL ANAESTHETIC WITH MEMBRANE LIPIDS STUDIED COMPUTER MODELLING. (external link)
• Marit Elisabet Aardal; Knut Teigen; Sonnich Meier et al. (2011). Interactions between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and a phospholipid bilayer: A molecular dynamics study. (external link)
• Ellen Hovind Hjelmdal; Knut Teigen; Aurora Martinez (2016). Characterization of prevalent phenylketonuria mutations Effect of potential pharmacological chaperones. (external link)
• Monica Hallem Akerholdt; Knut Teigen; Rune Kleppe (2015). Discovery of small-molecular disruptors of protein-protein inteactions A virtual screening approach applied to 14-3-3¿ and tyrosine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Lea Francine J Longueville; Karl Johan Tronstad; Knut Teigen et al. (2024). Characterization of mutations detected in a family of severe cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). (external link)
• Ida Benedikte Pedersen; Knut Teigen; Anja Underhaug Gjerde et al. (2008). BIOLOGICAL TARGETS OF LOCAL ANAESTHETICS – A MOLECULAR MODELLING STUDY. (external link)
• Elise Skogheim; Knut Teigen; Rune Kleppe (2015). Identification of small molecular modulators of 14-3-3 functions. A virtual screening approach with experimental validation. (external link)
• Magnus Hole; Knut Teigen; Aurora Martinez (2012). SEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF COMPOUNDS THAT STABILIZE TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE - IDENTIFICATION OF PHARMACOLOGICAL CHAPERONES. (external link)
• Gerd Marie Eskerud Harris; Knut Teigen; Aurora Martinez (2014). Identification of pharmacological chaperones for Phenylalanine Hydroxylase. A virtual screening approach to discover novel drug candidates for treatment of phenylketonuria. (external link)
• Rikke Landsvik Berg; Knut Teigen; Jan Haavik (2014). Identification of inhibitors of tryptophan hydroxylase 1. (external link)

Conference poster

• Svein Isungset Støve; Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Knut Teigen et al. (2020). Searching for new inhibitors of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 by differential scanning fluorimetry. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Henning Lygre; Knut Teigen (2008). Interaction of a local anaesthetic with lipid membranes studied by computer modelling. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Svein Isungset Støve; Knut Teigen et al. (2020). Identification of VMAT2 inhibitory compounds. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Henning Lygre; Knut Teigen (2009). Molecular dynamics simulation: Interaction between the local anaesthetic articaine and membrane models. (external link)
• Ida Benedikte Pedersen; Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Henning Lygre et al. (2008). Drug-membrane interactions. An explanation for the anti-inflammatory effect of local anesthetics?. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Henning Lygre; Knut Teigen (2010). Can intramolecular hydrogen bonding in articaine be related to superior bone tissue penetration? A molecular dynamics study. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Ida Benedikte Pedersen; Henning Lygre et al. (2008). Interactions between the local anesthetic articaine and membranes: A theoretical and experiemntal study. (external link)
• Svein Isungset Støve; Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Knut Teigen et al. (2022). High-throughput screening for VMAT2 activity modulators. (external link)
• Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2010). Dioxygen Binding and Formation of the Hydroxylating FeIV=O Intermediate in Aromatic Amino Acid Hydroxylases. (external link)
• Sara Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2009). Catalytic cycle of phenylalanine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Sara Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2009). Catalytic cycle of phenylalanine hydroxylase. (external link)

Conference lecture

• Knut Teigen; Nils Åge Frøystein; Aurora Martínez (1998). NMR study on the conformation of L-phenylalanine and dihydrobiopterin bound to wild-type and mutant forms of recombinant human phenylalanine hydroxylase. (external link)
• Sara Elaine Olsson; Aurora Martinez; Knut Teigen et al. (2009). Dioxygen in aromatic amino acid hydroxylases. (external link)

Academic literature review

• Knut Teigen; Jeffrey Alan Mckinney; Jan Haavik et al. (2007). Selectivity and affinity determinants for ligand binding to the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases. (external link)
• Elaine Olsson; Knut Teigen; Aurora Martinez et al. (2010). The aromatic amino acid hydroxylase mechanism: A perspective from computational chemistry. (external link)
• Magnus Hole; Ana Jorge Finnigan; Jarl Underhaug et al. (2016). Pharmacological chaperones that protect Tetrahydrobiopterin dependent aromatic amino acid hydroxylases through different mechanisms. (external link)
• Aurora Martinez; Ana C Calvo; Knut Teigen et al. (2009). Rescuing proteins of low kinetic stability by chaperones and natural ligands; phenylketonuria, a case study. (external link)

Doctoral thesis (PhD)

• Magnus Hole; Knut Teigen (2015). A study of Structure-Function-Stability Relationships in Tyrosine Hydroxylase. (external link)
• Knut Teigen (2004). Structural and Functional Aspects of Pterin-Binding Enzymes - A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Molecular Modeling Study. (external link)

Conference abstract

• Ross C. Walker; Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Knut Teigen (2012). Developing a comprehensive modular phospholipid force field for AMBER. (external link)
• Benjamin D. Madej; Age Skjevik; Knut Teigen et al. (2012). AMBER-Lipid 11: A new modular lipid force field for molecular dynamics. (external link)

Journal corrigendum

• Magnus Hole; Jarl Underhaug; Hector Diez et al. (2016). Erratum: Discovery of compounds that protect tyrosine hydroxylase activity through different mechanisms (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins and Proteomics (2015) 1854:9 (1078-1089) DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2015.04.030). (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.