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The Gert Lubec Proteomics Laboratory
We are running a proteomics unit (see lab ranking at http://www.proteomicsresearch.org/labs.php) that is focussing on the one hand on functional neuroproteomics, evolution biology of a toxic protein and on the other hand, spontaneous ideas are followed in all areas of chemistry, biology and medicine, many projects are carried out as cooperations with scientists from all over the world.
Flexibility, warranted by our sponsor enables most efficient planning, creative and spontaneous concepts.
One major focus of the laboratory is represented by research on proteins involved in learning, memory formation and thinking in rodents. Using a series of paradigms for spatial, olfactory working and contextual memory we try to link protein levels, splice variants and posttranslational modifications to the parameters obtained from behavioural paradigms. These tests are carried out in several mouse strains, both, wild caught and laboratory mouse strains because of enormous strain/dependent differences in learning and memory (L&M) as well as in rats. Gel based mass spectrometry approaches are used in the majority of protein determinations and form the basis for the abovementioned studies. Moreover, metabolomic studies are carried out. Based upon the experience of this lab on the identification and characterisation of receptor proteins from brain tissue, these structures are holding centre stage in the laboratory. In addition to the abovementioned investigations peptides linked to behaviour are performed as well as and cognitive enhancers are being tested; moreover, we search for mechanisms of cognitive enhancement in functional neuroproteomics studies in terms of showing involvement of protein pathways and cascades. Neuroproteomic studies are complemented by verifying results by electrophysiological techniques and by immunohistochemical techniques cells and subareas involved are identified. Finally, results are verified in genetically manipulated mice or in cell culture.
Proteomic technique developed in our laboratory provides the basis for research on brain receptors, in particular brain receptor complexes.
The in-house developed methodology allows to carry out protein purification, separation, identification and characterisation of proteins on native gels with subsequent conformational studies including circular dichroism, determination of the melting temperature following electroelution as well as functional studies to show preservation of conformation in functional terms including receptor / binding tests.
Characterisation of proteins obtained from fossils, about 200 million years old, fossils from the Perm, work on drosophila heads and proteins commercially available for medical use are under investigation, to name a few. The recent detection of heavy phosphorylation and new cross links of silk cocoon proteins is another example of the variety of projects carried out.
We are about to use spiders and spider webs as biomonitors and the modifications observed on spider silk proteins will be enabling so far unknown environmental studies.
A toxic protein, glacontryphan was found on butterfly wings in our laboratory and now we have to make evolution biological studies of what links these taxa. Is this protein toxin also found in other animals-how comes that the same toxin is observed in a butterfly and a sea snail? A worldwide network has been already constructed to study venomous animals from all over the world.
Univ.Prof.Dr. Gert Lubec, FRSC (UK)
Here is a list of top 10 scientists working in the field of Proteomics research.
1. Prof. Dr. Matthias Mann, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinstied (near Munich), Germany
2. Prof. Ruedi Aebersold, Institute for Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
3. Prof. Dr.John R. Yates III, Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd. SR11, La Jolla, California 92037
4. Prof. Dr. Richard D. Smith, Biological Sciences Division and Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Washington 99352, USA
5. Prof. Dr. Julio (J.E.) Celis, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark DK-2100
6. oUniv. Prof. Dr. Gert Lubec, The Gert Lubec Proteomics Laboratory, Medical University of Vienna, Dept. of Pediatrics, Vienna, Austria
7. Prof. Dr. Albert J. R. Heck, Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Group, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
8. Prof. Dr. Lance A. Liotta, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
9. Prof. Dr. Emanuel Petricoin III, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
10. Prof. Dr. Fuchu He, Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing 100850, P. R. China