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For informations on the 12th International Congress on Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins, please click HERE.

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 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.

The major focus of the laboratory is represented by research on proteins involved in memory formation and learning in the mouse. Using a series of paradigms for spatial, olfactory and contextual memory we try to link protein levels, splice variants and posttranslational modifications to the parameters obtained from learning and memory tests. 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). Gel based mass spectrometry approaches are used in the majority of protein determinations and form the basis for the abovementioned studies. Moreover, metabolomic studies on glucose and lipid metabolism using mass spectrometry in areas involved in L&M are carried out. Based upon the experience of this lab on the identification and characterisation of receptor proteins even from brain tissue, these structures are holding centre stage in the laboratory. In addition to the abovementioned investigations peptides linked to L&M are performed as well as studies on amino acid metabolites, the polyamines. Cognitive enhancers are being tested and 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.

As to the many other studies apart from neuroproteomics we work on the analysis of serotonin, NMDA, GABA receptors and have separated and fully characterised for the very first time a strongly hydrophobic receptor protein with transmembrane domains from mouse hippocampus, one of the main areas involved in L&M. This technique provides the basis for research on these important brain proteins.

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 petrol, about 200 million years old, fossils from the Perm, proteins from butterfly wings, synapsins from 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.

oUniv.Prof.Dr. Gert Lubec