Research topics
The Department of Biochemistry of Cellular Biomedical Systems investigates biochemical processes with biomedical relevance in a cellular context. We are particularly interested to understand how processes in the cell nucleus, for example to control gene expression via epigenetic changes, interact with processes in other cellular compartments, in particular the mitochondria. During cell development, this interaction is subject to dynamic regulation in order to ensure the appropriate gene expression program for the respective developmental stage or to stop further development in the event of DNA damage and mutations. Miscommunication between the nucleus and other cell compartments favors developmental disorders and promotes tumorigenesis. Using mass spectrometry-based protein interaction and proteome profiling studies, we aim to decipher the mechanisms that control the communication of cell nucleus processes with other cellular processes, including energy metabolism, and how these are altered in disease processes in order to derive new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of leukemia, for example.
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