Integrative Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform
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Dr. Stefan Kempa
Within the past decades biochemical data of single processes, metabolic and signaling pathways were collected. Advances in technology led to improvements of sensitivity and resolution of bioanalytical techniques. These achievements build the basis of so called ‘genome wide’ analyses. The integration of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics data, combined with existing knowledge, allows connecting biological processes which where treated as independent so far. Furthermore, absolute quantitative data generated by targeted approaches are used as input parameters for computational models of biological processes.
Our group uses cutting edge mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and proteomics techniques to analyse cell cultures, organs and whole organisms. Gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC/MS) as well as liquid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (LC/MS) based techniques are applied to monitor the metabolome. And tandem LC/MS ‘shot gun’ proteomic techniques combined with stable isotope labelling as SILAC (stable isotope labelling of amino acids in cell cultures) are for example used for quantitative proteome analyses.
Biological systems can be characterised by comparing different ‘steady states’ or analysing ‘transitions’ in a time course manner. We monitor turnover rates of proteins and metabolites using stable isotope incorporation as well as temporal quantitative changes by analysing time series after perturbation or different developmental stages. Also data analysis and integration is in the focus of our interest.