Molecular Processes and Therapies
Topic 2 of our research program "Systems Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases"
Challenges
In order to detect disease mechanisms and develop novel molecules for therapeutic intervention, a deep understanding of molecular processes and interactions in healthy and diseased cells is required. We aim to identify soft spots within molecular machines as targets for rational therapies.
The colored "flowers" show protein fragments of the intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli that were analyzed using a mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer functions like a high-precision scale in which protein fragments can be identified by their exact weight. Thus, nowadays it is possible with a mass spectrometer to analyze hundreds of proteins in a few hours.
Solutions
We analyze the structure and dynamics of protein complexes with the help of advanced techniques such as cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), super-resolution microscopy and spatial proteomics. Our aim is a better understanding of protein dysfunction in disease and the identification of small drug-like molecules for therapeutic intervention.
