Department of Proteomics
Head of the Department:
Prof. Dr. Martin von Bergen
Office:
Christine Becher
phone +49 341 235-1264
fax +49 341 235-1787
Permoserstraße 15
04318 Leipzig, Germany
Proteins are the active player in human cells and in those of all kinds of organisms. Altogether they form what is called the proteome of a cell. The cells produce a specific proteome according to the environmental and developmental circumstances and to the needs of the specific cell line by transcribing the genetic information, stored as DNA, into proteins. Proteins are involved in all physiological processes and therefore are a good aim for reaching a better comprehension of biological processes and diseases. Furthermore, disease affected cells display a different protein pattern than healthy ones and so this protein pattern can be used for diagnostics.
In the Department of Proteomics at the UFZ we will focus on the role of proteins in the origin of environmentally caused diseases like allergy and other pathological changes of the immune system and on unravelling the enzymatic mechanisms of microbial degradation of pollutants. The samples from model systems or patients get analysed in terms of the abundance and modification of the proteome. These investigations will improve the molecular understanding of the cause and course of disease.
This defines the aim of the department of proteomics to obtain an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of environmentally caused diseases and biological processes in the environment.