The Metasig programme is a collaboration of 3 research groups lead by:
Mathias Ziegler:
Thomas Arnesen:
Nathalie Reuter:
Signalling and Metabolism
This programme investigates the structural, molecular and (patho-)physiological aspects of protein modifications. Many proteins undergo chemical modifications which lead to modulation of their biological activity. These modifications are highly regulated and mediated by important metabolites, for example, acetylation by acetyl-coenzyme A, phosphorylation by ATP, and ADP-ribosylation by NAD. We strive to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which these protein modifications are brought about, what the target proteins and the functional consequences are. This knowledge will not only extend our understanding of fundamental biological principles, but also contribute to the identification of disease mechanisms and potential treatments.
Based on a long-standing expertise, this programme currently focusses on protein acetylation, its subcellular distribution, regulation, functional consequences and its role in cancer biology. In addition to experimental laboratory work, we use structural bioinformatics and molecular modelling to gain understanding of the functional implications of protein modifications and for the identification of novel target proteins.
