Research focal points

The growing interest in the development and use of biomolecules in pharmaceutical and medical practice requires an increase in the diversity of analytical methods and their applications to biomolecules both in academia and industry. Part of our research focuses on the synthesis, function, and analysis of bioactive peptides with therapeutic relevance. In particular, highly complex cysteine-rich peptides with multiple disulfide bridges (e.g. FXIIIa inhibitor tridegin, ion channel blocker conotoxins) are in focus, partly because the analysis of these disulfide linkages is still a challenge. The bioanalytical methods established for such molecules in this way can then be used to investigate the effects of different formulation processes on the structure and activity of proteins and peptides.  
In addition, we are interested in protein-protein and ligand-protein interactions, e.g. the association of heme with proteins. Biochemical and biophysical assays and methods are used in these projects to determine the binding capacity and bioactivity of synthetic peptides, to test their bioavailability, and, in combination with structure analysis, to elucidate structure-activity relationships.

Methods

•  Solid phase peptide synthesis of linear and cyclic peptides

• Combinatorial peptide synthesis, screening and synthesis of peptide libraries

• Synthesis of modified amino acid derivatives

•  Solution synthesis of peptides, peptide cyclization

•  Purification and analysis of peptides (HPLC, MS, MS/MS, amino acid analysis, Edman degradation, UV/Vis, CD, NMR)

•  Recombinant expression (e.g. E. coli) and purification of proteins

•  Protein analysis (gel electrophoresis, enzymatic digestion, tandem mass spectrometry, FPLC, SEC)

•  Testing of enzyme activities (e.g. chromophore- and fluorophore-based assays)

• Characterization of peptide/ligand-protein interactions (e.g. binding studies)