Forschung Abt. Technische Biochemie
Current Research Projects
Overview
The research of the group focuses on the subject protein technology. Here, the development of new methods for the production, characterization, and improvement of therapeutic proteins plays a central role. A major aspect is the in vitro folding of proteins which allows the recovery of native, active proteins from inactive protein aggregates (inclusion bodies) produced by microorganisms.
Apart from the basic research in small units, the Institute for Biotechnology allows the unique opportunity to transfer new methods from small dimensions to an industrial scale, since the reconstruction of the central laboratory building has been completed at the beginning of 1999. Due to the high quality of equipment and lab facilities, protein production at a large scale will allow structure analysis by NMR and/or crystallography, and application in preclinical studies.
Production of Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins
group of Dr. Elisabeth Schwarz (link on left side)
"Virus Like Particles"
In addition to the development of new methods for the production of human recombinant proteins described above, complex structures are recovered by in vitro reconstitution in the project group of Dr. Hauke Lilie. This covers mainly the in vitro reconstitution of artificial, "virus-like" particles consisting of isolated DNA and the isolated protein subunits of the viral shell. In addition, the specific coupling of antibody fragments onto the surface allows targeting to defined cell populations.
Structural Investigations of Membrane Proteins
Dr. Peter Hanner (membrane protein group) (link on left side)
Fermentation Technology
Escherichia coli assists protein folding into the native conformation by chaperones, which help to suppress aggregation, or by enzymes that introduce disulfide bonds in the periplasma. In the group of Dr. Frank Hoffmann, the benefits of those helpers for production of therapeutic proteins in active conformation are examined, also under controlled conditions in bioreactors. One focus is on understanding the mutual interdependencies in the triad product quantity and quality, host physiology and process conditions.
Collaborations
Biowissenschaftliches Netzwerk "Strukturen und Mechanismen der Informationsverarbeitung"
Mitteldeutsches Zentrum für Struktur und Dynamik von Proteinen
Protein-Kompetenznetzwerk-Halle (ProNet-T3)