Peptide Chemistry & Biochemistry

Research

Research efforts of the Department of Peptide Chemistry and Biochemistry are focussed on the molecular mechanisms of peptide-protein and peptide-lipid interactions, leading to a better understanding of the action of physiologically active peptides and drugs on their respective targets. In addition, methodological studies in order to improve the chemical synthesis of small-sized proteins, as well as to develop procedures which allow the detection of post-translational modifications in proteins by mass spectrometry are performed. Beside these research areas, the department offers collaborations in peptide synthesis, mass spectrometry, and biophysical studies (Fluorescence- and CD spectroscopy, ITC, Biacore).

The department is subdivided into the following Research Groups:

Peptide-Lipid Interaction Group (Margitta Dathe, Johannes Oehlke)
Biophysics of peptide-membrane interaction, antimicrobial activity of peptides, peptide-mediated internalization and targeting
Peptide Synthesis Group (Michael Beyermann)
CRF peptides, CRF receptors, photoaffinity labelling, peptide- and protein synthesis
Mass Spectrometry Group (Eberhard Krause)
Protein  identification, determination of posttranslational modifications, peptide and small molecule analysis