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Lipid signaling
The new competence
center “Lipid signaling”,
established by ZAFES, investigates
the role of lipids and their
metabolites in human metabolism.
Thirteen researchers, from the
Departments of Medicine, Chemistry
and Pharmacy at the Johann Wolfgang
Goethe University Frankfurt,
are funneling their efforts
in nine sub-projects towards
the clarification of the molecular
and cellular mechanism of lipids
in the regulation of inflammation.
ZAFES members, Prof. Dr. Rudi
Busse, Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerd Geißlinger,
Prof. Dr. Josef Pfeilschifter,
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen M.
Stein
and Prof. Dr. Dieter Steinhilber,
are involved in this project.
This research group is using
a broad spectrum of modern techniques,
such as BICORE binding studies,
NMR-investigations, gene expression
analysis, cellular localization
studies, several image yielding
procedures, as well as knock-out
animals, to determine certain
metabolic pathways. Furthermore,
to determine lipid mediators
in biological probes using LC-MS,
an analytic laboratory is being
established.
Lipids and their metabolites
are not only essential components
of the cell membrane, they are
also important signal molecules,
which are involved in the regulation
of fundamental cell processes
such as cell growth, differentiation
and apoptosis. Irregularities
in the lipid metabolic pathway
play important roles in numerous
diseases such as atherio-sclerosis,
several rheumatoid and allergic
diseases, cancer and neuro-degenerative
diseases. A better understanding
of patho physiological mechanisms
can be obtained through the
identification of different
lipid components as mediators
in cell physiological processes,
along with an increase in knowledge
regarding the regulation of
the enzymes and receptors involved.
This will lead to the development
of novel therapeutic strategies
and novel drugs, the ultimate
goal of this project.
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