Most biopolymers like proteins, DNA, and RNA molecules function inside the cell, but are probed in vitro, under test tube conditions. We are interested in studying biomolecular structure, function and aggregation directly in cellular environments to yield new insight on their function in health and disease. Currently we focus on neurodegenerative diseases as well as bona/cartilage malformations and disordered hormone metabolisms based on impaired sulfation pathways.
Further information regarding our research can be found here
Inhibition of Huntingtin Exon-1 Aggregation by the Molecular Tweezer CLR01
T. Vöpel, K. Bravo-Rodriguez, S. Mittal, S. Vachharajani, D. Gnutt, A. Sharma, A. Steinhof, O. Fatoba, G. Ellrichmann, M. Nshanian, C. Heid, J. A. Loo, F. G. Klärner, T. Schrader, G. Bitan, E. E. Wanker, S. Ebbinghaus*, E. Sanchez-Garcia*
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 16, 5640.
Molecular mechanisms involved in protein aggregation in membrane-less organelles
What happens when our cells are exposed to prolonged stress? Untypical cell behavior is the result and diseases develop.
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TU Braunschweig develops sugar-based dye molecules
The research groups of Prof. Dr. D. B. Werz and Prof. Dr. S. Ebbinghaus have found a way to label cells with sugar-based dyes and observe them using fluorescence.
"In-Cell" experiments to be continued in DFG priority program
How protein misfoldings in cells can trigger diseases such as Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. A study of protein stability through mutations.
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