Research Topics and Projects
Our research uses protein and peptide chemistry tools to make unique site-specifically modified proteins to probe the effects of posttranslational modifications in fundamental biological processes. We apply these tools to many different proteins and biological problems, for example:
Posttranslational modifications of HMGN1 in DNA packaging
Packaging of DNA in the nucleus is tightly regulated to control access to genetic information. A key mechanism of regulation is by posttranslational modification of proteins that make up nucleosome units around which DNA is wrapped. This project aims to understand how nucleosomes are regulated by posttranslational modifications of HMGN1 (high mobility group nucleosome protein 1), using unique semi-synthetic HMGN1 variants. Probing interactions of nucleosomal proteins is essential for understanding how access to genetic material is controlled in health and disease. The project also pushes the boundaries of how we study the interactions of proteins inside cells, bringing exciting potential for development of novel methodologies for studying specifically-modified proteins in cells.
Funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), 2022 - 2025
Expanding access to modified proteins via a novel semi-synthetic platform
With Prof. Richard Payne (The University of Sydney)
Funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC), Discovery Projects, 2022 - 2025
Structure Zoom: Zooming in on protein functional sites with atomic resolution – an integrated chemistry approach for structural biology.
With Prof. Christian F. W. Becker (Coordinator), Prof. Robert Konrat, Prof. Kristina Djinovic-Carugo, Dr. Roman Lichtenecker (University of Vienna)
Funded by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF), 2018-2021
Link to Project Page for further details.