ISAS Kompakt

Protein interaction paralyses a young patient

Two mutations in the genetic material of a boy lead to the rare neuromuscular disease NEDHFBA. Investigations of the young patient's samples by researchers at Essen University Hospital and ISAS shed light on the previously unrecognized mechanisms behind the symptoms: Proteins influence the development of the rare disease.

• #Interview
• #Lipidomics
• #Lipids
• #Mass spectrometry

"We want to improve the fundamental understanding of disease models"

Why is it exciting to decode the lipid signature of individual cells? And which cell type is particularly suitable for allowing this process? Prof Dr Sven Heiles gives the answers in an interview.

• #Lipidomics
• #Lipids
• #Mass spectrometry

"Fatty" signatures: How lipid patterns can be used as a diagnostic tool

Microglial cells, the immune cells of the central nervous system, are known for their different appearances. In order to demonstrate this heterogeneity for the first time at the lipid and thus metabolic level for individual cells, a team of researchers has set itself a special analysis goal: Decoding the unique and "fatty" signatures of individual cells.

• #Lipidomics
• #Mass spectrometry
• #Metabolomics
• #Multiomics
• #Platelets
• #Statement
• #Thrombosis

Thrombocyte Proteome: Tracking down Life-threatening Events in the Bloodstream

Thrombocytes (blood platelets) can link up at lightning speed and block a vessel as a thrombus. Possible consequences include heart attacks or strokes. Scientists at ISAS are therefore looking for molecular markers for platelet activation. In future, this knowledge could help doctors recognise a thrombosis before it occurs and react accordingly.

• #Cardiovascular diseases
• #Heart attack
• #Heart damage
• #Hormones
• #Pharmacology
• #Stroke

 Thyroid hormones: Timers for the heart?

The Collaborative Research Centre "Local Control of Thyroid Hormone Action - LOCOTACT" investigates the local control of the effects of thyroid hormones in organs such as the heart or liver. In order to find new therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular diseases, for example, researchers at ISAS want to know: How does the body control the transport, metabolism and mechanism of action of thyroid hormones in the heart?

• #Imaging
• #Internship
• #Interview
• #Light sheet fluorescence microscope
• #Microscopy
• #Statement
• #Vocational training
• #Young scientists

From ISAS to Harvard: a special research stay during the PhD programme

The laboratories of the Bioimaging working group at ISAS are currently unusually empty. Two of the doctoral students have left the institute for a several-month research stay in the USA. An Interview with Head of the research group, Prof Dr Anika Grüneboom, ans statements from the two travellers give an insight into the advantages of this for their own scientific careers as well as the entire group's work.