Principal Investigator: |
|
| Prof. Dr. Annette G. Beck-Sickinger | |
| Institute of Biochemistry Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology |
|
| Universität Leipzig | |
| Brüderstraße 43 | |
| 04103 Leipzig | |
| Phone: 0341/ 97 36900 | |
| Fax: 0341/ 97 36909 | |
| beck-sickinger@uni-leipzig.de |
Summary of the Subproject:
In this project, the function of clinically relevant insulin modulating adipokines will be characterized on a molecular level. The molecular mechanisms of the interaction of the adipokine adiponectin with its receptor will be analyzed. Accordingly, we established a very efficient expression system as well as a novel read-out system for signal transduction. We identified casein kinase II as an important intracellular signalling molecule and characterized receptor dimers. Furthermore, molecular mechanisms of ligand binding will be investigated by producing and testing receptor mutants and variations of adiponectin. Subsequently, we are going to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ligand binding and clarify especially the role of the receptor N-terminus.
The second protein we are interested in is vaspin. We were able to produce vaspin and will use it to clarify the biochemical mechanism and identify target molecules. Additionally we will make it available for the clinical research group for specific experiments and mouse models. In the second funding period, we want to investigate a recently discovered adipokine: chemerin. Chemerin belongs to the class of adipokines that activate G-Protein coupled receptors. We are going to investigate the expression, structure-activity-relationships and signal transduction mechanisms.
Publications:
- Deckert C, Heiker JT, Beck-Sickinger AG. Localization of Novel Adiponectin Receptor Constructs. J Recept Signal Transduct Res. 2006;26:647-57.
- Heiker JT, Wottawah CM, Juhl C, Kosel D, Mörl K, Beck-Sickinger AG. Protein kinase CK2 interacts with adiponectin receptor 1 and participates in adiponectin signalling. Cell Signal. 2009;21:936-42.
- Kosel D, Heiker JT, Juhl C, Deckert C, Blüher M, Mörl K, Beck-Sickinger AG . Adiponectin receptor 1 dimerisation is inhibited by adiponectin, J Cell Sci. 2010;123:1320-8.
- Heiker JT, Klöting N, Blüher M, Beck-Sickinger AG. Access to gram scale amounts of functional globular adiponectin from E. coli inclusion bodies by alkaline-shock solubilization. Biophys Biochem Res Comm. 2010;398:32-7.
- Heiker JT, Kosel D, Beck-Sickinger AG. Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction via Adiponectin and Adiponectin Receptors. Biol Chemistry. 2010;39:1005-18.