Detection of post-translational modifications by fluorescent staining of two-dimensional gels.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are key to the regulation of functional activities of proteins. Quantitative and qualitative information about PTM stages of proteins is crucial in the discovery of biomarkers of disease. Recent commercial availability of fluorescent dyes specifically staining PTMs of proteins such as phosphorylation and glycosylation enables the specific detection of protein regulations taking place with respect to these modifications.

Regulation of GDNF and its receptor components GFR-alpha1, -alpha2 and Ret during development and in the mature retino-collicular pathway.

The development of the retino-tectal projection as part of the central visual pathway is accomplished around postnatal day (P) 10-14 in rodents, and trophic factors are important for topographic refinement of this projection. Emerging data indicate that GDNF may influence synaptic plasticity of this projection. To date, maturation-dependent kinetics of GDNF release and expression and biological function of single GDNF receptors along the retino-collicular pathway are ill-defined.

The quest for brain disorder biomarkers.

The identification of disease markers in tissues and body fluids requires an extensive and thorough analysis of its protein constituents. In our efforts to identify biomarkers for affective and neurological disorders we are pursuing several different strategies. On one hand we are using animal models that represent defined phenotypes characteristic for the respective disorder in humans.