Welcome to the Group of Lipid Biochemistry!
Our group is interested in the biochemistry of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and sphingolipids which serve essential functions as components of eukaryotic cell surfaces. Biosynthesis, degradation, and intracellular transport of glycolipids are investigated by techniques of protein chemistry, molecular biology, mass spectrometry, and chemical synthesis. One major focus of our research is the analysis of endocytosis and lysosomal digestion of lipids and membrane components and of inherited diseases that are associated with defects in the lysosomal degradation of glycolipids and sphingolipids. more
Major Research Interests
Analysis and pathobiochemistry of lysosomal storage diseases
Therapeutic approaches
Structure and function of lysosomal proteins (enzymes and activator proteins)
Topology of endocytosis and glycolipid metabolism
Regulation of glycolipid biosynthesis
Analysis of the sphingolipid metabolism involved in the biogenesis of the water permeability barrier of the skin
Enzymology at membrane surfaces
Chemical synthesis of glycolipid derivatives
Role of lipid binding and transfer proteins in the catabolism of sphingolipids and cellular membrane digestion
Methodology used by the research team includes chemical synthesis, lipid and protein chemistry, methods of molecular biology (cloning and expression of cDNAs), biotechnology (preparative expression of recombinant enzymes and membrane active glycoproteins, their purification and characterization using physico-chemical techniques).
