Research Groups at the Biochemical Institute Kiel
The different research groups explore the biochemical fundamentals of living organisms from a wide variety of specialist perspectives.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Becker-Pauly
Christoph Becker-Pauly is spokesperson of the DFG-funded Research Training Group ReMPro and has published over 100 research papers on the structure and function of proteolytic enzymes. Proteases are considered central nodes in the regulation of the immune system, in neurodegeneration, and in cancer. His group is particularly interested in the characterization of metalloproteases (e.g. meprins, ADAM10/17, MMPs) using N-terminomics and pharmacological approaches.
Prof. Dr.
Elmar Wolf
Elmar Wolf is a tumor biologist whose research focuses on oncogenic transcription factors and strategies to therapeutically target them. In collaboration with medicinal chemistry partners, he pursues the approach of directing tumorigenic proteins toward proteasomal degradation using PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras). These small molecules are not only powerful cell biological tools but also represent an entirely novel and unique therapeutic strategy.
Prof. Dr.
Paul Saftig
Prof. Saftig’s work bridges fundamental cell biology (lysosomal trafficking, proteolysis, autophagy) with translational insights in neurodegeneration, lysosomal storage disorders, infectious disease, and cancer. His multidisciplinary contributions —spanning structural biology to in vivo therapies— have significantly advanced our understanding of lysosomal (dys)function and protease networks.
Dr. Matthias Voss
Research in the Voss lab aims to elucidate how proteolytic processing of glycosylation enzymes in the Golgi apparatus contributes to or is interconnected with the overall organisation of the Golgi. Combining tailored engineered cell culture models, protein biochemistry and cell biology tools as well as state-of-the-art proteomics, the lab studies in particular the intramembrane protease SPPL3, which has emerged as a potent physiological regulator of glycosylation.
