Center of Isotopologue Profiling (Z-Projekt)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Eisenreich
• Subject Area: Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology
• Term: from 2008 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 71840844

A key technology for the analysis of metabolism is based on labelling experiments with stable isotopes (e.g. 13C) under controlled conditions (“metabolic flux analysis”, “fluxomics”). The technique (in modified form) can also be used for the study of metabolic reactions in pathogenic microorganisms grown under quasi-physiological (i.e. very complex) and medicinally relevant conditions. With many examples, it could be shown that isotopologue profiling enables unique insights into the carbon metabolism of pathogenic bacteria and their hosts. Within the framework of the bio-analytical platform “Center of Isotopologue profiling” (Z-project in the SPP-1316), the technology was/is made available whenever requested (15 ongoing projects + 3 planned projects with groups of the SPP 1316; 3 ongoing projects + 3 requested projects from outside the SPP). The established methods shall be kept accessible for all members of the SPP during the second period of the program. The already started and ongoing co-operations shall be continued and extended. Co-operations with new groups of the SPP shall be established whenever useful. New tools in isotopologue profiling shall be optimized and exploited for the detailed analysis of the metabolic interaction between host (i.e. host cell in culture, but also animals and plants) and their pathogens. This will also include the analysis of 15N- or 15N/13C-labelled metabolites in order to explore the N-metabolism. To manage the expected work load (including training of co-workers and students), we ask the DFG to grant the innovative platform with central importance of the entire priority program.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1316: Host-adapted Metabolism of Bacterial Pathogens