Sarikas Laboratory

The laboratory of PD Dr. med. Antonio Sarikas focuses on the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in cell signaling and diseases mechanisms. We use interdisciplinary approaches that include modern methods of molecular biology, protein biochemistry and mouse genetics to study the regulation of signaling pathways by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. 

Ubiquitin is a highly conserved 76 aminoacid polypeptide that is covalently attached to celullar proteins by the concerted action of E1, E2 and E3 enzymes (ubiquitination). This typically results in the timely degradation of the (poly)ubiquitinated protein by the 26S proteasome, the main protease complex of the cell. The ubiquitin-proteasome system is involved in almost all aspects of biology, e.g. growth control or cell signaling. Moreover, dysfunctions of the UPS have been identified in a large number of human diseases.

Please refer to www.sarikaslab.de for an overview of our ongoing research.