Proteomics to study disease associated protein perturbations – Mapping biological changes with discovery of putative biomarkers and drug targets

The proteomics research group lead by Prof. DMSc Bent Honoré has as main focus to study protein perturbations in a set of diseases. Some of the perturbed proteins may eventually serve as diagnostic, prognostic or predictive biomarkers or may be suitable as targets for drug treatment. The research is conducted on a broad spectrum of samples; serum, plasma, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), fresh frozen as well as archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue collected and analysed in collaboration with a number of research institutions and clinical departments in Denmark and abroad. The studies cover especially eye diseases, lymphoma and other types of cancers. In addition, in collaboration with partners we perform basic scientific studies involving laboratory animal models and cell culture models.

Techniques: A variety of proteomic techniques are used with the major ones being liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for protein identification based on analyses of the sequence of amino acids of smaller peptides. The laboratory is equipped with Thermo Scientific mass spectrometers consisting of an Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid as well as a Quantiva tripple quadrupole. In addition, a wide variety of techniques are used for basic studies including biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology.

Analysis: Bioinformatic analyses are then conducted to characterize the biological changes of the disease. Differentially upregulated proteins may also be treatment targets.