Marcus Krüger

The group is aiming at identifying protein and PTM profiles in living model organisms with relevance to human diseases. The Krüger group is interested in the adaptability of skeletal muscle tissue and its rapid response to environmental changes by modulating the synthesis and degradation of proteins.

M. Krüger and his team use protein profiles determined by quantitative proteomics to distinguish skeletal muscle tissue in different states, such as healthy muscles versus muscles with a loss of neuronal innervation.

• To identify newly synthesized proteins, we use the labeling of proteins with stable isotopes and biorthogonal amino acids.
   
• Using click chemistry and MS analysis, we can detect these labeled proteins in cells and living animals under normal and disease conditions.

The team is also investigating the function and localization of mitochondria in skeletal muscle. Mitochondria located in specific cell regions have different morphological and biochemical properties. The presence of different mitochondrial subpopulations, in particular subsarcolemmal mitochondria and interfibrillar mitochondria, highlights this mitochondrial heterogeneity. However, it remains unclear whether these subpopulations are functionally distinct and how they respond to cellular changes. We therefore want to use genetic mouse models and quantitative proteomics to analyze these subpopulations in more detail in order to gain new insights into metabolic adaptations under physiological and pathological conditions.