Marcus Krüger

Institute for Genetics

Prof. Dr. Marcus Krüger CECAD Cologne
Prof. Dr. Marcus Krüger

Principal Investigator
Head of Proteomics

Research Areas

2
3

Quantitative Proteomics

Our group addresses questions of cell signaling and the quantitative analysis of post-translational modifications (PTMs). The aim of the group is to characterize disease-relevant changes in signaling networks in different animal models.

Research Focus

The research focus of our group is the development and application of quantitative proteomics methods in various biological fields. The aim of our study is to analyze protein dynamics and post-translational modifications (PTMs) in cellular networks under regular and pathological conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, muscle weakness and neurodegenerative diseases. We are also interested in using stable isotope incorporation in living animals to study protein dynamics by mass spectrometry.

We aim to characterize how signaling networks differentially modulate cellular responses when mediated by phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications.

Our Goals

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.

Key Publications


  1. Bock, T., Türk, C., Aravamudhan, S., Keufgens, L., Bloch, W., Rozsivalova, D.H., Romanello, V., Nogara, L., Blaauw, B., Trifunovic, A., Braun, T., Krüger, M. (2021). PERM1 interacts with the MICOS-MIB complex to connect the mitochondria and sarcolemma via ankyrin B. Nat Commun. 12(1), 4900.
     
  2. Tellkamp, F., Lang, F., Ibáñez Ricoma, A., Abraham, L., Quezada, G., Günther, S., Looso, M., Tann, F.J., Müller, D., Cemic, F., Hemberger, J., Steinfartz, S. and Krüger, M. (2020). Proteomics of Galápagos marine iguanas links function of femoral gland proteins to the immune system. Mol Cell Proteomics. 19(9), 1523-32.
     
  3. Kallabis, S., Abraham, L., Müller, S., Dzialas, V., Türk, C., Wiederstein, J.L., Bock, T., Nolte, H., Nogara, L., Blaauw, B., Braun, T., and Krüger, M. (2020). High-throughput proteomics fiber typing (ProFiT) for comprehensive characterization of single skeletal muscle fibers. Skeletal Muscle 10(1), 7.
     
  4. Lang, F., Khaghani, S., Türk, C., Wiederstein, J.L., Hölper, S., Piller, T., Nogara, L., Blaauw, B., Günther, S., Müller, S., Braun, T., Krüger, M. (2018). Single muscle fiber proteomics reveals distinct protein changes in slow and fast fibers during muscle atrophy. J Proteome Res. 17(10), 3333-47.
     
  5. Wiederstein, J.L., Nolte, H., Günther, S., Piller, T., Baraldo, M., Kostin, S., Bloch, W., Schindler, N., Sandri, M., Blaauw, B., Braun, T., Hölper, S., Krüger, M. (2018). Skeletal Muscle-Specific Methyltransferase METTL21C Trimethylates p97 and Regulates Autophagy-Associated Protein Breakdown. Cell Reports 23(5), 1342-56.
Prof. Dr. Marcus Krüger CECAD Cologne
Prof. Dr. Marcus Krüger

Principal Investigator
Head of Proteomics

Research Areas

2
3