Dr. Martina Schnölzer

Modern mass spectrometers can detect a billionth gram of protein in a sample

We specialize on analyzing trace-amounts of proteins and peptides (small protein molecules). In doing so, our goal is to identify proteins, determine the sequence of their individual building blocks (amino acids), and characterize their structure and function. Highly sensitive techniques of mass spectroscopy enable us to analyze sample quantities in the subpicomolar range – ten billionths of a gram. In collaboration with working groups at the Center we are investigating how proteins are modified in a cell, e.g. to regulate their activity or to label them for transport to specific parts of the cell. Within the framework of projects with clinical partners we are screening proteomes (i.e. the complete set of a cell’s proteins under defined conditions) of different tumor cell lines for proteins involved in the development of resistance to chemotherapy.