Proteinchemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES)
Copromotors involved: Prof. dr. Wim Vanden Berghe.
The research group Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling is equipped for protein science technologies, proteomics, molecular biology, (epi)genomic and kinome peptidomic technologies. Prof. dr. S. Dewilde is specialized in the structural and functional biochemical characterization of globins and studying their role in vital processes, as well as their possible tumor suppressor functions in cells and tissues under stress. Currently, together with Prof. dr. E. Smits and Prof. dr. A. Bogaerts (PLASMANT), the group is working on plasma oncology and the role of cytoglobin herein in several in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, a dynamic international network was setup that in 2002 led to the coordination by our group of an EU project entitled “Neuroglobin and the survival of the neuron” resulting in various international publications. More recently a setup for kinetic research has been installed that is unique in Belgium (Flash Photolysis), which allows us to characterize the globins functionally according to their gas ligand affinities. Prof. dr. W. Vanden Berghe is focusing one epigenetic plasticity of cancer therapy responses (sensitive versus resistant) and cell death pathways (apoptosis, ferroptosis) in response to nutrition, plant bioactives (phytochemicals), pharmacological drugs (steroids, kinase inhibitors, chemotherapy) and a multitude of stress pathways (redox, heat, iron, hypoxia, infection inflammation, metabolites, chemicals). By systems biology approaches, epigenomics-transcriptomics-(chemo)proteomics information is combined to identify novel biomarkers for precision medicine and to establish novel molecular pathway targets to overcome cancer therapy resistance.