Research group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics
Genomics or the characterization of the genome sequence of a number of model organisms brought about a revolution in biology and medicine. However, although the genetic blueprints of a number of model organisms are now available, we face the challenge of deciphering the function of the encoded proteins and how these contribute to the functioning of the organism as an entity. Functional genomic research uses so called ‘post-genomic’ technologies to unravel the function of recently identified genes. Our peptidomic technology shortens from years to days the time required for identifying new peptides. In our research we exploit the information from the genome to unravel the functioning of the neuron-endocrine and immune system. The functional characterization of (neuro)peptides and the receptors they interact with, is our core-business. Neuropeptides are small regulatory proteins that have a key role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system en hence de facto in the majority of physiological processes such as reproduction, development, (learning) behavior, digestion, excretion, locomotion, circadian clock regulation etc. Another class of peptides, immune induced peptides, plays a role in innate immunity. We investigate the signaling mechanism that leads to the release of these peptides, synthesized by the insect to combat invading micro-organisms.
Our animal model organisms are Drosophilamelanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Apis mellifera, Danio rerio and the mouse. Bioinformatics, microarrays, proteomics, peptidomics, RNAinterference, transgene and knock-out animals are a snapshot of the modern techniques we use for our comparative physiological research.
Publications
Interested
!!! NIEUW !!! --> THESISONDERWERPEN 2010-2011
Interested to join our group?
Drop us a line (liliane.schoofs@bio.kuleuven.be). Funding possibilities are international students, doctoral students, researchers, Marie Curie actions.
Contact information
Research group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics
Naamsestraat 59
B-3000 Leuven
Belgium
Tel. +32 16 32 42 60
Fax +32 16 32 39 02
E-mail: Liliane.Schoofs@bio.kuleuven.be
