Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Proteomics
Regulation by post-translational modifications
Ubiquitin
Mass spectrometry
Diagnostic biomarkers
Research interests
Regulated cellular growth and cellular responses to the environment rely on the well-orchestrated interplay of DNA, RNA, and proteins, and dysregulation of these interactions is linked to many diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, or inflammatory and folding disorders. The layer which is currently still understudied is the interplay of post-translational modifications (PTMs) and protein-protein interactions. My laboratory studies this regulatory layer by developing and applying innovative approaches from proteomics and molecular biology. The research focus is divided into three sections:
- Regulation of the proteome by ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like molecules,
- Regulation of protein-protein interactions by PTMs, and
- Development of diagnostic biomarkers and mass spectrometric methods.
For probing the modulation of the protein-protein interaction network, my laboratory developed a new methodology to monitor the influence of PTMs, allowing the spatial separation of the interactions along a protein structure in a large-scale experiment for the first time. This technique, called PrISMa, uses a peptide matrix and detects interacting proteins by mass spectrometry. As a proof of principle, we applied the technology to monitor the PTM-regulated interactome of C/EBPß and showed how the dimethyl-arginine-controlled interaction of C/EBPß and TLE3 regulates adipogenesis. Meanwhile, we used the technology to probe the interactomes of C/EBPa and the Claudin family.
In the past years, we developed several new mass spectrometric methods for rapidly measuring selected proteins using targeted proteomics (prm-PASEF, g-dia-PASEF). The increased sensitivity of these methods allowed the targeted measurement of body fluids like serum and plasma and more than double the number of tracked proteins to 560. We used these techniques to develop a new biomarker for early diagnosis of endometrial cancer from uterine aspirate which can be easily collected from patients with low discomfort. The biomarker is patented and is currently being transformed into a diagnostic kit for use in clinics.
Education/Academic qualification
ADR, University of Luxembourg
Award Date: 1 Jan 2017
PhD, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg
Award Date: 1 Jan 1997
Master, Technische Universität Darmstadt
Award Date: 1 Jan 1993
External positions
Affiliate Professor for proteomics, University of Luxembourg
2019 → …
Associate Professor , University of Luxembourg
2017 → 2019
Head of the proteomics core facility, Berlin Institute of Health
2014 → 2016
Visiting Professor, Technion
2011 → …
Group leader mass spectrometry core unit , Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association
2007 → 2016
Group Leader – post-translational signaling group., Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association
2003 → 2016
Instructor of Cell Biology, Member of the teaching faculty, Harvard Medical School, Boston - Department of Cell Biology
1999 → 2003
Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston - Department of Cell Biology
1997 → 1999
Postdoctoral Fellow, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg
1996 → 1997
PhD candidate, German Cancer Research Center
1993 → 1996
Keywords
- QH301 Biology
- proteomics
- biochemistry
- molecular biology
- ubiquitin
- protein degradation
- biomarker
- QH426 Genetics
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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mitoERsgnl: The role of ER-mitochondria signalling in Parkin-associated Parkinson´s disease
Dittmar, G. (PI)
FNR - Fonds National de la Recherche
1/01/25 → 31/03/28
Project: Research
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NonSVExo: Deciphering the molecular nature of non-canonical presynaptic exocytic organelles
Dittmar, G. (PI)
FNR - Fonds National de la Recherche
1/01/25 → 31/03/28
Project: Research
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PEAR-OP: Personalized Medicine Acceleration through Rapid Omics Profiling
Toth, R. (PI), Nazarov, P. (CoPI), Dittmar, G. (CoPI), Frauenknecht, K. (Partner) & STEFANIZZI, F. M. (Participant)
1/04/24 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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Nextimmune-2 (Klara Dittmer): Regulation of the T-cell immune response by post-translational modifications
Dittmar, G. (PI) & Dittmer, K. F. (PhD Student)
FNR - Fonds National de la Recherche
1/02/23 → 31/01/26
Project: Research
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HifReg: Hif-α non-canonical regulation by PTMs and new interaction partners
Dittmar, G. (PI), Letellier, E. (CoPI), Krauß, S. (CoPI) & Jones, M. (Partner)
Collaboration Fondation Cancer - FNR
1/05/22 → 30/04/25
Project: Research
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Pan-claudin family interactome analysis reveals shared and specific interactions
Suarez-Artiles, L., Breiderhoff, T., Girardello, R., Gonschior, H., Rodius, S., Lesur, A., Reimer, U., Ramberger, E., Perez-Hernandez, D., Müller, D., Mertins, P. & Dittmar, G., 8 Nov 2022, In: Cell Reports. 41, 6, p. 111588Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access10 Citations (Scopus) -
Highly multiplexed targeted proteomics acquisition on a TIMS-QTOF
Lesur, A., Schmit, P. O., Bernardin, F., Letellier, E., Brehmer, S., Decker, J. & Dittmar, G., 26 Jan 2021, In: Analytical Chemistry. 93, 3, p. 1383-1392 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
41 Citations (Scopus) -
PRISMA: Protein Interaction Screen on Peptide Matrix Reveals Interaction Footprints and Modifications- Dependent Interactome of Intrinsically Disordered C/EBPβ
Dittmar, G., Hernandez, D. P., Kowenz-Leutz, E., Kirchner, M., Kahlert, G., Wesolowski, R., Baum, K., Knoblich, M., Hofstätter, M., Muller, A., Wolf, J., Reimer, U. & Leutz, A., 29 Mar 2019, In: iScience. 13, p. 351-370 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access30 Citations (Scopus) -
Global quantification of mammalian gene expression control
Schwanhüusser, B., Busse, D., Li, N., Dittmar, G., Schuchhardt, J., Wolf, J., Chen, W. & Selbach, M., 19 May 2011, In: Nature. 473, 7347, p. 337-342 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access4767 Citations (Scopus) -
Senescence-associated reprogramming promotes cancer stemness
Milanovic, M., Fan, D. N. Y., Belenki, D., Däbritz, J. H. M., Zhao, Z., Yu, Y., Dörr, J. R., Dimitrova, L., Lenze, D., Monteiro Barbosa, I. A., Mendoza-Parra, M. A., Kanashova, T., Metzner, M., Pardon, K., Reimann, M., Trumpp, A., Dörken, B., Zuber, J., Gronemeyer, H. & Hummel, M. & 3 others, , 4 Jan 2018, In: Nature. 553, 7686, p. 96-100 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
766 Citations (Scopus)