Translational Protein Biology

3D rendering of the crystal structure of vaspin

Understanding protein function at molecular resolution is essential for developing innovative therapies for obesity and metabolic disease. Our research combines protein biochemistry, structural biology and functional studies in human adipocytes, primary tissues and animal models to uncover how individual proteins regulate adipocyte biology and systemic metabolism.

A particular strength of our group is the integration of recombinant protein production with mechanistic and translational biology. We generate and characterize proteins, peptides and protein variants to define their structural properties, interaction partners and molecular mechanisms of action. These insights are subsequently validated in primary human adipocytes, ex vivo tissues and genetically modified mouse models to establish their physiological relevance and therapeutic potential.

Our work focuses on proteins that regulate adipocyte metabolic fitness, thermogenic activity, lipid metabolism and tissue communication. By identifying previously unrecognized protein functions and signaling mechanisms—including extracellular, intracellular and nuclear activities—we aim to uncover novel therapeutic strategies that restore healthy adipose tissue function. Ultimately, our goal is to translate fundamental discoveries in protein biology into innovative approaches that increase energy expenditure, improve metabolic health and complement current anti-obesity therapies.

Our goal is to translate mechanistic discoveries in protein biology into innovative therapeutic strategies for obesity and its metabolic complications.

Broghammer H, Gebhardt C, Heiker JT

Protocol for measuring mitochondrial respiration in mature human adipocytes using the Seahorse XF Analyzer. We establish a robust and reproducible workflow for high-resolution analysis of mitochondrial respiration in mature primary human adipocytes, facilitating translational metabolic research.

Strehlau C, Broghammer H, Gebhardt C, Schubert K, Hagemann T, Hoffmann A, Midilli S, Zimmer R, Karagiannakou V, Georgiadi A, Ost M, Krüger M, Roth L, Krause K, Klöting N, Keller M, Wabitsch M, Nuwayhid R, Stimson RH, Stumvoll M, Blüher M, Weiner J, Heiker JT

Adipocyte Myoglobin Is a Determinant of Energy Expenditure and a Potential Target to Limit Obesity. By combining structural protein biology with human adipocytes, multi-omics and mouse models, we establish myoglobin as a therapeutic target for restoring adipocyte metabolic fitness.

Rapöhn I, Broghammer H, Hoffmann A, Möhlis K, Moormann A, Kaczmarek I, Thor D, Großkopf H, Krieg L, Karkossa I, Schubert K, von Bergen M, Krause K, Breitfeld J, Kovacs P, Klöting N, Nuwayhid R, Langer S, Ghosh A, Wolfrum C, Stumvoll M, Blüher M, Heiker JT, Weiner J

Inhibition of adipocyte lipolysis by vaspin impairs thermoregulation in vivo Using recombinant proteins, receptor biology and in vivo physiology, we define how vaspin regulates adipocyte signaling and whole-body energy homeostasis.

Papa C, Rose A, Martin HNG, Useini A, Geier F, Liao L, Rodríguez-Aguilera JR, Valina-Allo P, Hoffmann A, Tvardovskiy A, Zulfqar F, Zimmermann A, Schicht G, Ott F, Körner C, Engelmann B, Rolle-Kampczyk U, von Bergen M, Meier M, Bartke T, Seehofer D, Klöting N, Matz-Soja M, Damm G, Boeckel JN, Buescher JM, Blüher M, Laufs U, Bondareva O, Sträter N, Künze G, Heiker JT, Sheikh BN

Bempedoic acid directly binds and activates PPARα. As part of a multidisciplinary collaboration, we contributed to the discovery that bempedoic acid directly binds and activates PPARα, providing new mechanistic insight into its metabolic effects.

Aldehoff AS, Karkossa I, Broghammer H, Krupka S, Weiner J, Goerdeler C, Nuwayhid R, Langer S, Wabitsch M, Rolle-Kampczyk U, Klöting N, Blüher M, Heiker JT, von Bergen M, Schubert K

Advanced proteomics approaches hold potential for the risk assessment of metabolism disrupting chemicals as omics-based NAM - a case study using the phthalate substitute DINCH. Contributing our expertise in human adipocyte biology, we helped establish advanced proteomics as a powerful New Approach Methodology (NAM) for identifying metabolism-disrupting chemicals and improving human-relevant chemical safety assessment.

Münzker J, Haase N, Till A, Sucher R, Haange SB, Nemetschke L, Gand T, Jäger E, Chen J, Riede SJ, Chakaroun R, Massier L, Kovac P, Ost M, Rolle-Kampczyk U, Jehmlich N, Weiner J, Heiker JT, Klöting N, Seeger G, Morawski M, Keitel V, Pfeifer A, von Bergen M, Heeren J, Krügel U, Fenske WK

Functional changes of the gastric bypass microbiota reactivate thermogenic adipose tissue and systemic glucose control via intestinal FXR-TGR5 crosstalk in diet-induced obesity. As part of a multidisciplinary collaboration, we contributed to demonstrating that bariatric surgery-induced alterations of the gut microbiota promote thermogenic adipose tissue activation and improve systemic glucose metabolism through intestinal FXR–TGR5 signaling.

Translational Protein Biology

How do we translate mechanistic protein discoveries into novel obesity therapies?

Selected Discoveries

Collaborative Research

Contact Project Leader

Cooperation Partners

Leipzig University

University of Leipzig Medical Center