Peptides hormones play an important role in the regulation of manifold activities in the body. Many of them transmit their activity through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), which are among the most promising drug targets nowadays. The neuropeptide Y hormone family contains three members that bind in human to four different so-called Y-receptors. All play an important role in the regulation of food-intake. By a combination of X-ray analysis, NMR, molecular modelling and crosslinking combined with mass spectrometry, we have recently identified the distinct binding modes of NPY peptides to their Y-receptors. This now allows for the identification of signals and its application for novel drug concepts.
Annette G. Beck-Sickinger studied at the University of Tübingen (Germany) and worked at Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, University of Copenhagen and the ETH Zürich. Since 1999, she is full professor of Biochemistry at Leipzig University. Her major research fields include peptide hormones, G protein-coupled receptors and protein modification to study function and interaction. Bioorganic synthesis, molecular biology and cell biochemistry are tightly connected. Furthermore, the identification of novel targets, novel therapeutic concepts and innovative approaches for biomaterials are focussed. She has been awarded with many prices including the Leonidas Zervas Award (EPS), the Albrecht Kossel Award of Biochemistry of the GDCh (2018) and the Du Vigneaud Award of the American Peptide Society (2019). She is member of the Saxonian Academy of Science, the Göttinger Academy of Science and of the Leopoldina. In 2017, she was awarded with the Saxonian Order of Merit.
Moderation: Professorin Dr. Sabine Müller