Dr. Mike Blueggel
Dr. Mike Blueggel
Center of Medical Biotechnology
Faculty of Biology
University of Duisburg-Essen
Modern Characterization and Manipulation of Protein Interactions
My research focuses on the characterization and modulation of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) to better understand their role in cellular processes and their therapeutic potential. Many disease-relevant proteins lack an active site and are therefore considered “undruggable targets,” meaning they are difficult to influence with small chemical molecules.
Aside from chemical synthesis, utilizing the immune response to generate structure-based ligands offers an elegant alternative for selectively and efficiently targeting protein surfaces.
One aspect of my work involves the use of nanobodies (VHHs), small, stable heavy-chain antibodies derived from alpacas, which are highly specific and serve as versatile tools for analyzing protein structures and functions. Furthermore, I am working on developing a methodological toolbox that combines nanobodies with tumor-specific, switchable proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) to regulate disease-relevant PPIs in a targeted and reversible manner. This project aims to create new approaches for the specific, controllable degradation of target proteins in tumor cells, thereby laying the foundation for innovative therapeutic applications.
German Version
| Professional Career | |
| Since 2024 | Postdoc (habilitation candidate), Group Knauer, Molecular Biology II, Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen |
| 2022 – 2024 | Postdoc, Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen |
| Education | |
| 2019 - 2022 | PhD (Dr. rer. nat) in Biochemistry with Professor Peter Bayer, University of Duisburg-Essen |
| 2016 - 2019 | M.Sc. Medical Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen |
| 2012 - 2016 | B.Sc. Molecular Biology, Westphalian University of Recklinghausen |
| 2009 - 2012 | State-certified Chemical-technical Assistant |
| Awards & Stipends | |
| Since 11/2024 | Add-On Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Life Science, Joachim-Herz-Stiftung |
| 06/2024 – 05/2025 | Postdoc Seed Funding, University of Duisburg-Essen |
| 2019 | Master's Prize from the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology e.V. (GBM) |
| 2013 - 2019 | Scholarship from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom |
| 2012 | Award from the German Chemical Society (GDCh) |
| Protein Structure Determination | |
| PDB: 6SAP |
Publications
-
Nanobodies : Effektive Immunwaffen gegen KrebsIn: Biospektrum Vol. 30 (2024) Nr. 7, pp. 760 - 762Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
-
The UBX domain in UBXD1 organizes ubiquitin binding at the C-terminus of the VCP/p97 AAA-ATPaseIn: Nature Communications Vol. 14 (2023) Nr. 1, 3258Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
-
Auto-inhibition of Mif2/CENP-C ensures centromere-dependent kinetochore assembly in budding yeastIn: The EMBO Journal Vol. 39 (2020) Nr. 14, pp. e102938Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
-
Targeting of parvulin interactors by diazirine mediated cross-linking discloses a cellular role of human Par14/17 in actin polymerizationIn: Biological Chemistry Vol. 401 (2020) Nr. 8, pp. 955 - 968Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
-
Structure of the PUB Domain from Ubiquitin Regulatory X Domain Protein 1 (UBXD1) and Its Interaction with the p97 AAA+ ATPaseIn: Biomolecules Vol. 9 (2019) Nr. 12, 876Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)