Now scientists at the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) have developed guidelines that are thus far unique. They enable scientists to trace the functions of proteins quickly and efficiently.

“We have compiled and evaluated a wealth of data on genes and proteins,” said Dr. Stefan Wiemann from the DKFZ in Heidelberg, who is head of the project. “Now we are supplementing this information with data from high-throughput analyses. To do this, we are systematically investigating hundreds of genes and proteins as to their influence on cancer-relevant processes in the cell.”

A technical trick makes it possible to observe proteins in living cells that normally cannot be identified under the microscope. The researchers can even see how a protein in the cell moves from one site to the next. Such information, too, is added to the database.

„The National Genome Research Network provides an ideal environment for our research work,” said Prof. Annemarie Poustka, head of the Molecular Genome Analysis Department at the DKFZ. “Working out new research concepts and developing effective technologies is only possible within the scope of such a large project. Without these concepts and technologies, so many genes and proteins could never be studied systematically.”

Scientists from all over the world now access these data, which are posted on the open-access Internet platform “Lifedb”.

Page 2: But what actually is the benefit of this collection of data for us? ?