Tag Academia

Prof. Anne-Claude Gavin accepts 1st prize of LEA

Henri Deda September 30, 2019

The laureate of the world’s first Lipidomics Excellence Award, Prof. Dr. Anne-Claude Gavin from the University of Geneva , uses the analysis technology of Dresden based Lipotype GmbH for the next breakthrough in her lipid transfer research. The biochemist draws the world’s first molecular “map of lipid highways”, she is tracing the ways of lipid transfer between the membranes of body cells.

A map of lipid highways
“Latest research shows that the lipid metabolism plays a major role in the development of diabetes, cancer or Alzheimer’s. Once we have a better understanding of the ways certain lipids cause which effect, we may pave the way for new potential treatment approaches”, the laureate explains her research goal. “Lipidomics helps us answering questions we would not even dare to ask without it. It opens doors that may hold the answer to our civilization diseases.”

Lipidomics in diabetes research
Life science researchers of various disciplines discover Lipotype’s Shotgun Lipidomics Analysis for their projects. So does the diabetes research: “Lipidomics is step by step revealing processes and connections that stay hidden with traditional analysis methods”, says Prof. Dr. Michele Solimena, Professor of Molecular Diabetology, Medical School, TU Dresden, Germany and Director of the Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden, a German Center for Diabetes Research. „In diabetes research we make good progress thanks to lipidomics, e.g. it is now possible to define molecular lipid signatures that tell us about the development of non-diabetic to diabetes type 2 and progression towards diabetes complications.”

Deeper insights into the lipid cosmos
The unique Lipidomics Excellence Award rewards innovation and the drive for novelty in researchers who strike out in a new direction using lipidomics. The winner Prof. Dr. Anne-Claude Gavin’s project idea stood out in a strong competition with numerous international scientists and research teams. Ultimately, a top-class independent jury of renowned lipidomics experts awarded the Geneva-based scientist with the first prize equalizing lipid analyses worth 50,000 EUR.

“We want to shine a light on the fact that lipid analyses really make the difference between research and groundbreaking research: by providing new data one gains an even deeper insight into the lipid cosmos. It is high time to seize the potentials. Let us see what there is still to discover“, says Prof. Dr. Kai Simons, Professor and Director Emeritus at Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Dresden and founder and CEO of Lipotype.

About LEA
LEA, the Lipidomics Excellence Award, promotes researchers who are eager to contribute to the progress of life sciences with generous research prizes. Three individuals with ongoing research are awarded to support their projects. Applications were open to all researchers from academia and industry.

The winner of the first prize received 55,000 EUR worth of analysis services and present their research at the EMBO Workshop “Lipid function in health and disease” (27.-30.09.2019). A press conference was hold to
present the project and formally handover the LEA 2019 trophy.

LEA is supported by LIPID MAPS, SwissLipids and Lipotype, and the media Journal of Lipid Research, LABO and transkript.

Resources

1 – Materials: Additional press material including photos
2 – Website: The winners of LEA 2019
3 – Press Release: Summary of the Lipidomics Excellence Award press talk
4 – Pressemitteilung: Zusammenfassung der “Lipidomics Excellence Award”-Pressekonferenz

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The month of August in Lipidomics Publications

Henri Deda August 10, 2019

The month of August came with a set of newly-published lipidomics publications which made use of Lipotype Shotgun Lipidomics.

Chronic kidney disease
Clinical risk factors explain only a fraction of the variability of eGFR decline in people with type 2 diabetes. However, cross-omics technologies have the potential to identify additional biomarkers for the refinement of prognosis.

Putting together proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics panel assay measurements and the clinical factor eGFR, the investigation unraveled the predictor biomarker KIM-1.

This is the first publication of the BEAt-DKD consortium which receives funding under IMI of the EU.

Nano-scale lipid organization
The plasma membrane is composed of a complex lipid mixture that forms heterogeneous membrane environments. Physiological events are controlled by small-scale lipid organization.

The investigation unraveled that some proteins are critical for the synthesis of the lipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate, a key regulator of dynamic events at the plasma membrane. Ultimately, they control global plasma membrane organization and dynamics.

Lipid droplet size
Lipid droplet breakdown in hepatocytes (liver cells) is mediated by a combination of lipolysis and a selective autophagic mechanism called lipophagy. However, the relationship of these seemingly distinct pathways remained unclear – until now.

This study found that inhibition of lipolysis, lipophagy, or both resulted in similar overall lipid droplet content but dramatic differences in their form. Inhibition of the lipolysis enzyme ATGL resulted in large cytoplasmic lipid droplets, whereas lysosomal inhibition caused the accumulation of numerous small ones within the cytoplasm. The combination of both resulted in large droplets.

Alterations of the liver in diabetes
The liver regulates the availability of insulin to other tissues. It is the first organ physiologically exposed to higher insulin concentrations. The molecular consequences of chronic insulin deficiency for the liver have now been studied systematically.

The analyses revealed increased activities in amino acid metabolism, oxidation of fatty acids, ketogenesis, and gluconeogenesis in the liver samples. The first multi-omics study of a clinically relevant diabetic large animal model revealed molecular signatures and key drivers of functional alterations of the liver in insulin-deficient diabetes.

Resources

1 – Integrative analysis of prognostic biomarkers derived from multiomics panels helps discrimination of chronic kidney disease trajectories in people with type 2 diabetes
2 – Osh Proteins Control Nanoscale Lipid Organization Necessary for PI(4,5)P2 Synthesis
3 – Lipid droplet size directs lipolysis and lipophagy catabolism in hepatocytes
4 – Multi-omics insights into functional alterations of the liver in insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus

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First large-scale study of the genetics of human plasma lipid species

Henri Deda May 28, 2019

Understanding the genetics of lipid species offers information beyond that provided by routine lipid screening, and can help improve risk prediction and treatment. In the first large-scale study, novel lipid-associated genetic variants were identified, some of which were linked with risk for cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and strokes. Lipotype provided the technology to measure these lipids – Lipotype Shotgun Lipidomics.

The human blood plasma lipidome
Human plasma comprises hundreds of lipid species which differ in chemical structure and function. Many of these are known risk factors for human diseases. Advances in mass spectrometry-driven lipid analysis – lipidomics – has made it possible to study the patient lipidome to a greater extent than is possible with conventional analytical methods. Currently, however, understanding the genetic regulation of molecular lipid species is lacking. Unraveling this information could help in the personalized management of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

In light of this, this collaborative project involving centres in Finland, Germany and the USA integrated information from the lipidome, genome and phenome to answer key questions relating to the heritability of lipid species, including: Which genetic variants influence plasma levels of lipid species? How do these variants relate to disease outcomes and what is the underlying mechanisms?

The answers are…
1. Lipid species are heritable.
Lipid species heritability ranges from 10 to 54 per cent, with the highest heritability in lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). These findings are important given renewed interest in the role of PUFAs in cardiovascular disease.

2. GWAS analyses identified 35 gene variants associated with lipids.
Using clinical outcome data, the investigators showed that 10 of these variants were associated with cardiovascular disease. In addition, 3 gene variants at the were associated with type 2 diabetes. This information could help drive the development of new treatment targets.

3. Further notes on lipid metabolism.
The study also provided clues to the underlying mechanisms of well-known lipid loci on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease risk.

Resources

Press Release: First large-scale study of the genetics of human plasma lipid species
Publication: Genetics of human plasma lipidome to understand lipid metabolism and its link to diseases beyond traditional lipids

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Lipotype Shotgun Lipidomics technology in Science journal

Henri Deda October 26, 2018

Every scientist dreams of a report in Science. For us, this dream has just come true. The research project of one of our customers has been published by the iconic journal Science.

The research project in 60 seconds
Cell membranes contain a vast range of distinct lipid species. Their chemical differences influence the physical characteristics of membranes, such as viscosity. Thus, the lipid composition affects biological functions.

To identify the lipids involved, the research group used genetic engineering to modulate the lipid composition of bacteria. They correlated bacterial growth rates with lipid composition. From that they concluded that the level of unsaturated lipids influences cellular respiration, the conversion of nutrients into energy (e.g. ATP).

Further biological research and physical modeling confirmed the results. In the end, they could replicate their findings in yeast mitochondria, the organelle responsible for cellular respiration in animals and plants. Thus, further highlighting the importance of lipidomics in fundamental research.

All science is just as good as the research which precedes it
This publication has been added to the Lipidomics Resource Center, an online tool to empower your lipid research. It features scientific publications, white papers and industry insights. The integrated live full-text search and in-depth tag filter system will help you identify information of your interest.

Lipids are essential to life. Make them essential to your research too!

Resources

Viscous control of cellular respiration by membrane lipid composition – Science, 2018
Itay Budin, Tristan de Rond, Yan Chen, Leanne J G Chan, Christopher J Petzold, Jay D Keasling

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A good month for public access to research

Henri Deda July 30, 2018

July has been a great month. Three new publications with Lipotype Shotgun Lipidomics technology have been put out, and the Lipidomics Resource Center received its first major update. Read more about this!

One month – three publications

This month, three new publications with Lipotype Shotgun Lipidomics technology were published!

Paper 1: Parkinson’s disease
In Parkinson’s, excessive contacts between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum lead to abnormal lipid trafficking. This stops the release of “sleep” peptides affecting sleep patterns of patients long before they experience motor dysfunctions…

Paper 2: vacciness
Adjuvants like the well-established AS03 are agents in vaccines that do not provide immunity but stimulate the immune system. However, the molecular mechanism behind AS03’s adjuvant effect had yet to be fully illuminated. These new results could be applied to design novel vaccine adjuvants…

Paper 3: cancer therapeutics
Oncogenic RAS proteins must localize to the plasma membrane to act. The recently described oxanthroquinone G01 disrupts that, affects levels of some lipids and synergizes with other compounds that affect oncogenic RAS proteins. G01 could become a new anti-RAS therapeutic…

As always: access the Lipidomics Resource Center to study more publications!

The first major Lipidomics Resource Center update

We strive for scientific excellence, and therefore must hold on to the fact that all science is just as good as the research which precedes it. Therefore, we created the Lipidomics Resource Center which provides access to lipidomics publications and whitepapers to empower your research. However, that is just not enough. Therefore we added a completely new category: “products”!

There is a whole universe of research which you cannot access through reading scientific publications. And that is most of industry research. However, this type of research is reflected by product development and patents. The new category “products” gives you access to exactly this kind of hidden information.

Lipidomics is no longer a thing of the lab. It is out in the world. Now, you can learn about it!

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Parkinson’s Disease, Fruit Flies and Lipotype

Henri Deda July 10, 2018

What happened

Do fruit flies suffer from Parkinson’s? Not exactly. But patients who suffer from this neurological disease experience disturbed sleep patterns long before motor dysfunctions. This can be modelled in fruit flies. Researchers from the Netherlands and Germany showed that excessive contacts between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in Parkinson’s flies lead to abnormal lipid trafficking. This prevents the release of “sleep” neuropeptides, which affects sleep patterns.

Lipotype performed lipid analysis on fruit fly heads and various organelles. The results clearly supported the researchers’ hypothesis: in Parkinson’s fruit flies the lipid PtdSer is transferred from the endoplasmic reticulum to the mitochondria, and converted to PtdEtn at a higher rate, when compared with healthy flies. This was proven through Lipotype Shotgun Lipidomics technology.

Read the full publication

ER Lipid Defects in Neuropeptidergic Neurons Impair Sleep Patterns in Parkinson’s Disease – Neuron, 2018
Jorge S Valadas, Giovanni Esposito, Dirk Vandekerkhove, Katarzyna Miskiewicz, Liesbeth Deaulmerie, Susanna Raitano, Philip Seibler, Christine Klein, Patrik Verstreken

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Lipotype performed lipid analysis of bacteria for future antimicrobial strategies

Henri Deda April 16, 2018

What happened

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multi-drug resistant bacteria, and can cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia or sepsis syndromes. The publication from TU Braunschweig shows that, when grown under unaerobic biofilm conditions, the bacterium produces less of a protein, which binds specifically to the central hub of phospholipid metabolism.

With Lipotype shotgun lipidomics, a diverse response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the lipid head group and fatty acid level was demonstrated. This increased the susceptibility to a wide range of antibiotics which is important for the future development of new antimicrobial strategies.

Read the full publication

A phosphatidic acid-binding protein is important for lipid homeostasis and adaptation to anaerobic biofilm conditions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa – Biochemical Journal, 2018
Maike K Gronewald, Marco Massmig, Stefanie Hebecker, Linna Danne, Zofia Magnowska, Manfred Nimtz, Franz Narberhaus, Dieter Jahn, Dirk W Heinz, Lothar Jänsch, Jürgen Moser

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Lipotype analyzed Munich MIDY Pig Biobank samples for multi-omics studies of organ crosstalk in diabetes

Julia Schoener July 27, 2017

Lipotype lipidomics was part of a wider study of samples from Munich MIDY Pig Biobank – an animal model to study poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Lipidomic data clearly separated MIDY and WT samples. The detailed characterization of these samples will help to establish an unique resource for systematic studies of organ crosstalk in diabetes in a multi-organ, multi-omics dimension.

 

Read the whole publication here:

The Munich MIDY Pig Biobank – A unique resourse for studying organ crosstalk in diabetes – Molecular Metabolism, 2017
Andreas Blutke et. al.

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Lipids in diabetes type 2 research

Henri Deda July 1, 2017

The Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) tackles diabetes by applying lipidomics analysis form Lipotype.

Lipids and diabetes
The PLID frequently applies Lipotype Shotgun Lipidomics services for their molecular diabetes research to step by step reveal lipid-associated cellular processes. Their investigations lead to the definition of molecular lipid signatures that tell about the development on non-diabetic to diabetes type 2 and progression towards diabetes complications.

Furthermore, the PLID is a project partner of Lipotype within the RHAPSODY consortium, an IMI project combining new and existing data to refine diagnosis, promote prevention and support drug discovery for personalized management of diabetes.

About the PLID
In type 1 and type 2 diabetes, destroyed or impaired beta cells cause an elevated blood sugar level. PLID scientists are working on deciphering the mechanisms that lead to the destruction and/or functional impairment of beta cells and are also trying to develop new approaches to replace damaged or destroyed beta cells.

The PLID is a founding partner of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD).

Resources

1 – Multi-omics insights into functional alterations of the liver in insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus

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Lipidomics paves the way to groundbreaking scientific discoveries

Julia Schoener April 25, 2017

VIB’s Technology Watch team has been active for almost a decade, continuously analyzing the potential of emerging technologies and mediating researchers’ access to them. By expanding VIB’s network of technology suppliers, purchasing licenses and negotiating business partnerships, the Tech Watch team enables VIB scientists to have privileged access to cutting-edge scientific innovations. One example comes in the form of a powerful lipidomics research tool made available to VIB scientists through a collaboration with Lipotype, a Max-Planck spin-off and key service provider. Since 2015, Lipotype technology has been a crucial factor in several major breakthroughs in multiple life sciences domains.

The benefits of a dedicated lipidomics collaborator
Lipidomics, or the analysis, identification and quantification of lipids, has important applications in basic and clinical research, as well as in the nutrition, cosmetics and personalized healthcare industries. Using Lipotype’s Shotgun Lipidomics Technology, researchers can rapidly analyze large samples at reasonable prices, benefiting from the ultra-broad coverage and absolute quantification of lipids enabled by this technology.

Mark Veugelers (VIB Tech Watch): “The Tech Watch team, in close collaboration with VIB group leaders, is constantly on the lookout for new technologies that can have a major impact on our research. The Lipidomics services Lipotype offers is a good example. But identification of a novel technology with potential isn’t enough to produce breakthrough results. Key in the process is the hands-on experience of VIB scientists when evaluating the potential of these novel technology opportunities.

Oliver Uecke (Lipotype): “Tech Watch at VIB is a fantastic instrument to support technology transfer.  It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved: VIB researchers get access to innovative technologies early on, while technology providers have the tech watch team as single entry point to address the VIB collective of researchers. VIB profits from providing their researchers with means to generate cutting edge research results and with an improved basis for licensing and spin-off creation.”

Better tech integration, impactful results
After just two years of collaboration, VIB scientists working with Lipotype have published three papers in high-impact academic journals. This demonstrates the fact that partnerships between VIB and specialized tech service providers and the integration of new innovations into VIB research leads to more and faster discoveries.

Prof. Wim Annaert (VIB-KU Leuven): “Lipotype’s Shotgun technology was critical to our recent paper on a new approach to analyzing subcellular dysfunction. Our next challenge is now to integrate lipidomics with proteomics data to better understand what goes on at the level of a single subcellular compartment for instance in a disease context.”
(relevant publication: A novel approach to analyze lysosomal dysfunctions through subcellular proteomics and lipidomics: the case of NPC1 deficiency, Tharkeshwar et al., Scientific Reports 2017)

Prof. Patrik Verstreken (VIB-KU Leuven): “My team recently made groundbreaking discoveries related to mitochondrial defects in Parkinson’s Disease. Tech Watch – and access to Lipotype tech in particular – were essential to these findings.”
(relevant publication: Cardiolipin promotes electron transport between ubiquinone and complex I to rescue PINK1 deficiency, Vos et al., J Cell Biol 2017)

Prof. Rose Goodchild (VIB-KU Leuven): “Tech Watch funding significantly boosted our confidence in collaborating with Lipotype for our work on cellular lipid metabolism. Lipidomics is a key emerging technology that we don’t have in-house, and our access to it – especially when it comes to molecular and cellular research – adds huge value to our projects.”
(relevant publication: Torsins Are Essential Regulators of Cellular Lipid Metabolism, Gonzalez et al., Developmental Cell 2016)

Read the full press release here
 Open Adobe PDF Version
 Download the Microsoft Word Version

 

About Lipotype

Lipotype is a spin-off company from the Kai Simons and Andrej Shevchenko labs of the world-renowned Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany. Drawing on many years of cutting edge research experience, Lipotype delivers comprehensive, absolutely quantitative lipid analysis services for clinical and biological samples on a high-throughput scale.

Lipotype offers high quality lipid analysis services for a wide range of customers and applications including biomarker identification for clinical researchers, pharma and biotech companies, functional food development for the food industry, as well as for the small-scale profiling needs of academic researchers.

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