Overview

Founded in 1999, Protagen AG is a proteomics company using proprietary technologies for applications in the fields of validated targets and lead compounds for drug development in neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. In addition, Protagen has developed technologies in protein chips for research and diagnostic applications.

The company offers a range of tools for advanced peptide and protein analysis, from classical methods like Edman degradation and HPLC to modern mass spectrometry techniques, such as MALDI-Post Source Delay and the nano-MS/MS technique. Other tools include the technology to localize post-translational modifications.

Protagen is leading nine academic groups and two other companies to find new procedures for investigating the proteome of the human brain. The researchers in the network want to automate sample preparation for electrophoresis and pick the protein spots from the gel for further investigation by mass spectrometry, which is needed to investigate the proteins’ amino acid sequences. The project includes development of special bioinformatic tools. Once maps are made of healthy human tissue, researchers will validate whether mouse model-derived proteome maps can be used for research on human diseases such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Partners

Proteomics technology exchange and collaboration: Proteome Systems Ltd.

The company also has a number of scientific collaborations with groups at the University of Bochum. More projects are in progress in collaboration with groups from the universities of Essen, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Berlin, Mainz, Würzburg, Tübingen and Freiburg.

Its collaborative partners include Brain/Madaus, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Bruker Daltonik GmbH.