The group of Dr. Michael Engelke works on  the regulation of Ca2+ mobilization in activated B lymphocytes.

Signals transduced by the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) are essential for the activation and development of B lymphocytes. The aim of the Engelke lab is to decipher the regulation of these BCR signals at the molecular level including the use of live imaging techniques. Furthermore, the dysregulation of tonic BCR signals that occur in absence of antigen-binding in B cell is analyzed in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Thomas Oellerich (University of Frankfurt). With the help of quantitative mass spectrometry, new effector molecules were identified that are essential for the survival of Burkitt’s lymphoma cells. This finding could provide a basis for new cancer therapies.