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Analyzing Proteins in Two Dimensions – Rainbow Workshop at the DDZ

The German Diabetes Center, a partner in the DZD, invited participants for the sixth time to the Protein Rainbow Workshop in Düsseldorf. This year the participants informed themselves about the latest methods to analyze and separate proteins and tested these methods on their own samples.

At the end of May the Protein Rainbow Workshop took place at the German Diabetes Center (DDZ). The hands-on workshop is organized jointly with the Serva Company from Heidelberg and combines scientific-methodological lectures on bioanalytics with an extensive practical part. Under the motto “Top-Down Proteomics in Practice”, the focus this year was on 2D gel electrophoresis, a method by which proteins can be separated into two dimensions.

Part of the Training & Education Program of the DZD
The Rainbow Workshop is part of the education and training program of the DZD. It is open to young international scientists of all institutions and since 2009 takes place annually at the DDZ, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry. It is held under the organizational leadership of Dr. Stefan Lehr and the participation of the German Society for Proteome Research and focuses on various topics of bioanalysis.
During this year’s four-day event, several speakers gave presentations on the principles of bioanalysis. The Rainbow Lecture with the title “15 Years of Environmental Proteomics!” was held by Prof. Dr. Ralf Rabus, General and Molecular Microbiology at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, the University of Oldenburg. During the practical part of the workshop, the 12 scientists were able to analyze their own samples and, with professional guidance, to acquaint themselves with new techniques in sample preparation and in the gel electrophoresis separation of proteins.

"It works!"
“In the workshop, participants have the opportunity to analyze their own samples using the latest bioanalytical systems available on the market,” said Dr. Juliane Meinhard of KWS Saat AG. Dr. Meinhard studies seeds of sugar beets using molecular biological and physiological methods and is participating in the protein workshop for the third time: “In the Rainbow Workshops you learn which methods to use to analyze your sample and to achieve a result with regard to your individual questions. And it works!”