
Dr.
Ziltener, Hermann
Bioch, PhD (Freiburg, Switzerland)
e-mail:
Academic Rank:
Professor, Dept of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia (retired)
Affiliation(s):
UBC Biomedical Research Center
Location:
UBC Biomedical Research Center
Short Bio
Sugar molecules attached to proteins expressed at the cell surface are increasingly recognized as playing an important role in the control of cell-cell interaction. Specific oligosaccharides can be recognized by sugar binding proteins (so called lectins) and this interaction has the potential to control how a cell interacts with other cells. Dr. Ziltener is studying the enzymes, “glycosyltransferases” that allow formation of oligosaccharide groups made from sugars such as sialic acid, fucose, galactose and N-acetylglucosamine to form ligands for selectins. Expression of selectin ligands for instance on cells of the immune system is required for these cells to migrate to a site of inflammation, leave the blood vessel and migrate into the tissue where they then participate in the immune response to e.g. a pathogen. Understanding the mechanisms that control the activities of glycosyltransferases that lead to formation of selectin ligands will thus lead to a better understanding of processes that control migration of cells of the immune system to sites of inflammation.
Academic Backgrounds
- Postdoctoral Fellow, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne. 1984-1987
- PhD, University of Freiburg, Switzerland, Biochemistry. 1977-1983
- Diploma, University of Freiburg, Switzerland. 1971-1976
Awards & Recognition
Selected Publications
Current Openings & Opportunities
Current Projects In My Lab include
Research
Research in our laboratory is focused on the role of leukocyte mucin family glycoproteins in both steady state hemopoiesis and inflammation. Leukocyte mucins are heavily glycosylated cell surface molecules that are abundantly expressed; they can have anti-adhesive properties, so-called “molecular Teflon” as well as pro-adhesive properties whereby mucin expressed sugar groups bind selectins or other cell derived lectins such as galectins or sialoadhesins. Given that leukocyte mucins can interact with a range of sugar binding lectins, focus is also on study of the glycosyltransferases that generate the lectin-binding sites on mucin family members.