ayout 1 - EMBL Grenoble

EMBL Research at a Glance 2009
Deciphering function and evolution of biological
systems
Peer Bork
PhD 1990, University of
Leipzig.
Habilitation 1995, Humboldt
University, Berlin.
At EMBL since 1991.
Joint Unit Coordinator since
2001.
Previous and current research
The main focus of our computational biology group is to predict function and to gain insights
into evolution by comparative analysis of complex molecular data. The group currently works on
three different scales:
• genes, proteins and small molecules;
• networks and cellular processes;
• phenotypes and environments.
They require both tool development and applications. Some selected projects include the analysis
of small molecule-protein interactions in the context of networks, the study of temporal and
spatial protein network aspects and comparative metagenomics of environments. All are geared
towards the bridging of genotype and phenotype through a better understanding of molecular
and cellular processes.
The group is partially associated with the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin
and with the Molecular Medicine Partnership unit at the Heidelberg university.
Quantitative phylogenetic assessment of microbial communities in four
environmental (metagenomic) samples by mapping marker genes onto the
tree of life (see von Mering et al., 2007, Science and references therein).
Temporary interaction networks and dynamic complex formation
during yeast cell cycle. 600 cell cycle regulated proteins in yeast
(shaded) dots as identified from microarray data interact with
noncyclic scaffolding proteins (white). The temporal cell cycle
regulation can evolve quickly (see Jensen et al., 2006, Nature,
and references therein).
Selected references
Campillos, M., Kuhn, M., Gavin, A.C., Jensen, L.J. & Bork, P. (2008).
Drug target identification using side-effect similarity. Science, 321,
263-6
Raes, J. & Bork, P. (2008). Molecular eco-systems biology: towards
an understanding of community function. Nat. Rev. Microbiol., 6,
693-9
2
Sorek, R., Zhu, Y., Creevey, C.J., Francino, M.P., Bork, P. & Rubin,
E.M. (2007). Genome-wide experimental determination of barriers to
horizontal gene transfer. Science, 318, 19-52
von Mering, C., Hugenholtz, P., Raes, J., Tringe, S.G., Doerks, T.,
Jensen, L.J., Ward, N. & Bork, P. (2007). Quantitative phylogenetic
assessment of microbial communities in diverse environments.
Science, 315, 1126-30