Groupleader: Wolfgang E. Merz

Former activities:
The focus of my research group was to find out the immunological and endocrinological requirements for the successful establishment and maintenance of early human pregnancies. In particular, we investigated the biosynthesis of the placenta hormone choriogonadotropin (hCG). It is composed of two dissimilar subunits. During biosynthesis, several critical steps, like subunit folding, disulfide bridge formation, subunit association, and glycosylation have to be successfully passed to yield a biologically active hormone that is necessary for the maintenance of pregnancy in the first trimester.



Present activities:
Design and development of the novel competence level-based e-learning system medusys (https://medu-sys.com).

2007
Roig J, Krause JM, Berger P, Merz WE. Time-dependent folding of immunological epitopes of the human chorionic gonadotropin β-subunit.
Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 2007, 260-262, 12-22.

Berger P, Gruschwitz M, Spoettl G, Dirnhofer S, Madersbacher S, Gerth R, Merz WE, Plas E, Sampson N. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the male reproductive tract.
Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 2007, 260-262:190-196.

Krause JM, Berger P, Roig J, Singh V, Merz WE. Rapid maturation of glycoprotein hormone free α-subunit (GPHα) and GPHαα homodimers.
Mol. Endocrinol. 2007, 21(10):2551-2564.

Merz WE, Krause JM, Roig J, Singh V, Berger P. Non-assembled human chorionic gonadotropin subunits and αα-homodimers use fast-track processing in the secretory pathway in contrast to αβ-heterodimers.
Endocrinology 2007, 148:5831-5841.

2004
Merz WE., Hormone replacement therapy and the risk of developing breast cancer. MMW Fortschr Med. 2004, 146(9):26-8, 30.

2002
Morcos M, Sayed AA, Bierhaus A, Yard B, Waldherr R, Merz W, Kloeting I, Schleicher E, Mentz S, Abd el Baki RF, Tritschler H, Kasper M, Schwenger V, Hamann A, Dugi KA, Schmidt AM, Stern D, Ziegler R, Haering HU, Andrassy M, van der Woude F, Nawroth PP. Activation of tubular epithelial cells in diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes. 2002. 51(12):3532-44.

2001
Seger, R., Hanoch, T., Rosenberg, R., Dantes, A., Merz, W.E., Strauss III, J.F. and Amsterdam, A.: The ERK signaling cascade inhibits gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis.
J. Biol. Chem. 276, 13957-13964, 2001.

2000
Singh, V. and Merz, W.E.: Disulfide bond formation is not required for human chorionic gonadotropin subunit association. Studies with dithiothreitol in JEG-3 cells. J.Biol.Chem. 275, 11765-11770, 2000.

1996
Merz, W.E.: Biosynthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin: a review.
Eur.J.Endocrinol. 135, 269-284, 1996.

Konrad, M. and Merz, W.E.: Long-term effect of cyclic AMP on N-glycosylation is caused by an increase in the activity of the cis-prenyl-transferase.
Biochem.J. 316, 575-581, 1996.

1994
Licht, P., Cao, H., Zuo, J., Lei, Z.M., Rao, C.V., Merz, W.E., Day, T.G., jr.: Lack of self- regulation of human chorionic gonadotropin biosynthesis in human choriocarcinoma cells. J.Clin.Endocr. Metab. 78, 1188-1194, 1994.

Konrad, M. and Merz, W.E.: Regulation of N-glycosylation. Long term effect of cyclic AMP mediates enhanced synthesis of the dolichol pyrophosphate core oligosaccharide.
J.Biol.Chem. 269, 8659-8666, 1994.