RESEARCH GROUPS
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Groupleader: Wolfgang E. Merz
Wolfgang E. Merz
Endocrinology of Early Pregnancy
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CV
| 1968 | Dr. phil. nat., University of Frankfurt/M (Microbiology, Biochemistry, Botany) Thesis: "Coenzyme binding and mode of action of the glutamate-oxalacetate- transaminase from baker's yeast" |
| 1977 | Habilitation, Biochemisty, Med. Faculty, University of Heidelberg |
| 1980 | Professor, Biochemisty, University of Heidelberg |
| 1981-86 | Dean, Medical Faculty, Natural Sciences, University of Heidelberg |
| 1984 | Visiting Professor, University of Kuopio, Finland |
| 1991 | Visiting Professor, Yale University, USA |
| 1996-2005 | Spokesman of the German Society of Endocrinology, Division "Reproductive Biology and Medicine" |
| since 2005 | Retired. Foundation and development of the innovative digital e-learning tool medusys |
Research
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.
Publications
Medusys. Ein kompetenzorientiertes Lernsystem für Lernende und Lehrende. So gelingt E-Learning. Reader zum Higher Education Summit 2019. Pearson: 132-137.
Merz WE (2020)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the male reproductive tract.Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 260-262:190-196.
Berger P, Gruschwitz M, Spoettl G, Dirnhofer S, Madersbacher S, Gerth R, Merz WE, Plas E, Sampson N. (2007)
Non-assembled human chorionic gonadotropin subunits and αα-homodimers use fast-track processing in the secretory pathway in contrast to αβ-heterodimers. Endocrinology 148:5831-5841.
Merz WE, Krause JM, Roig J, Singh V, Berger P. (2007)
Rapid maturation of glycoprotein hormone free α-subunit (GPHα) and GPHαα homodimers.Mol. Endocrinol. 21(10):2551-2564.
Krause JM, Berger P, Roig J, Singh V, Merz WE. (2007)
Time-dependent folding of immunological epitopes of the human chorionic gonadotropin β-subunit. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 260-262, 12-22.
Roig J, Krause JM, Berger P, Merz WE. (2007)
Hormone replacement therapy and the risk of developing breast cancer. MMW Fortschr Med. 146(9):26-8, 30.
Merz WE. (2004)
Activation of tubular epithelial cells in diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes. 51(12):3532-44.
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. (2002)
The ERK signaling cascade inhibits gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 13957-13964.
Seger, R., Hanoch, T., Rosenberg, R., Dantes, A., Merz, W.E., Strauss III, J.F. and Amsterdam, A. (2001)
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.
Singh, V. and Merz, W.E. (2000)
Biosynthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin: a review. Eur.J.Endocrinol. 135, 269-284.
Merz, W.E. (1996)
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.
Konrad, M. and Merz, W.E. (1996)
Lack of self- regulation of human chorionic gonadotropin biosynthesis in human choriocarcinoma cells. J.Clin.Endocr. Metab. 78, 1188-1194.
Licht, P., Cao, H., Zuo, J., Lei, Z.M., Rao, C.V., Merz, W.E., Day, T.G., jr. (1994)
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.
Konrad, M. and Merz, W.E. (1994)
Merz WE (2020)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the male reproductive tract.Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 260-262:190-196.
Berger P, Gruschwitz M, Spoettl G, Dirnhofer S, Madersbacher S, Gerth R, Merz WE, Plas E, Sampson N. (2007)
Non-assembled human chorionic gonadotropin subunits and αα-homodimers use fast-track processing in the secretory pathway in contrast to αβ-heterodimers. Endocrinology 148:5831-5841.
Merz WE, Krause JM, Roig J, Singh V, Berger P. (2007)
Rapid maturation of glycoprotein hormone free α-subunit (GPHα) and GPHαα homodimers.Mol. Endocrinol. 21(10):2551-2564.
Krause JM, Berger P, Roig J, Singh V, Merz WE. (2007)
Time-dependent folding of immunological epitopes of the human chorionic gonadotropin β-subunit. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 260-262, 12-22.
Roig J, Krause JM, Berger P, Merz WE. (2007)
Hormone replacement therapy and the risk of developing breast cancer. MMW Fortschr Med. 146(9):26-8, 30.
Merz WE. (2004)
Activation of tubular epithelial cells in diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes. 51(12):3532-44.
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. (2002)
The ERK signaling cascade inhibits gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 13957-13964.
Seger, R., Hanoch, T., Rosenberg, R., Dantes, A., Merz, W.E., Strauss III, J.F. and Amsterdam, A. (2001)
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.
Singh, V. and Merz, W.E. (2000)
Biosynthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin: a review. Eur.J.Endocrinol. 135, 269-284.
Merz, W.E. (1996)
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.
Konrad, M. and Merz, W.E. (1996)
Lack of self- regulation of human chorionic gonadotropin biosynthesis in human choriocarcinoma cells. J.Clin.Endocr. Metab. 78, 1188-1194.
Licht, P., Cao, H., Zuo, J., Lei, Z.M., Rao, C.V., Merz, W.E., Day, T.G., jr. (1994)
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.
Konrad, M. and Merz, W.E. (1994)
Contact
Heidelberg University
Biochemistry Center (BZH)
Im Neuenheimer Feld 328
69120 Heidelberg
Biochemistry Center (BZH)
Im Neuenheimer Feld 328
69120 Heidelberg
Fax:
+49 6221 54-4163 E-Mail:
wolfgang.merz@bzh.uni-heidelberg.de