Role of zinc finger proteins in cardiovascular diseases and cancer

The zinc finger protein family is a group of proteins which share DNA, RNA and protein binding capacities. In the present project we are investigating the role of zinc finger proteins and their impact on cellular processes like inflammation, angiogenesis and atherosclerosis.

To study the role of zinc fingers in inflammation, angiogenesis and atherosclerosis, we use several different molecular genetic strategies to block zinc fingers in vitro and in vivo in cell lines and in zebrafish respectively.

Knowledge about novel zinc finger genes and their protein products is important for the understanding of pathways involved in the pathogenesis of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, which may in the future lead to the development of new therapeutic options.