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Hornemann Lab

Summary

The Hornemann Lab is a research group based at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich and the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Led by Thorsten Hornemann, the lab focuses on sphingolipid metabolism, particularly the synthesis, toxicity, and physiological roles of atypical sphingolipids such as 1-Deoxysphingolipids (1-deoxySLs).

Research Areas

The Hornemann Lab uses lipidomics, genetics, and cell biology approaches to study: - Atypical Sphingolipids: Investigating the pathways that form 1-deoxysphingolipids and 1-deoxymethylsphingolipids, which are lacking the C1-hydroxyl group. - Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy Type 1 (HSAN1): Understanding how mutations in serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) subunits lead to the overproduction of neurotoxic 1-deoxySLs. - Lipotoxicity and Cell Death: Elucidating the mechanisms by which very long-chain (VLC) 1-deoxySLs disrupt mitochondrial function and trigger BAX-mediated apoptosis. - Mitochondrial Toxicity: Examining how very long-chain 1-deoxydihydroceramides disrupt mitochondrial integrity and activate cell death pathways (mPTP/BAX).

Citations