Göttinger Graduiertenzentrum für Neurowissenschaften, Biophysik und Molekulare Biowissenschaften

Prof. Dr. Olaf Jahn*


  • Since 2022: Head of Neuroproteomics Group, Department of Molecular Neurobiology (Nils Brose), Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
  • Since 2021: W2 professorship ‘Translational Neuroproteomics’, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Jens Wiltfang), University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
  • 2014: Habilitation in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Göttingen, Germany
  • 2004: Founding member of the Göttingen Proteomics Forum (https://gpf.gwdg.de/GPF/GPF-overview.html
  • 2004–2021: Head of Proteomics Group, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
  • 2002–2003: Postdoc, Department of Molecular Neuroendocrinology (Joachim Spiess), Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
  • 2002: PhD in Biochemistry, University of Hannover, Germany




Major Research Interests

We apply quantitative proteomic approaches mainly to neuronal and glial protein preparations to study the synapse and the myelin sheath as key elements of the nervous system. For that purpose, we have developed a technology platform for routine differential proteome profiling of mutant versus control mice and we use this ‘proteomic phenotyping’ approach with the aim of providing mechanistic insights into the biology and pathology of mouse models of neuropsychiatric relevance. One focus of our work is the analysis of inter- and intra-species variability of the myelin proteome, a long-term project that we pursue in close collaboration with Hauke Werner (www.mpinat.mpg.de/myelin).

In the framework of our translational research, we are developing our proteomic approaches toward biomarker discovery for neuropsychiatric diseases to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying their pathology. Currently, we apply mass spectrometry in neurodegeneration research for the molecular characterization of beta-amyloid peptides, which play a role in the etiology of Alzheimer dementia (AD). We want to understand whether post-translationally modified, N-terminally truncated, and particularly N-terminally elongated beta-amyloid peptides affect AD pathology and whether the specific detection of distinct peptide species may have potential for the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarker candidates.


Homepage Department/Research Group

https://www.mpinat.mpg.de/neuroproteomik

https://psychiatrie.umg.eu/forschung/professuren/translationale-neuroproteomik


Selected Recent Publications


  • Siems SB, Gargareta V-I, Schadt L, Daguano Gastaldi V, Jung RB, Piepkorn L.; Casaccia P, Sun T, Jahn O*, Werner HB. Developmental maturation and regional heterogeneity but no sexual dimorphism of the murine CNS myelin proteome. Glia 2024, DOI: 10.1002/GLIA.24614 (*co-corresponding author).
  • Liepold T, Klafki HW, Kumar S, Walter J, Wirths O, Wiltfang J, Jahn O. Matrix development for the detection of phosphorylated Amyloid-β peptides by MALDI-TOF-MS. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2023, 34:505-512.
  • Chatterjee M, Özdemir S, Kunadt M, Koel-Simmelink M, Boiten W, Piepkorn L, Pham TV, Chiasserini D, Piersma SR, Knol JC, Möbius W, Mollenhauer B, van der Flier WM, Jimenez CR, Teunissen CE, Jahn O*, Schneider A. C1q is increased in cerebrospinal fluid-derived extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer’s disease: A multi-cohort proteomics and immunoassay validation study. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:4828-484013066 (*co-corresponding author).
  • Klafki HW, Wirths O, Mollenhauer B, Liepold T, Rieper P, Esselmann H, Vogelgsang J, Wiltfang J, Jahn O. Detection and quantification of Aβ−3–40 (APP669-711) in cerebrospinal fluid. J Neurochem 2022, 160:578-589.
  • Gargareta VI, Reuschenbach J, Siems SB, Sun T, Piepkorn L, Mangana C, Späte E, Goebbels S, Huitinga I, Möbius W, Nave KA, Jahn O*, Werner HB. Conservation and divergence of myelin proteome and oligodendrocyte transcriptome profiles between humans and mice. eLife 2022, 11:e77019 (*co-corresponding author).