Introduction

The department focusses on the metabolism of xenobiotic and endogenous bioactive substances with particular emphasis on the enzyme family of epoxide hydrolases. These enzymes have been originally recognized for their crucial role in xenobiotic metabolism. Indeed, they catalyze the turnover of potentially carcinogenic metabolites into less active products. In addition, they interfere with a range of physiological processes such as inflammation, pain, angiogenesis and vascular dynamics by controlling the levels of a specific class of endogenous signaling molecules.

By applying a broad spectrum of methods (e.g. electrophysiology, mass spectrometry, behavioral physiology, immunohistochemistry, protein biochemistry) the group examines how the epoxide hydrolases fulfill their double role.