Prof. Dr. Matthias Lehr

© Dziemba

Topics of research:


We design, synthesize and characterize pharmacologically novel enzyme inhibitors as biochemical tools and for therapeutic applications in the fields of inflammation and pain.
Inhibitors of:

  • Cytosolic Phospholipase A2
  • Phospholipase C
  • Microsomal Prostaglandin E-Synthase-1
  • Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipase
  • Plasma Amine Oxidase (Vascular Adhesion Protein-1)

ChemBIon project description


Steroids and endocannabinoids can act on ion channels via signaling pathways that do not involve classical nuclear steroid receptors and G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptors, respectively. In human sperm, the enzyme-linked membrane receptor alpha/beta hydrolase domain-containing protein 2 (ABHD2) interconnects such non-classical steroid and endocannabinoid signaling: At rest, the sperm-specific Ca2+ channel CatSper is inhibited by the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the flagellar membrane. Upon binding to oviductal progesterone, ABHD2 degrades 2-AG and, thereby, relieves CatSper from inhibition. The ensuing Ca2+ influx affects various sperm functions. We want to design and use tool compounds to manipulate and to elucidate the dynamics and components of the pathway controlling CatSper gating. The project will be performed in collaboration with T. Strünker.

  • Curriculum vitae

    10/1976 – 04/1980

    Study of Pharmacy at the University of Regensburg

    05/1980 – 04/1981

    Internships at public pharmacies

    07/1981

    License to practice pharmacy

    10/1981 – 10/1983

    Study of Food Chemistry at the University of Würzburg

    01/1984 – 12/1984

    Internship at a government food control institute in Erlangen

    02/1985 – 01/1989

    Ph. D. studies at the Institute of Pharmacy at the University of Regensburg under supervision of Prof. Dr. G. Dannhardt

    02/1989 – 09/1991

    Employments at a pharmaceutical company in Traunreut and at a government food control institute in Oberschleißheim

    10/1991 – 12/1997

    Habilitation at the Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry at the University of Munich

    02/1998 – 03/1999

    Academic assistant at the Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry at the University of Munich

    since 04/1999

    Professor for Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Münster