GRK 2318:  Tight junctions and their proteins: molecular features and actions in health and disease

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: since 2017
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 318905415

The tight junction (TJ) connects adjacent epithelial or endothelial cells and is thus a central element of the barrier function by controlling the paracellular passage of solutes and water. The TJ protein composition is tissue- and segment-specific and determines the barrier properties of the tissue. TJ proteins are regulated by numerous extracellular and intracellular signals, but in turn also regulate epithelial functions and cellular differentiation, and numerous TJ proteins serve as receptors for specific pathogens. Alterations in TJ composition and architecture as well as altered differentiation processes or mutations of individual TJ proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. The underlying processes are studied in biopsies of different tissues (e.g. skin, intestine, kidney, brain) and in different animal and cell culture models. For these investigations, all PhD doctoral reseachers have access to the entire spectrum of methods of all participating research groups, including state-of-the-art molecular biological and electrophysiological techniques, biophysical and bioinformatic methods, super-resolution light microscopy, next-generation sequencing, which is constantly being expanded and adapted to the research questions.The goal of the RTG is to strengthen the transfer of knowledge between theoretical and clinical research and to promote translational research approaches, in addition to providing training for research and conveying a broad basic knowledge. In the first funding period, this was achieved through the close integration of basic and clinical research and the joint training of PhD and MD doctoral researchers and the selection of projects, and this concept will be maintained. The PhD projects included clinical aspects and issues, and the doctoral researchers were introduced to basic research through work in the laboratories. The content-based training is supplemented by comprehensive training in overarching skills that are essential for a scientific career. The mission of GRK 2318 is to train the next generation of translational researchers who will conduct cutting-edge scientific studies on the structure, function and regulation of TJ proteins, their role in disease pathogenesis and ultimately develop therapeutic approaches for these diseases.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Participating Institution: Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP); im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.; Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Jörg-Dieter Schulzke
• Participating Researchers: Privatdozent Dr. Hans-Jörg Epple; Professor Dr. Michael Fromm; Professorin Dr. Dorothee Günzel; Professor Volker Haucke, Ph.D.; Privatdozentin Dr. Susanne Marlen Krug; Professor Dr. Dominik Müller; Privatdozent Dr. Jörg Piontek; Professor Dr. Kai Schmidt-Ott; Privatdozent Dr. Michael Schumann; Professorin Dr. Britta Siegmund; Professor Dr. Thomas E. Willnow