Isoform specific functions of Dynamin 2

• Applicant: Dr. Sylvia Neumann
• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2009 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 118804297

Dynamin is best studied for its role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) and most of these studies have employed the first identified isoform, dynamin-1 (Dyn1). However, there are two major, mammalian isoforms of dynamin: the neuronal isoform, Dyn1, and the ubiquitously expressed isoform, Dyn2. It has been assumed that both isoforms function redundantly in CME. The Schmid lab has recently generated conditional Dyn2 knock-out cells and performed knockout and reconstitution experiments with Dyn1 and Dyn2. Unexpectedly, they find that Dyn2, but not Dyn1 efficiently rescues CME in these non-neuronal Dyn2 knock-out cells. This functional difference may reflect differential interactions with downstream partners or differences in biochemical/enzymatic properties of the two isoforms, or both. As Dyn2 has been less extensively studied than Dyn1, I propose to compare the biochemical activities of Dyn1 and Dyn2, to identify Dyn2 specific interacting partners and finally, to examine the effect of Dyn2-specific partners on the function of Dyn2, both in vivo and in vitro. This study will allow me to develop my skills and knowledge in biochemical analysis of proteins and protein complexes and to translate this information into complex cellular systems.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professorin Dr. Sandra Louise Schmid