SFB 699:  Structural, Physiological and Molecular Determinants of Kidney Function

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Biology
• Term: from 2006 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 14945784

It is the aim of the Collaborative Research Centre to proceed with the understanding of kidney function on the molecular, cellular and integrative level. We expect from this strategy a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the kidney forming the basis for the prevention or causal therapy of kidney disease. The projects within this Collaborative Research Centre usually follow a common approach spanning from the gene over the isolated organ to the whole organism.
Genetically engineered mice will serve as models for the study of pathophysiological aspects. If possible, studies should also be extended onto humans. The Collaborative Research Centre will focus on (normal) functions of glomeruli and tubuli and their interactions with endo- and parcrine regulators such as the renin-angiotensin-system and the prostaglandin system.
Project area A contains studies on glomerular and tubular function. Two projects deal with the glomerulus filter, which is the crucial structure for blood filtration. Eight other projects in this area deal with aspects of tubular function such as the function of potassium channels in the proximal tubule, the functions of sodium chloride transporters and of chloride channels in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, with the epithelial sodium channel in the distal nephron and with the identification and regulation of epithelial calcium-regulated chloride channels. Furthermore, the structure and function of polycystin-2 are also investigated in this context.
Project area B focusses on endo- and paracrine regulators of kidney function. In this context the molecular regulation of renin gene expression, the molecular mechanisms underlying the recruitment of renin producing cells, as well as the regulation of the renin system by the sodium balance, by the blood pressure and by prostaglandins are addressed. Finally, the regulation of angiotensin II receptor expression and its functional consequences are also considered in this project area.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Completed projects

• A01 - Relevance of the transcription factor LMX1B for the foramtion and maintenance of the glomrular filtration barrier (Project Head Witzgall, Ralph )
• A02 - Die Rolle von Proteinen der Olfactomedin-Familie für die Podozytenfunktion (Project Head Tamm, Ernst R. )
• A03 - Pathophysiology of salt wasting syndromes caused by mutations of inwardly rectifying potassium channels KCNJ10 and KCNJ16 (Project Head Warth, Richard )
• A04 - Function and regulation of splicing varinants of the Na/K/2Cl cotransporter NKCC2 (Project Heads Castrop, Hayo ;  Oppermann, Mona )
• A05 - Expressionskontrolle der Chlorikanäle C1C - K1 und C1C - K2 auf zellulärer Ebene (Project Head Krämer, Bernhard K. )
• A06 - Kontrolle der Aktivität von CFTR und Hemmung des epithelialen Na+ Kanals: C1- sensitive Kinasen und Proteinkomplexe in Lipid Rafts (Project Head Kunzelmann, Karl )
• A07 - Anoctamins and transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins: ubiquitous regulators of transport in kidney and other organs (Project Heads Kunzelmann, Karl ;  Schreiber, Rainer )
• A08 - Intracellular transport of polycystin; in vivo analysis of polycystin-2 domains (Project Head Witzgall, Ralph )
• A09 - NMR-structure, dynamics and function of ion channels in the kidney (Project Head Kalbitzer, Hans Robert )
• A10 - Development of fibrocytes and their contribution to collagen production (Project Head Mack, Matthias )
• A11 - Mutations of the peroxisomal Fanconi-associated protein (FAP) as a cause for hereditary tubulopathy (Project Heads Reichold, Markus ;  Reinders, Jörg ;  Warth, Richard )
• A12 - Anoctamin 6- an ubiquitous protein with specific expression in the kidney (Project Heads Kunzelmann, Karl ;  Schreiber, Rainer )
• A13 - Nephrocytes of drosophila as a model system for the understanding of podocyte differentiation and function (Project Head Krahn, Ph.D., Michael )
• A14 - Relevance of microRNAs for the structure and function of pododcytes (Project Heads Meister, Gunter ;  Zaparty, Melanie )
• A15 - 3D-structure of polycystin-2 and TMEM16F determined by x-ray analysis and cryoelectronmicroscopy (Project Head Ziegler, Christine Maria )
• B01 - Molekulare Regulation der Reninexpression (Project Head Todorov, Vladimir )
• B02 - Determinants of renin cell development (Project Head Wagner, Charlotte )
• B03 - Mechanisms of compensatory renal hypertrophy (Project Head Schweda, Frank )
• B04 - Regulation der Expression renaler Angiotensin II Typ 1-Rezeptoren durch Zytokine (Project Head Bucher, Michael )
• B05 - Effects and functions of renal prostaglandins (Project Head Höcherl, Klaus )
• B06 - Cell biology of renin secretion (Project Head Kurtz, Armin )
• B07 - Relevance of angiotensin II receptors and angiotensin-receptor associated proteins for glomerular structure and function. (Project Head Castrop, Hayo )
• B08 - Control of the retinal renin-angiotensin-system (Project Head Strauß, Olaf )
• B09 - Functions of cG-Kinases in the kidney (Project Head Schlossmann, Jens )
• B10 - Chemokines and their receptors as regulators of kidney development and function (Project Head Banas, Bernhard )
• Z02 - Imaging Centre: 3D structure of kidney cells in tissue and in culture (Project Heads Rachel, Reinhard ;  Witzgall, Ralph )
• Z03 - Zentrale Aufgaben des Sonderforschungsbereichs (Project Head Kurtz, Armin )
• Z04 - Isoliert perfundierte Mäuseniere (Project Head Schweda, Frank )

• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Armin Kurtz