Switchable Cell Adhesion (B11)

• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
• Term: from 2011 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 13266514

Photoswitching of cell adhesion has the potential to reversibly manipulate essential biological interactions with temporal and spatial resolution. Thus, it can expand our therapeutic options in medicine. The necessary biological specificity of the switching will be based on carbohydrate-specific cell adhesion and tested with fimbriated Escherichia coli bacteria. For the switching of bacterial adhesion two approaches will be tested and based on (i) designed photosensitive surfaces and (ii) the site-specific and bioorthogonal modification of the proteins responsible for adhesion.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 677: Function by Switching
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Thisbe K. Lindhorst; Professorin Dr. Christine Selhuber-Unkel, Ph.D., until 6/2015