Unraveling the mechanism and biological impact of sphingolipid homeostasis (P14)

• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2012 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 180879236

Project P14 focuses on the molecular principles and biological impact of mammalian sphingolipid homeostasis, with an emphasis on ceramide and its influence on cell organization and life-death signaling. During this funding period, the group will exploit photoswitchable lipid probes as novel tools to (i) dissect the functions of the ER protein SMSr and mitochondrial VDAC2 as ceramide effector proteins in synthetic and native bilayers, and (ii) gain optical control over sphingolipid metabolism and signaling in vivo. Genetically engineered human stem cells will be used to explore how acute imbalances in subcellular sphingolipid pools affect the functional organization of the secretory pathway.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 944: Physiology and Dynamics of Cellular Microcompartments
• Applicant Institution: Universität Osnabrück
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Joost Holthuis