SFB 1208:  Identity and Dynamics of Membrane Systems - from Molecules to Cellular Functions

• Subject Area: Biology ; Medicine
• Term: from 2016 to 2024
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 267205415

Biological membranes maintain a non-equilibrium state between the inside and outside space of single cells, subcellular compartments, and between the cells of multicellular organisms. A prerequisite for life is that membranes are not static entities but comprise constantly changing boundaries that react in response to internal and external cues. How do membranes obtain their identity and control their spatio-temporal dynamics? Which role do their constituents play, mainly the different kinds of membrane proteins and protein complexes? These are the fundamental questions that will be addressed within this CRC. As model systems, we have chosen different uni- and multicellular organisms to investigate identity and dynamics of their membrane systems. Our studies will continue to comprise a two-pronged approach, starting from both, the level of individual membrane proteins and their complexes as well as entire cellular membrane systems. We combine in our multifaceted consortium a unique range of structural, biochemical and cell biological technologies, which aims to unravel the molecular and cellular processes within the entire biological relevant timescale from nanoseconds to days. Our multidisciplinary approach, which involves extensive collaborations at the methodological and conceptual level, aims to decipher the multidimensional interplay between components of different membrane systems and the membranes themselves that ultimately form the basis for a wealth of biological processes.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Current projects

• A01 - The hemolysin A secretion machinery from E. coli (Project Head Schmitt, Lutz )
• A03 - Functional state modulation of membrane proteins by dynamic association and dissociation (Project Head Gohlke, Holger )
• A06 - Dynamics and trafficking of mGBP protein complexes within membranous compartments (Project Heads Degrandi, Daniel ;  Pfeffer, Klaus )
• A07 - Unravelling the interactions of mGBP proteins with lipid membranes (Project Head Strodel, Birgit )
• A08 - Structure, dynamics and interactions of proteins during membrane association and dissocia-tion studied by hp-FRET (Project Head Seidel, Claus )
• A09 - Dynamic endosomal transport and unconventional secretion (Project Heads Feldbrügge, Michael ;  Schipper, Kerstin )
• A12 - Interrogating CD95 Membrane Protein Complex Formation and its Signalling for Life or Death (Project Head Monzel, Cornelia )
• A14 - Dynamic membrane organization at the growing tip of root hairs (Project Head Grossmann, Guido )
• B01 - Understanding the function of Lethal (2) giant discs (Lgd) and ESCRT-III (Project Head Klein, Thomas )
• B04 - Transport von CLAVATA Rezeptoren und Signalmodifikatoren zwischen Membranen (Project Heads Seidel, Claus ;  Simon, Rüdiger )
• B05 - Protein interactions for the dynamic regulation of the IRON-REGULATED TRANSPORTER1 (IRT1) and cellular metal trafficking (Project Head Bauer, Petra )
• B06 - Communication relies on copper - Receptor-metal complex formation and degradation in the ethylene receptor family (Project Head Groth, Georg )
• B09 - Exploring the symbiotic interface of amoebal host and its nascent photosynthetic organelle in the amoeba Paulinella chromatophora (Rhizaria, Cercozoa) (Project Head Nowack, Eva C.M. )
• B11 - Role of DUF 3411 proteins in dynamic remodeling and inter-membrane interactions of the plastidial envelope membrane system (Project Head Weber, Andreas P.M. )
• B12 - Role of MICOS-dependent cristae membrane dynamics within mitochondria (Project Head Reichert, Andreas )
• B13 - The role of amino acid transporters in glutamate signaling in plants (Project Head Frommer, Wolf-Bernd )
• B14 - The role of Adhesion GPCRs in the regulation of cell shape (Project Head Prömel, Simone )
• INF - Acquisition – Processing – Sharing – Storage: Research data management for interdisciplinary membrane research (Project Heads Gohlke, Holger ;  Weidtkamp-Peters, Stefanie )
• MGK - Integrated Research Training Group (Project Head Bauer, Petra )
• Z01 - Characterization of membrane protein complexes by protein mass spectrometry (Project Head Stühler, Kai )
• Z02 - In vivo fluorescence imaging - Analysis of membrane protein complexes in space and time (Project Head Weidtkamp-Peters, Stefanie )
• Z03 - Central Tasks (Project Head Schmitt, Lutz )

Completed projects

• A02 - The role of phospholipase PlaF mediated membrane alterations for Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence adaptations (Project Heads Jaeger, Karl Erich ;  Kovacic, Filip )
• A04 - The massively expanded endocytotic machinery of Trichomonas vaginalis (Project Head Gould, Sven B. )
• A05 - The role of LIPP at the host plasma membrane of invading Chlamydia (Project Head Hegemann, Johannes H. )
• A10 - Membrane translocation and chaperone-dependent folding of the lipase A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Project Head Kedrov, Alexej A. )
• A11 - Amphiphilic precision macromolecules to study effects of membrane dynamics (Project Head Hartmann, Laura )
• A13 - Optogenetic membrane manipulation of protein targeting to mitochondria and plastids (Project Heads Gould, Sven B. ;  Zurbriggen, Matias Daniel )
• B02 - Specific roles of Atg8s in vesicle trafficking (Project Head Willbold, Ph.D., Dieter )
• B03 - Elucidation of the dynamics of the autophagosomal membrane-associated protein GABARAP by NMR spectroscopy (Project Head Neudecker, Philipp )
• B10 - Initial steps of thylakoid membrane formation and the role of endomembrane system-mediated protein targeting into plastids (Project Heads Meierhoff, Karin ;  Westhoff, Peter )

• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Lutz Schmitt