Biohybrid transporters for cell type-specific delivery and controlled release of pharmacologically active peptides (C02)

• Subject Area: Biophysics ; Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316249678

This project will develop transporter molecules for efficient delivery of bioactive peptides into specific target cell types or across the blood-brain-barrier. To achieve this, non-toxic mutants of bacterial AB-type protein toxins will be generated and used that mediate cell-targeting by specific receptor-binding subunits and controlled release of the cargo peptides into the cytosol by specific translocation subunits. These processes will be analyzed in living cells by state-of-the-art imaging methods developed in this project such as lattice light sheet microscopy and single molecule tracking. The techniques will be applied to antimicrobial and anticancer peptides which were examined within this CRC but are of general interest for potent and specific delivery.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1279: Exploiting the Human Peptidome for Novel Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Holger Barth; Professor Dr. Jens Michaelis