Ykt6-dependent trafficking of Wnts (A03)

• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 331351713

Exosomal Wnt secretion via multivesicular bodies (MVBs) depends on the unusual v-SNARE Ykt6. In the proposed project, we will analyze Ykt6-dependent trafficking dynamics of Wnt3A into MVBs biochemically and by microscopy. To investigate the Ykt6-mediated sorting mechanism of exosomal Wnt3A we will characterize binding of different Ykt6 mutants and Evi deletion constructs and identify new factors involved in the Ykt6-mediated sorting by a proteomics approach. Further characterization of these factors in cell culture will be complemented with an in vivo study of Ykt6 and new interactors in Drosophila melanogaster.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1324: Mechanisms and functions of Wnt signaling
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Julia Gross