Molecular parameters for the dynamic assembly of Hedgehog signaling platforms (A08)

• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 386797833

All Hedgehog (Hh) proteins are dually lipidated, which results in their assembly into large storage platforms at the outer plasma membrane leaflet of Hh producing cells. This raises the question of how Hhs are released to signal to distant target cells. In the last funding period, we found that Hh release is modulated by plasma membrane cholesterol efflux that in turn depends on the resistance-nodulation-division (RND) transporter Dispatched1 (Disp). We will now investigate the link between Disp-regulated membrane cholesterol content and Shh release in vitro and in vivo and identify contributing factors.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1348: Dynamic cellular interfaces: formation and function
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Kay Grobe