Mechanism of initiating autophagosome biogenesis on ER membrane (P19)

• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 264061860

Upon starvation, autophagy is dramatically upregulated and initiates the recycling of nutrients. It captures cellular targets into a specialized ab initio formed double membrane autophagosome originating from a few discrete contacts with the ER. However, the molecular mechanisms that control the initiation in space and time are unclear. We will address these questions in a reconstituted system with purified recombinant human proteins, where we aim to define the minimal machinery and identify the concepts and principles that govern this process.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1190: Compartmental Gates and Contact Sites in Cells
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Head: Dr. Alex Faesen