A Supramolecular Chemical Biology Approach to Studying Protein–RNA-Based Regulatory Switches (R05)

• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 464588647

We will investigate mechanisms of switch-like all-or-none responses in biological systems from the point of view of physical-chemistry and polymer science. Our model system is a biological switch with relevance in neurodegenerative diseases: The regulation of RNA splicing by the RNA-binding protein HNRNPH. We will investigate the biophysical determinants in this process by an interdisciplinary effort combining functional genomics (biology), the synthesis and characterisation of artificial biomimetic polymer assembly platforms (supramolecular chemistry), and theoretical modelling (physics).

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1551: Polymer Concepts in Cellular Function
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Pol Besenius; Dr. Julian König, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Friederike Schmid