Understanding and Controlling Defects and their Impact on Function, Structure and Activity in Lipid Membranes (C04)

• Subject Area: Biophysics ; Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 465145163

Biological membranes are composed of a plethora of different lipid species and contain integral or peripherally attached proteins, albeit many complex intramembranous interactions are still not understood. We will use synthetic, biochemical, and biophysical methods combined with atomic force microscopy to study the generation, propagation, and consequences of induced membrane defects in situ. Membrane defects will be introduced in a controlled way using small molecules, lipid modifying enzymes or membrane-binding proteins. Furthermore, we will develop novel photo-switchable phospholipid systems that can be incorporated into model membranes.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1552: Defects and Defect Engineering in Soft Matter
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Dirk Schneider; Professor Dr. Johannes M. Wahl