SPP 1068:  Molekulare Motoren

• Subject Area: Biology
• Term: from 1999 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5469337

Molecular motors are ATP-driven mechano-enzymes that generate motile forces by interaction with actin filaments or microtubules of the cytoskeleton. These molecules are responsible for almost all kinds of biological motion, including various forms of active transport. The goal of the priority programme "Molecular Motors" is, on the one hand, the identification of new members of the three superfamilies of motor molecules, the Myosins, Kinesins, and Dyneins, as well as characterization of their biological function. On the other hand, in close collaboration of different disciplines we try to understand the basic principles which drive molecular motors. This includes analysis of functional differences between the various members of the motor molecule superfamilies in order to recognize the functional relevance of the various structural elements. To understand the functional principles of the various structural elements and modules, structural and functional consequences of specific mutations or of chimeras of these elements are analyzed by close collaboration among groups with expertise in cell biology, molecular biology, protein crystallography or electron microscopy, as well as groups that study the functional effects of such modified or artificial molecules by use of in vitro motility assays, including assays at the single molecule level.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• International Connection: United Kingdom

Projects

• Analysis of the role of phosphoinositide lipids in recruitment and regulation of unconventional type I myosins. (Applicant Geli, Maria Isabel )
• Characterisation of Mechanical Properties of Myosins by Photonic Force Microscopy (Applicant Hörber, J.K. Heinrich )
• Characterization of Actomyosin Binding Forces by Combining Molecular Genetic and AFM Approaches (Applicant Manstein, Dietmar J. )
• Characterization of Actomyosin Binding Forces by Combining Molecular Genetic and AFM Approaches (Applicant Hörber, J.K. Heinrich )
• Characterization of the mechanical behaviour of an unusually short representative of the KIF1A family of kinesin motors (Applicant Schliwa, Manfred )
• Conformations and interactions of kinesin (Konformationen und Interactionen von Kinesin) (Applicant Mandelkow, Eva-Maria )
• Definition of functional modules of the acto-myosin interaction (Definition funktioneller Module der Akto-Myosin-Wechselwirkung) (Applicants Bähler, Martin ;  Schröder, Rasmus R. )
• Definition of functional modules of the acto-myosin interaction (Definition funktioneller Module der Akto-Myosin-Wechselwirkung) (Applicant Schröder, Rasmus R. )
• Determining the Domain Linkages in the Myosin Motor (Applicant Holmes, Kenneth C. )
• Development of a microstructured magnetic system to measure force-velocity-characteristics generated by collectives of kinesin molecules (Entwicklung eines mikrostrukturierten magnetischen Meßsystems zur Bestimmung von Kraft-Geschwindigkeits-Charakteristika bei Kinesin-Molekülkollektiven) (Applicant Unger, Eberhard )
• Dynein and kinesin receptors of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (Applicant Sodeik, Beate )
• Function of Motor Proteins and Motor Protein Constructs at the Molecular Level Assessed by Different Single-Molecule Detection Techniques (Applicant Brenner, Bernhard )
• Function of unconventional myosins as molecular motors: Mechanics and regulation (Funktion ungewöhnlicher Myosine als molekulare Motoren: Mechanik und Regulierung) (Applicant Soldati, Thierry )
• Functional Characterisation of Myosin Motors (Funktionelle Charakterisierung von Myosinmotoren) (Applicant Manstein, Dietmar J. )
• Interaction of myosin with monomeric actins (Applicant Mannherz, Hans Georg )
• Intracellular targeting and in vivo function of plant myosins (Applicant Schmelzer, Elmon )
• Mode of action of myosin motors in Apicomplexa parasites (Funktionsweise des Aktinomyosinmotors von Apicomplexen Parasiten) (Applicant Soldati-Favre, Ph.D., Dominique )
• Molecular determinants of myosin motor properties (Applicant Bähler, Martin )
• Molekulare und funktionelle Charakterisierung molekularer Motoren sensorischer Zellen (Applicant Wolfrum, Uwe )
• Motility of plant myosins - structure-function relationships (Applicant Nick, Peter Michael )
• Motor proteins involved in mitotic spindle assembly: Biochemistry of regulation and biophysics of the collective mechanics (Applicant Surrey, Thomas )
• Myosin S2- a strut or a spring? Structural and functional investigation of a "neglected" portion of the myosin molecule. (Applicants Gautel, Mathias Sebastian ;  Goody, Roger S. )
• Myosin S2- a strut or a spring? Structural and functional investigation of a "neglected" portion of the myosin molecule. (Applicant Florin, Ernst-Ludwig )
• Random and cooperative phenomena in multicomponent dynamic systems composed of motor proteins and cytoskeletal filaments (Stochastische und kooperative Phänomene in multikomponentigen dynamischen Synthesen bestehend aus Motormolekülen und Zytoskelettfilamenten) (Applicant Frey, Erwin )
• Stochastic motions in active networks formed by Actin and Myosin (Applicant Merkel, Rudolf )
• Structural and functional analyses of motor protein-homologues form bacteria and yeasts (Applicant Konrad, Manfred )
• Structural investigations into the atomic details of the kinesin walking mechanism and their interaction with microtubules by combining dada from 3D Cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography (Applicant Hoenger, Andreas )
• Structural studies of kinesin motor proteins (Strukturuntersuchung von Kinesin-Motorproteinen) (Applicant Mandelkow, Eckhard )
• Structure, Function and Regulation of Myosin Motors (Applicant Kull, F. Jon )
• The mechanisms of action of the "catastrophe kinesins": Kinesins that destabilize the ends of microtubules (Applicant Hyman, Anthony A. )
• The Structural Basis of Fungal Kinesin Fuction (Applicant Woehlke, Günther )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Bernhard Brenner (†)