SFB 492:  Extracellular Matrix: Biogenesis, Assembly and Cellular Interactions

• Subject Area: Biology ; Medicine
• Term: from 2000 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5483940

The plethora of extracellular matrix functions can only be explained on the basis of structural features of supramolecular matrix aggregates. This central hypothesis defines the research directions of the collaborative research centre 492. Therefore, one of the major goals is the study of unique structural features of basically diverging matrix suprastructures, e.g. cartilage fibrils, type I-collagen containing fibrils, microfibrils, or anchoring fibrils. On this structural basis, the role of the extracellular matrices for cell adhesion, cell migration and differentiation is investigated.
Special emphasis is given to interactions of individual cells like antigen presenting cells and bacteria to matrix suprastructures. In addition, organ-specific matrix organzation forms will be addressed.
The experimental approaches will include the combined use of biophysical, genetic, biochemical, and immunological methods as well as by ultrastructural studies on the macromolecular level.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Completed projects

• A02 - Suprastructure of the Extracellular Matrix: Macromolecular Alloys and Networks (Project Head Bruckner, Peter )
• A3 - Biologie und Pathobiologie der Verankerungsfibrillen der Haut (Project Head Bruckner-Tuderman, Leena Kaarina )
• A4 - Die proteolytische Konversion von Profibrillin zu Fibrillin und ihre Modulation: Rolle bei der Bildung elastischer Mikrofribrillen (Project Head Raghunath, Ph.D., Michael )
• A5 - Struktur und Funktion der Prokollagen C-Proteinase (BMP1) (Project Head Stöcker, Walter )
• A6 - Struktur, Stoffwechsel und Interaktionen von Dermatansulfat-Proteoglykanen der extrazellulären Matrix (Project Head Kresse, Hans )
• A7 - Internalisierung von Proteinen der extrazellulären Matrix zur Regulation ihrer extrazellulären Konzentration und biologischen Aktivität (Project Head Gerke, Volker )
• A8 - Studien zur Komposition und supramolekularen Interaktion von Kollagen XVI-positiven Fibrillen (Project Head Grässel, Susanne )
• A9 - Biogenese und pathogenetische Bedeutung kleiner leucinreicher Proteoglycane (Project Head Seidler, Daniela G. )
• A10 - The Role of ESAM and CD99 in Leukocyte Transmigration through Endothelium and Basement Membrane (Project Head Vestweber, Dietmar )
• A11 - Inhibition of Hyaluronan Export (Project Head Prehm, Peter )
• A12 - Bedeutung des pyrophosphatgenerierenden Enzyms ENPP1 als Modulator vaskulärer Mineralisationsprozesse (Project Heads Plenz, Gabriele ;  Rutsch, Frank )
• A13 - Die Rolle des Matrixproteinvon Willebrand-Faktor beiTumorzelladhäsion, -migration und -invasion (Project Head Schneider, Stefan Werner )
• A14 - Structural and Functional Characterisation of the Extracellular Matrix of the Spleen (Project Head Sorokin, Lydia )
• A16 - LG/LNS Domains as Mediators of Interactions between Synaptic Cell-Surface Proteins and L-Dystroglycan/ECM in the Brain (Project Head Missler, Markus )
• A17 - Integrin Signalling via the LIM-only Protein FHL2 and its Role in Lung and Skin Fibrosis (Project Head Wixler, Ph.D., Viktor )
• B2 - Interaktionen von dendritischen Antigen-präsentierenden Zellen mit Komponenten der extrazellulären Matrix bei Migration und Antigenpräsentation (Project Head Grabbe, Stephan )
• B03 - Zelluläre Wechselwirkungen mit Laminin-5: Von der Integrinerkennung zur zellbiologischen Funktion (Project Head Eble, Johannes Andreas )
• B4 - Einfluß der extrazellulären Matrix auf die Differenzierung des Endothels und des Epithels der Blut-Hirn-Schranken (Project Head Galla, Hans Joachim )
• B5 - Slit und Integrin vermittelte Signale bei der Bildung der Kommissuren im embryonalen ZNS von Drosophila (Project Head Klämbt, Christian )
• B09 - Adhesive Interactions between Staphylococcus aureus and Matrix-Suprastructures as Determinants of Invasive Infections: the Role of Eap and Emp (Project Heads Bruckner, Peter ;  Löffler, Bettina ;  Peters, Georg )
• B10 - Pathogenetische Bedeutung der kleinen, leucinreichen Proteoglycane Decorin und Biglycan bei diabetischer Nephropathie (Project Heads Schaefer, Roland M. ;  Schaefer, Liliana )
• B12 - Analyse der Funktion von Syndecan-4 und extrazellulärer Matrixkomponenten bei der Wundheilung (Project Head Echtermeyer, Frank )
• B13 - Interaction of Proteinase-Activated Receptors with the Extracellular Matrix in Malignant Melanoma (Project Head Steinhoff, Martin )
• B14 - Molekulare Analyse der Funktion der extrazellulären Matrix für die Steuerung der Navigation durch das chemorepulsive Signal Semaphorin 3A (Project Head Püschel, Andreas )
• B15 - Roles of Heparan Sulfate in Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) Gradient Formation and Cardiac Development in the Mouse (Project Head Grobe, Kay )
• B17 - Coupling Integrin Activation to the Actin Cytoskeleton (Project Heads Bogdan, Sven ;  Klämbt, Christian )
• B18 - Environmental Control of Chondrocyte Differentiation in Endochondral Ossification and Degenerative Joint Diseases (Project Head Dreier, Rita )
• B19 - Regulation of Fibroblast Attachment and Invasiveness by PI3KGamma-Mediated Signalling Pathways in Rheumatoid Arthritis (Project Head Pap, Thomas )
• B20 - Regulation of Mural Cell Function in the Cardiovascular System by Integrins and Integrin-Associated Molecules (Project Head Adams, Ralf H. )
• Z01 - Central Administration (Project Head Bruckner, Peter )
• Z02 - Characterization and Quantification of Proteins, Glycoproteins and Proteoglycans from Extracellular Matrix by Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics and Glycomics (Project Head Mormann, Michael )
• Z03 - Imaging Techniques (Project Head Robenek, Horst )

• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Participating Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Arterioskleroseforschung an der Universität Münster (aufgelöst); Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Biomedizin
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Peter Bruckner