SuperMem: Supermolecular chaperone complexes in membrane protein biogenesis and quality control

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Matthias Feige
• Subject Area: Biochemistry ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 561277729

Membrane proteins allow cells to interact with their environment and are thus of utmost importance for any cell. Their biogenesis, however, is often error-prone and thus needs to be supported and controlled. It is becoming increasingly clear that cellular quality control machineries seldom work in isolation but instead form multi-functional supermolecular complexes to ensure fidelity, efficiency and robustness in protein biogenesis. For membrane proteins, we are only beginning to understand the underlying molecular principles and substrate ranges. This proposal aims to significantly extend our understanding of super-chaperone complexes in membrane protein biogenesis and quality control. We will focus on supercomplexes centered around the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Membrane protein complex (EMC), which is at the very center of membrane protein biogenesis in the ER. Our project will decipher fundamental principles of EMC supercomplex formation, map their substrate ranges and delineate the cell physiological importance. We will focus on key complexes conserved from yeast to humans. Our team is unique in that it synergistically combines approaches that are systematic and quantitative on the one hand, and on the other hand range all the way from biochemical/mechanistic to cell physiology. This powerful combination should allow us to develop a holistic view of EMC-centered chaperone supercomplexes guiding membrane protein maturation and quality control in eukaryotes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Israel
• Partner Organisation: The Israel Science Foundation
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Maya Schuldiner, Ph.D.