Publications of the first funding period OF THE CRC 1507

Collaborative Research Center 1507

Membrane-Associated Protein Assemblies, Machineries and Supercomplexes

Protein assemblies and molecular machineries in cellular membranes are central to essential life processes. They establish homeostasis in compartmentalized cells, transduce energy, translocate nutrients and metabolites, control the communication within and between cells, and mediate interactions with pathogens. The CRC aims for an in-depth, quantitative understanding of the structure, dynamics, and function of key membrane-associated assemblies, machineries, and supercomplexes as a basis for a multiscale decoding of the associated cellular processes. Despite their pivotal role, protein assemblies and machineries associated with cellular membranes are intrinsically difficult to study and remain poorly understood. Our CRC aims to discover the organizational principles and operational mechanisms of protein assemblies and machineries at and across compartmentalization boundaries.

GOVERNING BODIES OF THE CRC 1507

Head of CRC 1507:
Prof. Dr. Robert Tampé

Steering Board:

Prof. Dr. Amparo Acker-Palmer, Prof. Dr. Inga Hänelt,
Prof. Dr. Clemens Glaubitz, Prof. Dr. Mike Heilemann,
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hummer

Scientific Coordination: Dr. Katrin Rettig

Management (Office of the CRC 1507): Inga Nold, Andrea Pott

Head of Integrated Research Training Group:
 Prof. Dr. Inga Hänelt

Coordination of Integrated Research Training Group:
Dr. Dorith Wunnicke

Steering Board of Integrated Research Training Group:
Prof. Dr. Nina Morgner, Dr. Bonnie Murphy, Dr. Roberto Covino

Project leaders of Cryo-EM Infrastructure (Z02):
Prof. Dr. Robert Tampé, Dr. Martin Beck (advisory)

Scientific Coordination of Z02: Dr. Lukas Sušac

Application Specialist, Z02: Dr. Fernando Ormeno

Highlights Cluster I

CELLULAR DEFENSE AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS COMPARTMENTALIZATION BOUNDARIES

Overall questions and coherent topics

  • Bacterial outer membrane biogenesis by SurA and ß-barrel assembly machinery
  • LPS/lipid binding, and insertion by MsbA, LptB2FGC, and MlaAC/CltA translocation machineries
  • Binding of lipid and antibiotics – mode of inhibition
  • In vitro and in situ approaches

Long-term prospects

  • Dynamics of substrate binding and folding
  • Dynamics of lipid translocation
  • Microbial defense & antibiotic resistance

Overall questions and coherent topics

  • Electrical coupling in bacterial and eukaryotic networks
  • Biofilm formation, electrical coupling (bacteria) Electrical compartmentalization (C. elegans)
  • Optocontrol and voltage sensors
  • Electrophysiology and optogenetics
  • In vitro, in situ, and in vivo approaches
  • Physiological function

Long-term prospects

  • Molecular principles of cellular networks and electrical signaling
  • Compartmentalization of excitable ensembles
  • Expanding optogenetic toolbox

Highlights Cluster II

Overall questions and coherent topics

  • Supramolecular organization and confinement
  • Nano/micro-scale reaction containers
  • Multivalent interactions, stoichiometries
  • Multiscale analysis in vitro and in cellulo
  • Single-molecule localization and tracking
  • Artificial intelligence-guided simulations

Long-term prospects

  • Quantitative multiscale description of membrane protein networking
  • Human disease and development

Highlights Cluster III

Overall questions and coherent topics

  • Assembly and disassembly
  • Conformational dynamics
  • Regulation and modulation
  • In vitro and in situ approaches

Long-term prospects

  • Assembly pathways and biogenesis of membrane complexes
  • Regulation by lipids, physiological function and diseases

Overall questions and coherent topics

  • Assembly and disassembly
  • Conformational dynamics
  • Regulation and modulation
  • In vitro and in situ approaches
  • Physiological function and diseases

Long-term prospects

  • Biogenesis pathways and cellular quality control
  • Supramolecular organization and subcellular architecture