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

Membrane receptors such as MET, Eph, IRE1, ion channel complexes such as TRPV4, and membrane-associated pore complexes build “nano- or microscale reaction containers” via a network of transient interactions. The stoichiometry of these dynamic assemblies and the common fundamental mechanisms of protein organization shared by different receptors and cell types will be addressed by state-of-the-art methodology in experiment and theory. We will explore how membrane-associated assemblies build up functional scaffolds and regulate specific interactions in time and space.