Endocytic sorting of MHC class I molecules

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sebastian Springer
• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2011 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 190867601

This project investigates two processes that determine the efficiency of the antiviral immune response, namely the quality control of MHC class I molecules at the surface of the cell and – in comparison - in the Endoplasmic Reticulum. Initially, a set of new purposely designed mutants of class I that show an altered transport behavior in the cell due to a conformational restriction will be evaluated. These mutants as well as existing reagents will then be used to investigate the role of class I conformational stability, the association of class I molecules with detergent-resistant membrane microdomains, and the endocytosis of class I molecules that have lost their ligand peptide. The results will further our understanding of the immune response against viruses, and may yield strategies to enhance it.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants