Role of lipids in membrane protein insertion (22)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2014 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 112927078

The project aims at the structural and functional characterization of the receptor proteins of the GET pathway, Get1 and Get2, which are integral membrane proteins. We showed that Get1/2 can form a dimer of the heterodimer, which contains a particular lipid species. We now plan to determine the structure of the GET receptor using a hybrid approach combining X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy, and specifically study the role of lipids on its structure and function. Using cross-linking and MS with specifically modified lipids we will analyze their functional implications for Get3 recruitment and tail-anchored membrane protein insertion. With the combination of structural and biochemical assays we will arrive at a detailed understanding of the structure and mechanism of the Get1/2/3 insertase and dissect the membrane associated steps of the GET pathway.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 83: Molecular Architecture and Cellular Functions of Lipid/Protein Assemblies
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Irmgard Sinning