GRK 2550:  Dynamic regulation of cellular protein localization

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: since 2020
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 411422114

Biological systems are astonishingly adaptable. Cells employ dynamic protein (re)localization as central mechanism to expand proteome complexity and to allow cellular adaption to a multitude of intra- and extracellular signals. The mechanisms driving and controlling (re)localization events, and their functional and physiological consequences are only poorly understood. Our RTG will explore this layer of regulation and proteome complexity-expansion by following the overarching question: how does dynamic protein (re)localization contribute to cellular adapation through expanding proteomic complexity and plasticity? To answer this question, our DCs will investigate the dynamic regulation of protein localization and the physiological conditions that drive it. They will also characterize the underlying mechanisms (specifically focusing on posttranslational aspects of regulation) and assess the functional and cellular/physiological consequences of (re)localization. DCs will perform experiments on individual (re)localizing proteins and on the dedicated machineries controlling and driving (re)localization. They will employ unbiased -omics approaches to generalize their findings and will develop novel tools to modulate (re)localization processes. To cover this wide range of approaches and drive their projects to successful completion, our DCs can build on the complementary expertise of RTG-PIs and their RTG-fellows, on excellent state-of-the-art core facilities and the thriving highly interactive scientific environment in Cologne. Our DCs will expand their scientific horizon through an interactive tailor-made educational program that covers broad principles, and specific scientific and career development needs. This program not only includes lectures on wider scientific topics and introductions into scientific work and knowledge acquisition, but also specific practical training in imaging, proteomics, bioinformatics, and peptide/small molecule chemistry. The early formation of a “class” of DCs, their shared training experiences, and our intense support for idea and knowledge exchange will help our DCs to develop into independent highly qualified researchers with a comprehensive cellular biochemistry background that have all the opportunities to follow their ideas for a future career. The strong scientific and research training program that we establish for our RTG will serve as the nucleus for an interfaculty biochemistry graduate school at the UoC in the future.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Jan Riemer
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Jürgen Dohmen; Professorin Dr. Stephanie Kath-Schorr, since 1/2024; Professorin Dr. Natalia Kononenko; Professor Dr. Marcus Krüger; Professor Dr. Thomas Langer; Professorin Dr. Ines Neundorf; Professorin Dr. Carien Niessen; Professorin Lena Pernas, Ph.D., until 1/2024; Professorin Dr. Elena Irene Rugarli; Professor Dr. Hans-Günther Schmalz; Professor Dr. Günter Schwarz