Targeted Protein Degradation in Nuclear Quality Control Condensates (R03)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 464588647

Under conditions of proteolytic stress, nuclear proteasome-containing condensates are formed by mechanisms of phase separation. These condensates appear to be highly efficient machineries for targeted protein degradation to re-establish protein homeostasis. In this project we aim to understand which proteins are selectively degraded by these nuclear condensates, the role of UBE3A and RAD23B in substrate recruitment and underlying molecular mechanisms, as well as the biophysical principles and biopolymer properties that drive condensate formation involving linear and branched polyubiquitin chains.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1551: Polymer Concepts in Cellular Function
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Petra Beli; Professor Dr. Kurt Kremer; Oleksandra Kukharenko, Ph.D.; Dr. Katja Luck