Dynamo
The main focus of this project is a systems biology approach to analyse dynamics of membrane-associated protein complexes. Those protein complexes usually execute their function by transporting either a signal or a molecule.
Two different model systems covering these different dynamic aspects are used for the project:
The transport of signals across membranes: The light sensitive G-protein coupled receptor rhodopsin, transducing light to protein networks
The transport of proteins across membranes: - Protein translocation through mitochondrial protein import
The following objectives are addressed:
molecular composition (absolute quantification)
post translational modifications
description of spatial localization, activation status, assembly of intermediates, mature complexes (quantitative data)
first modeling of the generated data
biochemical experiments to test the obtained model in vitro and in vivo
refined modeling of the generated data return to biochemical experiments
In one model system, the vision process of vertebrates is regulated by retinal photoreceptors, which are responsible for the transduction of photons into neuronal electric signals. This phototransduction process takes place in a specialized ciliary organelle of the photoreceptor which is called rod. In the rod outer segment (ROS) proteins like arrestin, transducin and recoverin, that are directly involved in light detection and signal transduction are enriched. Depending on the influence of light, transducin for example moves out of the outer segment and accumulates primarily in the inner segment region. Arrestin on the other hand moves in the opposite direction into the outer segment. The dynamics of these signaling complexes under the influence of light was analyzed and relatively quantified by ICPL. The technique offers the possibility to monitor changes of the protein expression pattern in perturbed systems as for example the light- and the dark-adapted state.
The present project is a BMBF funded collaboration of several institutes (M. Üffing, C. Meisinger; N. Pfanner, A. Sickmann, F. Lottspeich, O. Sawodny , M. Ederer).
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