Sonderforschungsbereich / Transregio (Collaborative Research Center) 83

At the center stage of the research are lipid/protein assemblies, which form microdomains within biological membranes and fulfill a growing array of physiological functions such as intracellular and cell to cell signaling, membrane trafficking, protein processing, virus assembly, infectivity and compartmental morphology.

The overall goals are to:

• elucidate the molecular composition of distinct lipid/protein assemblies
• determine the biophysical forces and structural mechanisms that keep these assemblies together
• study the dynamic interactions at high spatial and temporal resolution in reconstituted systems and living cells.

To address these complex topics, the SFB/TRR 83 is employing advanced technologies, such as quantitative lipid mass spectrometry, fluorescence-cross-correlation spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, single molecule force spectroscopy, RNAi screening, and click chemistry. Thus, a unique combination of selected membrane model systems and technology platforms shall provide novel and profound molecular insights into the structural and functional nature, specificity, and biology of lipid-protein interactions.