Project Details
Projekt
Mechanism, control and cellular functions of Cobl-mediated actin nucleation
Applicant
Privatdozent Dr. Michael Manfred Kessels
Subject Area
Cell Biology
Term
from 2010 to 2017
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 170389054
The formation of complex actin superstructures is indispensable for life of all eukaryotes but thereby critically relies on the help of factors facilitating the assembly of the first actin monomers, a process termed nucleation. Despite the wealth of different actin structures formed, only two classes of such actin nucleation factors are well established in higher eukaryotes, the Arp2/3 complex and formins. With Cobl, we have recently identified a novel and very powerful actin nucleator indispensable for proper neuromorphogenesis that belongs to the new class of WH2 domain-based nucleators. We expect that our comprehensive studies will not only allow us to unravel the detailed molecular mechanism by which Cobl controls the actin cytoskeleton but will furthermore lead to deeper insights into how the different actin superstructures of higher eukaryotes are formed and how they support the huge diversity of cellular processes they are involved in. The identification and functional characterization of Cobl protein interactions, which may control the activity and/or the subcellular localization of this novel powerful machinery for actin nucleation, will significantly increase our molecular understanding of the actin cytoskeletal processes underlying neuromorphogenesis and the formation of neuronal networks – functions crucial for life of all higher eukaryotes.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
