Regulation of aggrephagy by co-chaperones and assisting proteins (F03 (E04))

• Subject Area: Biochemistry ; Biophysics ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259130777

The co-chaperone BAG3 is involved in the autophagic clearance of aggregation-prone proteins (aggrephagy), such as the Alzheimer’s-associated protein tau. Aggrephagy dysfunctions play a deleterious role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. This project aims to unveil the molecular and functional principles that regulate BAG3-mediated aggrephagy related to neurodegeneration. It will clarify the role of aggrephagy in protein aggregation diseases and pin down targetable, decisive control factors of this selective autophagy process.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1177: Molecular and Functional Characterization of Selective Autophagy
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christian Behl; Professor Dr. Mike Heilemann, since 1/2024; Professor Manuel Kaulich, Ph.D., since 1/2024