A kinetic proofreading mechanism for sensing lipid saturation (C10*)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 200049484

All organisms that cannot control their body temperature must adapt their membrane lipid composi-tion to the ambient temperature, a phenomenon referred to as homeoviscous adaptation. It remains largely unknown how subtle changes of the membrane composition and properties can be sensed and amplified to control adaptation. C10(N) studies the mechanisms by which the lipid saturation sensor Mga2 amplifies sig-nals from the membrane to upregulate the production of unsaturated lipids for adaptation. By a combination of theory, systematic molecular dynamics simulations, and quantitative biochemical reconstitution experi-ments C10(N) aims to uncover the physical basis of lipid saturation sensing.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1027: Physical Modelling of Non-Equilibrium Processes in Biological Systems
• Applicant Institution: Universität des Saarlandes
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Robert Ernst