Projects

This project aims at the determination of atomic structures of selected membrane-associated neuronal proteins in collaboration with colleagues of this TR SFB. The structures will provide new insights into functionally relevant sites/subdomains. This will allow us to propose mechanistic hypotheses, to design site-specific mutations, and to test them in functional assays. Our collaborators are responsible for the choice of the appropriate overexpression system and the large scale expression of the protein. Mechanistic hypotheses and the design of the relevant site-specific mutations will be worked out together. The selected proteins are well within the focus of interest of our colleagues of the TR SFB. Specifically, we intend to work on the following proteins:

The Ig1-4 fragment formed by the four N-terminal immunoglobulin domains (previously found to form the ligand binding module in axonin-1) of the neuronal cell-adhesion proteins L1/NgCAM/E587 and NrCAM (in collaboration with TP C3). The ectodomain of the postsynaptic membrane protein calsyntenin, with a presumed function in Ca2+ signaling and synaptic plasticity (with TP C3). A fragment of the functionally relevant myelin protein nogo-A, with inhibits nerve fiber regeneration (with TP C1) The ectodomain of the transmembrane RAGE receptor (receptor for advanced glycation end products), isolated and in complex with one of its ligands (S100) (with TP B6). The YuaG protein from B.subtilis, with homology to the lipid raft/microdomain protein reggi-1 which is a membrane-associated cytoplasmic protein possibly involved in signal transduction (with TP C6). Specifically, we intend to work on the following proteins:

The Ig1-4 fragment formed by the four N-terminal immunoglobulin domains (previously found to form the ligand binding module in axonin-1) of the neuronal cell-adhesion proteins L1/NgCAM/E587 and NrCAM (in collaboration with TP C3). The ectodomain of the postsynaptic membrane protein calsyntenin, with a presumed function in Ca2+ signaling and synaptic plasticity (with TP C3). A fragment of the functionally relevant myelin protein nogo-A, with inhibits nerve fiber regeneration (with TP C1) The ectodomain of the transmembrane RAGE receptor (receptor for advanced glycation end products), isolated and in complex with one of its ligands (S100) (with TP B6). The YuaG protein from B.subtilis, with homology to the lipid raft/microdomain protein reggi-1 which is a membrane-associated cytoplasmic protein possibly involved in signal transduction (with TP C6).

• Welte, Wolfram - Project leader

• Department of Biology