Membrane Trafficking in Aging: Along the Protein Highway

Research topic(s)

Christoph Kaether’s research group Membrane Trafficking (FLI, JenaExternal link) lays its focus on the trafficking and localization of proteins within cells, mainly of membrane proteins. These membrane proteins include receptors responsible for correct protein trafficking and transmembrane signal transduction as well as proteins that are involved in aging. All research foci aim at identifying the basic cell biological processes as possible targets for therapies of age-related diseases.

Methods

We use a large number of different methods. Among those are:

• Cloning of reporter proteins or GFP-tagged proteins and site-directed mutagenesis of these Expression constructs are transfected in cell lines or primary neurons
• Microscopy analyses (video-, confocal-, apotome-)
• Biochemical analyses (blot, immunoprecipitation, deglycosylation and others)
• Mouse models
• High-throughput screening of the human genome
• Proteomics-based approaches

Selected Publications

Krämer A, Mentrup T, Kleizen B, Rivera-Milla E, Reichenbach D, Enzensperger C, Nohl R, Täuscher E, Görls H, Ploubidou A, Englert C, Werz O, Arndt HD, Kaether C. (2013) Small molecules intercept Notch signaling and the early secretory pathway.External link Nat Chem Biol, 9(11):731-738

Valkova* C, Albrizio* M, Röder IV, Schwake M, Betto R, Rudolf** R, Kaether** C. (2011) Sorting receptor Rer1 controls surface expression of muscle acetylcholine receptors by ER retention of unassembled alpha-subunits.External link PNAS, 108(2):621-625 (* equal contribution, ** co-corresponding authors)

Kaether C, Scheuermann J, Fassler M, Zilow S, Shirotani K, Valkova C, Novak B, Kacmar S, Steiner H, Haass C. (2007) Endoplasmic reticulum retention of the gamma-secretase complex component Pen2 by Rer1.External link EMBO Rep, 8(8):743-748

Kaether C, Capell A, Edbauer D, Winkler E, Novak B, Steiner H, Haass C. (2004) The presenilin C-terminus is required for ER-retention, nicastrin-binding and gamma-secretase activity.External link EMBO J, 23(24):4738-4748

Kaether C, Skehel P, Dotti CG. (2000) Axonal membrane proteins are transported in distinct carriers: a two-color video microscopy study in cultured hippocampal neurons.External link Mol Biol Cell, 11(4):1213-1224

Links

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