Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Mikrobiologie

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Institut für Biologie | Mikrobiologie | Hengge group | DFG Priority Programmes | Proteolysis in Prokaryotes: Protein Quality Control and Regulatory Principles

Proteolysis in Prokaryotes: Protein Quality Control and Regulatory Principles (SPP 1132, 2002 - 2008)

 

This DFG priority program, which started in April 2002 and ended in 2008, aimed at understanding the molecular structures and mechanisms as well as the regulation and physiological functions of protein degradation in bacteria and organells of prokaryotic origin. Proteolysis provides an exquisitel- regulated protein quality control mechanism that eliminates denatured, aggregated or incomplete polypeptides. Controlled proteolysis as a novel regulatory principle plays a key role in stress responses, differentiation, cell cycle and virulence of bacteria. Novel proteins regulated by proteolysis were identified and substrate recognition by chaperone/protease systems was studied in molecular detail. Moreover, the program focussed on signal transduction and regulatory mechanisms that control degradation of specific proteins (such as key regulators of gene expression networks) in response to extra- and intracellular signals. The experimental approaches chosen are interdisciplinary and include structural biology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry as well as genomic and proteomic analyses.

 

Coordinator:

Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge
Institut für Biologie – Mikrobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 12-16, 14195 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 838 53119, Fax +49 (0)30 838 53118
E-mail: regine.hengge@hu-berlin.de

 

Final Report:

Hengge, R., and Turgay, K. (eds.) (2009) Proteolysis in prokaryotes - from molecular machines to a systems perspective.
Research in Microbiology 160: 615-732.

 

International Conferences:

 

"Proteolysis in Prokaryotes: Protein Quality Control and Regulatory Principles"
1st International Symposium of the DFG Priority Program SPP 1132
Schwetzingen/Heidelberg, October 25 – 27, 2002
Organization: R. Hengge (FU Berlin), B. Bukau (ZMBH)
Meeting Report

 

"Proteolysis in Prokaryotes: Protein Quality Control and Regulatory Principles"
2nd International Symposium of the DFG Priority Program SPP 1132
Harnack-Haus, Berlin, April 20 – 23, 2005
Organization: R. Hengge, K. Turgay, E. Klauck (FU Berlin)
Announcement

 

"Proteolysis in Prokaryotes: Protein Quality Control and Regulatory Principles"
3rd International Symposium of the DFG Priority Program SPP 1132
Harnack-Haus, Berlin, March 6 - 7, 2008
Organization: K. Turgay, R. Hengge (FU Berlin)
Announcement

 

Participating Groups:

 

Prof. Dr. Iwona Adamska
Dept. of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Universität Konstanz
Full member from 2006-2008
Project: Deg/HtrA proteases in cyanobacteria and chloroplasts of higher plants
Adamska Website

 

Dr. Matthias Bochtler
International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland, and Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden
Full member from 2004-2006
Project: Structure and function of HxH metalloproteases

 

Prof. Dr. Bernd Bukau
ZMBH, Universität Heidelberg
Full member from 2002-2008
Project: Mechanisms of protease-substrate interactions in the E. coli cytosol
Bukau Website

 

Dr. Tim Clausen
Institute for Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna, Austria
Full member in 2002; from 2003-2008 associated member (Austria)
Project: Structure-function analysis of the DegP and DegS proteases

 

Prof. Dr. Michael Ehrmann
Centre for Medical Biotechnology, FB Biologie und Geographie, Universität Duisburg-Essen
Associated member from 2002-2006 (UK), full member from 2006-2008
Project: Structure-function analysis of the DegP and DegS proteases
Ehrmann Website

 

Prof. Dr. Karl Forchhammer
Dept. of Microbiology, Universität Tübingen
Full member from 2002-2004
Project: Nitrogen starvation-induced chlorosis in cyanobacteria: a proteolytic program for maintenance of viability

 

Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge
Institute of Biology – Microbiology, Freie Universität Berlin
Full member from 2002-2008 (and coordinator of SPP 1132)
Project: Global regulation by proteolysis in Escherichia coli
Hengge Website

 

Prof. Dr. Urs Jenal
Biocentre, Universität Basel, Switzerland
Associated member from 2002-2004 (Switzerland)
Project: The role of proteolysis in the Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle and development

 

Prof. Dr. Thomas Langer
Institute for Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Universität zu Köln
Full member from 2002-2008
Project: Functional characterization of mitochondrial AAA protease and prohibitins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Langer Website

 

Prof. Dr. Franz Narberhaus
Dept. of Microbiology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Associated member from 2002-2006 (Switzerland), full member from 2006-2008
Project: Substrate selection by the FtsH protease
Narberhaus Website

 

Dr. Steffen Schaffer
Institute for Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich; now: Degussa GmbH, Marl
Full member from 2002-2004
Project: Global characterization of the substrate spectrum of the Corynebacterium glutamicum Clp protease

 

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schumann
Institute for Genetics, Universität Bayreuth
Full member from 2002-2006
Project: Function of the ATP-dependent metalloprotease FtsH in sporulation of Bacillus subtilis

 

Prof. Dr. Kürsad Turgay
Institute of Biology – Microbiology, Freie Universität Berlin
Full member from 2002-2008
Project: The role of HSP100/Clp and their adaptor proteins in general and regulated proteolysis in Bacillus subtilis
Turgay Website

 

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Voos
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universität Bonn
Full member from 2002-2008
Project: The functional role of AAA+ proteases as central components of the mitochondrial protein quality control network under normal and stress conditions
 Voos Website

 

Dr. Kornelius Zeth
Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen
Full member from 2002-2004
Project: Structural studies of proteins involved in protein quality control

 

Dr. Peter Zwickl
Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried
Full member from 2002-2004
Project: Substrate degradation by the Thermoplasma Lon protease