The Laboratory of Protein Metabolism in Development and Aging under the direction of Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa is a part of a recently formed consortium coordinated by Prof. Jörg Höhfeld from the University of Bonn. Over the next three years, the research unit will receive nearly three million euros from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Cell survival, tissue integrity, and organismal health depend on the ability to maintain functional protein networks even under conditions that threaten protein integrity. Protection under such stress conditions involves the adaptation of folding and degradation machineries, which help to preserve the protein network and facilitate the refolding or disposal of damaged proteins.

In multicellular organisms, cells are permanently exposed to stress resulting from mechanical forces, and their homeostasis relies on dedicated stress protection systems. Mechanical stress protection operates during cell differentiation, adhesion, and migration, and is of particular importance for maintaining tissues such as skeletal muscle, heart, lung, kidney, skin, and vasculature. Yet, underlying molecular mechanisms have not been comprehensively studied.

A combination of researchers from the Universities of Bonn, Cologne, Freiburg, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, as well as the Research Center Jülich and the German Sport University Cologne, investigates the processes involved in the disposal and regeneration of mechanically damaged proteins. The research unit will establish fundamental principles of mechanical stress protection in multicellular organisms and will reveal the relevance of these mechanisms for diseases such as muscle weaknesses, immune deficiencies, and kidney failure.

More information: https://www.for2743.uni-bonn.de/research%20groups/for2743/info