Thesis supervisor: Tim Crul
Location of studies (in Hungarian): SZTE SZAOK Belgyógyászati Klinika Abbreviation of location of studies: BelKl
Description of the research topic:
To preserve the specificity of the intended signaling pathway and avoid activation of off-target signaling, cells rely on a strict compartmentalization of Ca2+ signaling-related initiators and modulators in membrane contact sites (MCSs, dynamic close contacts between the ER membrane and other intracellular organelles – including the PM). Although ER-PM contact sites are characterized by highly dynamic modulations of its lipid and protein environment resulting in a high degree of plasticity critical for how they respond to physiological stimuli, a detailed description of the Ca2+ signaling-induced MCS-specific proteome is still missing. We will first enrich these proteins with our unique proximity ligation approach and identify the isolated proteome with mass spectrometry. Next, we will characterize the effect of the isolated proteins on Ca2+ signaling and MCS micro-environment with a combination of RNA silencing and ultra-resolution microscopy approaches. Finally, considering that common 2D cell lines lack many physiological properties of polarized pancreatic epithelial we will take advantage of the very recently developed pancreatic 3D organoid cultures to verify the physiological relevance of the obtained findings.
Required language skills: english Number of students who can be accepted: 1