Thomas Sommer's Group (»Add to Infobox)

Internet:  http://www.mdc-berlin.de/%7Esommer/

General description: The secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells harbors an elaborate protein quality control system, which prevents the accumulation of misfolded or unassembled proteins in the secretory pathway. This system is localized in the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER). ER associated protein degradation (ERAD) is an important component of this quality assurance system and directs misfolded proteins for destruction by the cytoplasmic ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Our group has defined the components and the basic principles of ERAD in the last years. This process seems to occur in all eukaryotic organisms in a highly conserved manner. Malfunctions in this system lead to altered protein composition in the secretory pathway and may therefore cause serious human diseases like Cystic Fibrosis and Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, it has been suggested that some human viruses co-opt the ERAD systems to destroy specific host proteins and manifest themselves in the infected cell. Role in RUBICON: Using yeast as a model system, the group will identify new components of the ubiquitin system that have a function in ER-associated protein degradation. Identification strategies include classical genetic methods as well as biochemical purification. The functional analysis of the newly identified components as well as those that are already known includes biochemical characterization of associated factors and mutational approaches to characterize specific domains in ERAD components.

MEMBERS (9/9)

Sommer Thomas (Principal Investigator / Thomas Sommer's Group)