Area B: Biological Targets B5: Dissection and modulation of (patho)biological Survivin functions by supramolecular ligands

Project B5 will develop specific supramolecular binders to Survivin’s nuclear export signal to prevent interaction with its cognate receptor Crm1. Molecular recognition by combinatorial peptide ligands and modified molecular tweezers will be directed against essential unpolar amino acids and functionally characterized by comprehensive biochemical interaction assays. In addition, the biological relevance of the Survivin mono-/dimeric switch for cellular homeostasis will be studied by synthetic and engineered host-guest elements in cell-based assays.

Curriculum Vitae

Professional career

Scientific education and degrees

Selected Publications

M. Li, S. Schlesiger, S. K. Knauer, C. Schmuck: Introduction of a tailor-made anion receptor into the side chain of small peptides allows fine-tuning the thermodynamic signature of peptide-DNA binding. Org Biomol Chem 2016, 14(37):8800-03.

K. Samanta, P. Jana, S. Bäcker, S. K. Knauer, C. Schmuck: Guanidiniocarbonyl pyrole (GCP) conjugated PAMAM-G2, a highly efficient vector for gene delivery: the importance of DNA condensation. Chem Comm 2016, 52(84):12446-49.

M. Li, S. Schlesiger, S. K. Knauer, C. Schmuck: A Tailor-Made Specific Anion-Binding Motif in the Side Chain Transforms a Tetrapeptide into an Efficient Vector for Gene Delivery. Angew Chem Int. Ed. 2015, 54(10):2941-44.

D. Wünsch, A. Hahlbrock, C. Heiselmayer, S. Bäcker, C. Schrenk, F. Benne, O. Schilling, S. K. Knauer: Evolutionary divergence of Threonine Aspartase1 leads to species-specific substrate recognition. Biol Chem 2015, 396(4):367-76.

D. Wünsch, A. Hahlbrock, C. Heiselmayer, S. Bäcker, P. Heun, D. Gößwein, W. Stöcker, T. Schirmeister, G. Schneider, O. H. Krämer, S. K. Knauer, R. H. Stauber: Fly versus man: Evolutionary impairment of nucleolar targeting affects the degradome of Drosophila’s Taspase1. FASEB J 2015, 29(5):1973-85.

G. Dördelmann, D. Kozlova, S. Karczewski, R. Lizio, S. Knauer, M. Epple: Calcium phosphate increases the encapsulation efficiency of hydrophilic drugs (proteins, nucleic acids) into poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide acid) nanoparticles for intracellular delivery. J Mater Chem B 2014, 2:7250-59.

J. van den Boom, M. Mamić, D. Baccelliere, S. Zweerink, F. Kaschani, S. Knauer, P. Bayer, M. Kaiser: Peptidyl succinimidyl peptides as Taspase1 inhibitors. ChemBioChem 2014, 15(15):2233-37.

D. Docter, U. Distler, W. Storck, J. Kuharev, D. Wünsch, A. Hahlbrock, S. K. Knauer, S. Tenzer, R. H. Stauber: Quantitative profiling of the protein coronas that form around nanoparticles. Nat Protocols 2014, 9(9):2030-44.

H. Y. Kuchelmeister, S. Karczewski, A. Gutschmidt, S. Knauer, C. Schmuck: Utilizing combinatorial chemistry and rational design: Peptidic tweezers with nanomolar affinity to DNA can be transformed into efficient vectors for gene delivery by addition of a lipophilic tail. Angew Chem Int. Ed. 2013, 52(52):14016-20.

S. Tenzer, D. Docter, J. Kuharev, A. Musyanovych, V. Fetz, R. Hecht, F. Schlenk, D. Fischer, K. Kiouptsi, C. Reinhardt, K. Landfester, H. Schild, M. Maskos, S. K. Knauer, R. H. Stauber: Rapid formation of plasma protein corona critically affects nanoparticle pathophysiology. Nat Nanotech 2013, 8(10):772-81.