Prof. Dr. Kathrin Thedieck

Department Metabolism, Senescence and Autophagy

Research Center One Health Ruhr
University Alliance Ruhr &
University Hospital Essen, Oncology,
University Duisburg-Essen

Email

The Lab for Metabolic Signaling (www.metabolic-signaling.eu) studies the control of metabolic homeostasis through kinase signaling networks converging on the metabolic master regulator mTOR (mammalian / mechanistic target of rapamycin) in health and disease.  We adopt biochemistry, cell biology, proteomics, metabolomics and systems modelling approaches.
mTOR is a central controller of metabolism, dysregulated in most cancers as well as in metabolic, neurodegenerative and congenital disorders. The protein kinase mTOR is at the center of a complex signaling and metabolic network, and exists in two structurally and functionally distinct multiprotein complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2. In response to growth factors, nutrients, energy and stress, mTORC1 enhances anabolic processes such as translation, and represses catabolic processes such as autophagy. However, in response to some essential amino acids, mTORC1 transitions to unexpected responses that shift the cellular control of translation and autophagy (BioRxiV https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.16.523931v2). In CRC1430, we investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms and metabolic consequences at the fundamental level as well as in the cancer context.