Prof. Dr. Christos Gatsogiannis

Center for Soft Nanoscience and Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics

University of Münster

Phone: +49 251 83 34411
Email

Critical state transitions during the cell cycle are governed by complex multi-subunit macromolecular machines. Understanding the respective regulatory processes, requires detailed mechanistic insights and knowledge of their mechanism of action. In this project, we employ cryoEM, protein biochemistry and biophysical techniques to tackle the structure of such important regulators and thus establish a comprehensive structural framework that may open new avenues to design new tools targeting these processes.
One major aim is to dissect the mode of action of p97, a highly abundant ATPase in eukaryotic cells, that plays a key role in protein homeostasis. In particular, we are addressing at molecular level of detail, how a plethora of co-factors modulate p97’s function and divert it into a wide range of different activities in cell cycle control and protein homeostasis. In a further highly multi-disciplinary and collaborative project in the context of the CRC, we aim to provide structural insights into the synergy of several macromolecular complexes involved in the attachment of chromosomes to the mitotic-spindle during the metaphase-anaphase transition. </