Peroxisomal membrane dynamics in mammalian cells

In mammals, peroxisomes harbor a number of essential metabolic functions including ether phospholipid biosynthesis, fatty acid alpha-oxidation,fatty acid beta-oxidation, and glyoxylate detoxification. The necessityof functional peroxisomes for normal human development is underscored by the existence of at least 17 hereditary diseases with Zellweger syndrome, a lethal disorder due to defective peroxisome formation, as prototype. In order to regulate peroxisome function and restrain damage during cellular aging, new peroxisomes need to be formed, and superfluous and non-functional peroxisomes have to be (selectively) removed. The goal of this project is to study peroxisomal membrane dynamics in mammalian cellsby employing new tools and approaches such as multi-color in vivo pulse-chase labeling and cells in which peroxisome biogenesis can be switchedon and off. Research topics that will be addressed are (i) the intracellular trafficking routes of peroxisomal membrane proteins, (ii) the potential role of lipid domains in peroxisome membrane dynamics, and (iii) the initial steps of peroxisome degradation. As such, this research project is intended to further our understanding of how peroxisomes are formed and degraded in mammalian cells in health and disease.

Keywords:peroxisome, intracellular protein trafficking, autophagy

Disciplines:Systems biology, Biochemistry and metabolism, Medical biochemistry and metabolism

Project type:PhD project