A2.2025: Dynamic microtubules as an integral part of the cytoskeleton
Collaborating PIs: Claudia Steinem, Helmut Grubmüller, Peter Sollich, Peter Lenart, Melina Schuh
Overarching research question: How are microtubule dynamics influenced by the presence and composition of membranes and cytoskeletal networks?
Microtubules are the most dynamic component of the cytoskeleton. In the cell, microtubules are an integral part of this dense biopolymer network and therefore interact with actin filaments and intermediate filaments, as well as other cellular components, such as membrane structures and organelles. By studying in vitro non-equilibrium systems of reconstituted proteins, we investigate the dynamic properties of microtubules in the presence of the other types of cytoskeletal filaments. In addition to this in pure vitro system, we will work with egg extracts as a cell-like model system. We will develop dedicated 3D systems, such as microfluidic droplets and lipid vesicles, along with suitable imaging, image processing and data analysis strategies. We will then quantitatively analyze physical measurables such as the catastrophe frequency, rescue frequency, growth velocity, and disassembly velocity of the microtubules in dependence of environmental parameters. These studies will enable a better understanding of the intricate composite nature of the dynamic and adaptable cytoskeleton.
Core field: experimental biophysics
PhD training objectives: TIRF microscopy; 3D imaging; biochemical methods (protein purification, handling, labeling); data science (image processing, kymograph analysis, machine learning).