Differential, dynamic syndapin complexes - modulators of membrane topology and transport

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The plasma membrane, which surrounds eukaryotic cells, separates the cellular interior from the environment. Membrane topology modulation is indispensable for vesicle formation in membrane trafficking processes as well as for establishment, maintenance and plasticity of distinct cellular morphologies - prerequisites for development and live of multicellular organisms. It is catalyzed by the coordinated interplay of direct effectors that bend, tubulate and/or scission membranes and by organization and dynamics of the membrane-associated cortical cytoskeleton. BAR domain superfamily proteins, such as the F-BAR domain proteins of the syndapin family, have emerged as important components in membrane shaping. The project aims at providing further evidence that syndapins, which have the power to imprint their crescent shape onto membranes and furthermore recruit, coordinate and modulate the activity of cellular effectors, are indispensable for shaping cellular membranes and organelles and for the development of cellular structures and whole organisms. The successful realization of the work program is expected to unravel how syndapin-mediated membrane topology control allows for shaping cellular membranes and to reveal the physiological consequences of membrane shaping impairments on individual cellular membrane compartments, on the morphology and function of distinct cell types and on proper function of entire organs and organisms.