GRK 2364: MOMbrane: The multifaceted functions and dynamics of the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM)

线粒体外膜（MOM）介导线粒体和细胞其他部分之间的许多相互作用。它在线粒体自噬、细胞凋亡、细胞器的运动和形态、蛋白质和脂质进出其他细胞室的转移、免疫反应以及代谢物与细胞质的交换中起着核心作用。尽管MOM的重要性显而易见，但它目前还没有得到充分的研究，这使得我们的倡议具有高度的相关性和独特性。所有纳入的项目都紧密相连，涉及同一个生物学问题的各个方面：线粒体多样性、动力学和功能是如何在MOM水平上协调和调节的？为了实现这一目标，我们采用跨学科的策略，结合生物化学、细胞生物学、生物物理学、生物技术和定量蛋白质组学方面的各种合作伙伴的专业知识。只有各集团的这种联合倡议才能使我们开始这一具有挑战性的新努力。在第一个资助期，我们已经取得了一些重大成就，比如对线粒体自噬阶段的新见解，获得了对抗MOM蛋白的纳米体，或者揭示了细胞凋亡和线粒体形态之间的新关系。在两个新项目的帮助下，我们的目标是继续现有的研究方向，同时建立新的研究方向。所有参加该RTG的研究员都受益于密集的培训措施计划。我们的目标是提供一批具有线粒体生物学相关多学科背景和知识的年轻研究人员，并培训他们研究线粒体生物学所需的技术。此外，我们的RTG还包括一系列促进职业发展的非科学活动。培训计划的一个特殊方面是与以色列魏茨曼科学研究所（Weizmann Institute of Science， WIS）的紧密合作。一组来自WIS的科学家，他们分享我们的研究兴趣，完美地补充了我们的专业知识，参加了培训和指导计划。我们RTG的每个成员都有一个双重指导团队，其中包括一名来自WIS的联合主管，并且应该在WIS的合作伙伴小组中实习。此外，我们计划在第二个资助期举办两个共同研讨会——一个在<s:1>宾根，另一个在WIS。总的来说，MOM蛋白在多种细胞过程中起着核心作用，它们的功能失调会导致人类疾病。通过联合力量和采用独特的培训计划，我们的目标是培养一批年轻的研究人员，他们将帮助我们全面了解这个迷人的生物系统。

The mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) mediates numerous interactions between mitochondria and the rest of the cell. It plays a central role in mitophagy, apoptosis, motility and morphology of the organelle, transfer of proteins and lipids to and from other compartments, immune response, and exchange of metabolites with the cytosol. Despite its obvious importance, the MOM is currently understudied, making our initiative highly relevant and unique. All the included projects are tightly interconnected and deal with various aspects of the same biological question: How are mitochondrial diversity, dynamics and functions coordinated and regulated at the level of the MOM? To this aim, we employ an interdisciplinary strategy combining the expertise of the various partners in biochemistry, cell biology, biophysics, biotechnology, and quantitative proteomics. Only such joint initiative of various groups allows us to embark on this challenging new endeavour. In the first funding period we have already had some major achievements like new insights into the stages of mitophagy, obtaining nanobodies against MOM proteins, or unravelling novel relationships between apoptosis and mitochondrial morphology. With the help of two new PIs, we aim to continue existing lines of research but also to establish new ones. All fellows participating in this RTG benefit from an intense program of training measures. Our aim is to provide a cohort of young researchers with the appropriate multidisciplinary background and knowhow in mitochondrial biology and to train them in techniques needed to study it. In addition, our RTG includes a wide spectrum of career promoting, non-science focused activities. A special aspect of the training program is a tight cooperation with the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS), Israel. A selected group of scientists from WIS, who share our research interests and perfectly complement our expertise, participates in the training and instructing program. Each fellow in our RTG has a dual mentoring team including a co-supervisor from the WIS and should spend an internship in the partner group at the WIS. Furthermore, we plan for the second funding period two common workshops – one in Tübingen and one at the WIS.Collectively, MOM proteins are playing a central role in a wide variety of cellular processes and their malfunction can cause human diseases. By joining forces and employing a unique training program, we aim to train a group of young researchers who will help us to gain a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating biological system.