News from the Institute

Scientists from IBC2 in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Regensburg show that when non-transformed cells reach high density and contact inhibition kicks in, the m⁶A reader proteins YTHDF1-3 are actively cleared by autophagy, a process that can also be triggered with the mTOR inhibitor Torin1. In contrast, cancer cells that evade contact inhibition retain YTHDF proteins, pointing to a growth-control checkpoint that tumors bypass. The work, led by Alexandra Stolz and Gunter Meister as well as Hung Ho-Xuan as the leading author, links YTHDF stability directly to the mTOR–autophagy axis and suggests coordinated turnover of both proteins and their m⁶A-modified RNA clients by selective autophagy.

In a now published Perspective in Molecular Cell, scientists from six leading European research institutions, Goethe University Frankfurt, IRB Barcelona, AITHYRA in Vienna, the University of Dundee, and EPFL Lausanne, propose the creation of a European Alliance to accelerate the development of proximity-induced drug modalities. These therapeutic approaches aim to harness the concept of bringing molecules into close proximity to target disease-relevant proteins, many of which are currently considered undruggable. 

In their publication researchers from IBC2 and collaborating universities have discovered a way to prevent harmful TDP-43 aggregates in cells under stress by redirecting the protein to the cell’s own repair system—offering promising new strategies for treating ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Martin Wegner, a former member of IBC2 has received the Alumni Doctorate Award at the Dies Academicus of the Medical Faculty at Goethe University for his PhD thesis.