News from the Institute

Content and dimensions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are flexible and regulated based on cellular needs, environmental changes or stress. Turnover or degradation of superfluous material is facilitated by selective degradation of the ER via the lysosome (ER-phagy). Malfunction of ER-phagy usually results in disease formation, including neurodegenerative diseases. 

Ribosome biogenesis, a complex and highly regulated cellular process, involves the orchestrated assembly of pre-ribosomal particles to generate functional ribosomes and is coordinated by a network of trans-acting factors. Ribosome biogenesis is closely tied to cell proliferation and highly proliferating cells typically show enhanced rates of ribosome biogenesis to enable them to meet the needs for extensive and efficient protein synthesis. Disruptions can activate a cell-cycle checkpoint mediated by the tumor suppressor protein p53 that block cell cycle progression

On 1 December, IBC2 group leader Christian Münch took up the Lichtenberg Endowed Professorship for Molecular Systems Medicine. His binding to Goethe University Frankfurt was made possible by co-financing from four foundations: The Volkswagen Foundation is contributing a total of €2 million as part of its "Lichtenberg Endowed Professorships" program, with a further €3 million being provided by the Johanna-Quandt-Universitätsstiftung, the Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung and the Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Stiftung. 

On November 27th, EMTHERA scientists enjoyed a wonderful day with Pascale Cossart from Institut Pasteur, Paris & EMBL, Heidelberg with numerous scientific discussions between our guest and our PhD candidates, postdocs and PIs. In addition, our community had the chance to listen to her lecture on "Raising a bacterium to the rank of a model system: the Listeria paradigm". The day culminated in a ceremonial event, the Dies academicus, where Pascale Cossart was awarded the honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Medicine of Goethe University Frankfurt. The day was rounded off with a dinner among colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere and a lively exchange on current research projects. We congratulate Pascale Cossart on her honor and thank her for her visit.

As announced today by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) on selective autophagy has successfully made it into the 3rd funding period and will be funded for another four years. The CRC 1177 was established in 2016 under the lead of IBC2 Director Ivan Đikić. It is the first consortium in Germany systematically addressing several challenging questions in selective autophagy. In the previous two funding periods, research focused on mechanistic, molecular and functional aspects of selective autophagy networks and led to detailed insights into the molecular basis of autophagy, its regulation and functions of individual selective autophagy pathways. In addition, CRC 1177 became an internationally recognized technology hub for autophagy research in Germany. Together with an exceptional culture that supports independence and mentoring of young scientists, CRC 1177 attracted the most promising talents to initiate their careers in this field in Frankfurt