RTG 1050: Molecular basis of dynamic cellular processes

Basic data for this project

Description

The International Graduate Research School "Molecular basis of dynamic cellular processes" will start with the first class of Ph.D. students in January 2005. It combines the efforts of labs from the Departments of Biology and Medicine and the new Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Biomedicine to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamics of living cells. Cell migration and the interaction between cells play a central role in the development and function of cell assemblies and are tightly coupled with the dynamics of cellular structures and intracellular transport processes. The function and subcellular distribution of the signaling complexes that mediate the contact and communication between cells is controlled in a highly dynamic fashion. Single macromolecules, supramolecular aggregates and whole organelles are transported to distinct subcellular destinations. At the same time, the cell endocytoses components of the extracellular matrix, activated receptors and parts of the plasma membrane und sorts these into distinct cellular compartments where they are metabolized or activate specific signaling pathways.