Research: Project 2

Controlled degradation of membrane proteins

Rapid protein degradation is a crucial cellular process that enables the clearance of misfolded proteins and regulatory proteins that are no longer needed. In all cells, this process is mediated by AAA+-protease superfamily. FtsH is the only membrane-localized AAA+-protease, which degrades both membrane and cytosolic proteins. To understand the principles of the quality control mechanism of membrane proteins, we focus on three specific questions using FtsH from E. coli as model.

What sequence or structural features of substrates are subject to degradation?
What is the role of the FtsH transmembrane domain in substrate recognition and translocation?
How is the proteolytic activity modulated by other membrane-bound cofactors?