Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg  Marius Lemberg Group
Leader in the DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance  Im Neuenheimer Feld 282 69120
Heidelberg, Germany Tel.: + 49-6221 54 5889 Fax.: +49-6221 54
5893  Mechanism and function of intramembrane proteases in the
control of protein homeostasis.  Regulated intramembrane
proteolysis is an evolutionary conserved mechanism that is
involved in diverse processes such as transcription control and
regulated growth factor secretion. Recently we found that
intramembrane proteolysis also is involved in the control of
cellular membrane protein homeostasis.  Project in the lab focus
on two aspects:  1.) Degradation of misfolded membrane proteins
in the Endoplasmic Reticulum  About a third of all mammalian
proteins are synthesized in the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER),
including important cellular proteins such as cell surface
receptors and channels. The ER-associated degradation (ERAD)
pathway serves as an important cellular safeguard by directing
incorrectly folded and unassembled proteins