The Division of Cell Biology
Welcome to the Cell Biology Institute, at the Biocenter of Innsbruck Medical University. We study molecular mechanisms that control the functional organization of living cells using a combination of different genetic model systems, microscopy and proteomics. Our division provides an international and dynamic research environment for Master, PhD students as well as PostDocs. We have numerous national and international collaborations with industrial and academic partners. We are embedded within the FWF funded special research program SFB021 "Cell Proliferation and Cell Death in Tumors" and the international PhD program MCBO (Molecular Cell Biology and Oncology). We participate in and coordinate several EU projects and programs of the Austrian Genome Program (GEN-AU).
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Research Interest
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Signal Transduction and ProteomicsWe would like to understand how specific cell fate decisions are made by using a pool of very similar kinases within MAPK signalling pathways. We are especially interested in the role of scaffold proteins in organizing signal transduction complexes and study the spatial and temporal resolution of signaling mechanisms as well as their cytoplasmic effectors and target genes. more... |
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Cell DifferentiationThe interplay between cell proliferation and differentiation controls not only development but also regeneration and therefore its regulatory mechanisms are of interest as therapeutic targets. Based on our studies we predict that the transcriptional co-repressor TPA inducible sequence 7 (TIS7) is one of the players affecting the cellular regeneration events. TIS7 inducible by the mitogen TPA or growth factors is differentially expressed in various polarized cell types. We have shown that TIS7 represses transcription in an HDAC-dependent manner. more... |
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Membrane Traffic and SignalingWe are interested in the molecular mechanisms that coordinate membrane protein degradation and cell signaling. In particular we would like to understand how the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport, ESCRTs, generate multivesicular bodies (MVBs). By generating MVBs the ESCRT machinery mediates the entry of signaling cell surface receptors into the lysosome, where they are finally degraded and receptor signaling is ultimately shut off. more... |
Funding
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