The research program of our collaborative research center (CRC) 1324 consists of 15 projects and three technology platforms (projects Z) working on two research areas that are of key importance for advancing our understanding of molecular mechanisms governing Wnt signal transduction. In particular, the CRC 1324 focuses on two overarching topics:
Research focus A: Wnt secretion, trafficking and receptor-ligand interactions
• How are Wnt proteins produced, how are they modified and how are they transported in the extracellular space? • How do Wnt ligand/receptor interactions specify the signaling response and induce different signaling cascades?
Research focus B: Wnt coupling to downstream and context-dependent signaling
• How is Wnt signaling activated and coupled to different downstream factors in a context-dependent manner? • How are spatio-temporal dynamics of Wnt signaling controlled?
Projects and scientific concept of the CRC 1324
Projects A
A01
Mechanisms of Wnt protein secretion
Prof. Dr. Michael Boutros
Prof. Dr. Irmgard Sinning
A02
Mechanisms of vascular Wnt signaling during liver homeostasis and tumorigenesis
Prof. Dr. Hellmut G. Augustin
A04
Roles of lipids in Wnt secretion and signaling
Prof. Dr. Britta Brügger
Prof. Dr. Michael Boutros
A05
The Wnt code: Deciphering early Wnt interactions in Hydra
Prof. Dr. Thomas Holstein
Prof. Dr. Motomu Tanaka
A06
Quantitative fluorescence microscopy for the analysis of Wnt pathway interactions and dynamics
Dr. Gary Davidson
Prof. Dr. Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus
A07
Cell-specific activation of Wnt signaling in healing after myocardial infarction
Prof. Dr. med. Florian Leuschner
A08
Wnt pathway specificity in niche-stem cell control
Dr. Josephine Bageritz
Prof. Dr. Ingrid Lohmann
Projects B
B01
Role of DDX56 in GSK3ß regulation during Wnt signaling
Prof. Dr. Christof Niehrs
B02
Mechanism of oscillatory Wnt signaling dynamics and its role in vertebrate embryos
Dr. Alexander Aulehla
B03
The roles of Wnt signaling in genome stability
Prof. Dr. Sergio P. Acebrón
Prof. Dr. Holger Bastians
B05
Mathematical modeling of spatio-temporal dynamics of Wnt signaling and its function in development and regeneration
Prof. Dr. Anna Marciniak-Czochra
B06
Orchestration by the Wnt/Hippo/CD95 signalosome of stem- and EMT-like phenotypes
Prof. Dr. Ana Martin-Villalba
B07
Uncovering novel molecular mechanisms within Wnt signaling
Prof. Dr. Irmgard Sinning
Apl. Prof. Dr. Suat Özbek
B08
Mechanism of AXIN1 degradation after MEK inhibition
Dr. med. Tianzuo Zhan
B09
Wnt-cilia signaling in epithelial polarization and renal development
Prof. Dr. Gislene Pereira
Prof. Dr. med. Matias Simons
Projects Z
Z01
Central administration
Prof. Dr. Michael Boutros
Z02
Advanced fluorescence microscopy
Prof. Dr. Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus
Dr. Ulrike Engel
Z03
Advanced genetic screens and genome engineering
Prof. Dr. Michael Boutros
Z04
Advanced Proteomics
Prof. Dr. Jeroen Krijgsveld
Projects (ended)
A03
Ykt6-dependent trafficking of Wnts
Prof. Dr. Julia Gross
B04
Wnt signaling in fate determination of retinal precursors