Sonderforschungsbereich 1557

Research Projects

Portrait von Caroline Barisch
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Caroline Barisch : Project P1

We exploit Dictyostelium infected with mycobacteria to investigate how pathogens reprogram metabolic lipid flows and impact the functional plasticity of the mycobacteria-containing vacuole membrane composition.

Portrait von Kerstin Bartscherer
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Kerstin Bartscherer : Project P2

This project takes advantage of an ischemia model of highly regenerative spiny mice (Acomys) to ask how extracellular vesicles are formed in response to tissue damage and how they affect cardiac repair.

Portrait von Maria Bohnert
© privat

Maria Bohnert : Project P3

We use microscopy-based screens to identify principles controlling the functional plasticity of lipid metabolism and inter-organelle lipid exchange, with a primary focus on sphingolipids, sterols, and storage lipids.

Portrait von Katia Cosentino
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Katia Cosentino : Project P5

We analyze the role of the membrane environment on regulatory mechanisms of Gasdermin recruitment and pore formation at the plasma membrane in pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of regulated cell death.

Portrait von Florian Fröhlich
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Florian Fröhlich : Project P6

We determine the function and regulation of the key enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism, the serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) enzyme complex to understand metabolic sphingolipid fluxes.

Portrait von Ayelen Gonzalez Montoro
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Ayelén González Montoro : Project P7

We study the contact sites of the vacuolar membrane formed by the protein Cvm1, as a model to understand how contact site plasticity can determine membrane homeostasis.

Portrait von Michael Hensel
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Michael Hensel : Project P8

We explore how Salmonella infection and secretion of its effectors reprograms the mammalian endosomal membrane system to promote replication in its intracellular niche.

Portrait von Joost Holthuis
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Joost Holthuis : Project P9

We determine how imbalances in organellar lipid codes caused by pathogenic variants of sphingomyelin synthase SMS2 affect secretory pathway function in osteogenic cells to unravel the mechanistic basis of a severe bone disease.

Portrait von Daniel Kümmel
© privat

Daniel Kümmel : Project P10

We study the contact sites of the vacuolar membrane formed by the protein Cvm1, as a model to understand how contact site plasticity can determine membrane homeostasis.

Portrait von Arne Möller
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Arne Möller : Project P11

Using cryo-electron microscopy, we analyze the structure, dynamics and function of plasma membrane ABC transporters to understand their regulation by the membrane environment.

Portrait von Achim Paululat
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Achim Paululat : Project P12

We focus on the biogenesis and plasticity of labyrinth channels at the plasma membrane of Drosophila kidney-like nephrocytes and their link to the endolysosomal system during growth and aging.

Portrait von Jacob Piehler
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Jacob Piehler : Project P13

We focus on class I/II cytokine receptors with important functions in hematopoiesis and immunity to understand how receptor assembly and effector recruitment is regulated by membrane properties and subcellular localization.

Portrait von Christian Ungermann
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Christian Ungermann : Project P14

We focus on signaling endosome biogenesis in the endolysosomal system and clarify the role of the lipid kinase complex Fab1 and its regulation by the nutrient regulated TOR1 kinase complex.

Portrait von Roland Wedlich-Söldner
© privat

Roland Wedlich-Söldner : Project P15

We focus on the role of lateral segregation for the regulation and functional plasticity of proton and nutrient transport systems in the yeast plasma membrane.

Analysis & Imaging

Eine Collage aus Grafen, Strukturformeln, schematischen Darstellungen von Zellen und Reagengläsern und ein Foto eines großen Laborgeräts.
© F. Fröhlich, J. Holthuis, S. Walter

Florian Fröhlich & Joost Holthuis : Project Z1: Mass spectrometry, quantitative lipid analyses and lipid tools

This central project expands the consortium’s technical capabilities in analyzing lipid function by developing protocols for a rapid and efficient isolation of cellular organelles, establishing workflows for mass spectrometry-based analyses of organellar lipidomes and proteomes, and generating a toolbox of functionalized lipids for monitoring intracellular lipid flows, capturing lipid effector proteins, and manipulating subcellular lipid pools.

Ein Labortisch mit einem großen Mikroskop, auf einem Bildschirm sind Mikrosokopie-Aufnahmen zu sehen.
© Lena Dehnen | Universität Osnabrück

Dovile Januliene, Rainer Kurre & Katherina Psathaki : Project Z2: High-resolution imaging across spatiotemporal scales

This project provides a platform for advanced imaging across different spatial and temporal scales to resolve the highly dynamic organization of proteins and lipids within cellular membrane systems. It will establish a platform for high-resolution macromolecular structure determination and time-resolved cryo-EM, implement and further develop advanced light and electron microscopy approaches, and establish lipid imaging at the highest spatiotemporal resolution using novel lipid tools.

Information Infrastructure & Outreach

Auf einem Kreis in der Mitte ist das Logo des Sonderforschungsbereichs zu sehen, davon gehen gestrichelte Linien zu kleineren Kreisen ab, die Symbole mit Bezug zu biologischer Forschung enthalten.
© Susanne Kunis | Universität Osnabrück

Susanne Kunis, Michael Hensel & Arne Möller : Project INF: Structured storage, metadata annotation, and analyses of experimental data

This project will further develop the current platforms for image data management and provide data management for additional data formats from proteomics and lipidomics mass spectrometry and flow cytometry. The project will interface the current data management platforms with an electronic lab notebook system for demands of SFB 1557 to enable the digitization of instrumental and experimental metadata alongside the data generation in experiments and analyses.

Eine Collage zeigt ein Mikroskop, bunte Aufnahmen einer sich teilenden Zelle, Schülerinnen, die Arbeitsblätter ausfühllen, und Schülerinnen, die Schilder halten.
© Chemiedidaktik u. Wissenschaftskommunikation, Zoologie | Universität Osnabrück

Marco Beeken & Katia Cosentino : Outreach project of SFB 1557

We strongly support female scientists and generally underrepresented scientists throughout their careers. To this end, we invest in various measures such as coaching and mentoring programs and work closely with the Equal Opportunities Office of Osnabrück University. Within the SFB, we encourage young students and scientists to participate in these programs and ensure gender balance and diversity.

Career Support

Eine Gruppe von etwa 30 Personen steht auf einer Treppe und lächelt in die Kamera.
© Jan-Hannes Schäfer | Universität Osnabrück

IRTG: Integrated Research Training Group

The IRTG complements the experimental training with training in a broader spectrum of subjects and provides opportunities for networking and personal development. The program includes workshops on research methods, seminars on soft skills and networking opportunities through career seminars. All activities are embedded in a structured educational program with an individual development plan and a thesis advisory committee.

Drei Frauen lesen gemeinsam in einem Buch und unterhalten sich darüber. Eine von ihnen trägt ein Kopftuch.
© Simone Reukauf Fotografie

Gender equality and family friendliness

We strongly support female scientists and generally underrepresented scientists throughout their careers. To this end, we invest in various measures such as coaching and mentoring programs and work closely with the Equal Opportunities Office of Osnabrück University. Within the SFB, we encourage young students and scientists to participate in these programs and ensure gender balance and diversity.