Molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamics of membranes
We are interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of coated membrane carriers and viruses in the mammalian cell. To this end, we analyze specific protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions in the hydrophobic phase of the biological membrane. Specifically, we have, together with John Briggs, solved the coat structure of COPI vesicles and proposed a molecular model for the scission reaction to release a coated carrier catalyzed by small GTP-binding proteins.
Keywords
Functional organization of the Golgi apparatus / membrane flow / vesicular transport / lipid biosynthesis & transport