Pore-forming proteins in defense and attack
Our department is studying interactions of proteins with cellular membranes in bacterial pathogenesis, plant-pathogen interactions, and the human immune system. We study membrane damage by pore-forming proteins at the molecular level. We aim to provide insights into lipid specificity, conformational rearrangements of protein molecules during pore formation, and structure and properties of the oligomeric assemblies formed in lipid membranes.
Keywords
Pore-forming proteins / protein-membrane interactions / lipid specificity / toxins / Nep1-like proteins / actinoporins / MACPF / CDC proteins