Prof. Dr. Henning Jessen (CIBSS-PI), Institute of Organic Chemistry (Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy)
University of Freiburg
The project “Deciphering Inositol Pyrophosphate Signalling in vivo” aims for a better understanding of the inositol phosphate and pyrophosphate signaling hub in the model organism Drosophila. To dissect these particularly complex second messengers, we will combine organic synthesis, biochemical analytics, control of function tools (photocages), targeted tissue delivery, and genetics. This will help to obtain a map of relevant inositol phosphate and pyrophosphate molecules where we will focus on tissue development and regeneration. Along these lines, we will analyse and manipulate inositol pyrophosphate concentrations in the imaginal disk using inositol phosphate extraction and capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry. Moreover, prometabolite delivery and photocage release will be used for manipulation of intracellular concentrations in combination with genetic knockout and pharmacological inhibitors. Furthermore, pull-down experiments will be conducted to derive the interactome of these messengers in Drosophila. In its entirety, this project will provide a much better understanding of inositol pyrophosphate signalling in an important model organism from single cells to whole flies across scales.