Understanding multi-protein complexes, supra-molecular signalling assemblies and their dynamics
Cells are the fundamental unit of life, separated from their environment by cellular membranes, which also delineate the internal functional compartments of the cell, called organelles. By extension, the transmission of information across membranes is a fundamental process of life. It is accomplished by cellular signalling. Signalling processes at and across membranes – such as the cell membrane and the mitochondrial membrane – are thought to be predominantly mediated by multi-protein complexes operating as supra-molecular signalling assemblies. Projects in research programme area CIBSS-A investigates how these dynamic signalling machineries perceive, process, transmit and integrate signals. The programme aims at clarifying how signalling specificity is achieved through variations in formation and composition of these dynamic multi-protein complexes. CIBSS also elucidates how complex networks of signalling assemblies integrate information from outside and inside the cell, for instance to transduce accurate and appropriate signals to the nucleus , and determine epigenetic states that control fate and function of the cell.