Deutsch Intern
GRK 2243 "Understanding Ubiquitylation: From Molecular Mechanisms to Disease"

Project B3 (completed)

Mechanism of substrate recognition by chlamydial DUBs

Caroline Kisker, Thomas Rudel

Chlamydia massively modify host cell signaling to generate a protected niche for proliferation, survival or persistence. Project B3 is investigating the function of the so far poorly characterized chlamydial deubiquitinases (Cdu1 and Cdu2) during infection to reveal detailed mechanisms of DUB substrate recognition, binding and deubiquitylation using Cdu1 and its substrates as a model system. IκBα and Mcl-1 have already been identified as first substrates of Cdu1, and a role in the control of host cell survival has been demonstrated. We will pursue this project by a combination of immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry as well as structural biology and modeling.