Dr. Maria Bohnert
"No positions via CiM-IMPRS in 2024"
High-throughput analysis of organelle communication and cellular lipid homeostasis
Biochemistry
Cell Biology/Molecular Biology
Molecular Genetics
Lipid droplets (LDs) are the fat storage organelles of the cell, and their dysfunction is linked to obesity, diabetes, lipodystrophy, and neurological disorders. To fulfill their numerous metabolic functions, LDs need to continuously communicate with the other organelles, but how this communication works has been enigmatic.
Our preliminary results indicate that LDs communicate via contact sites, specialized molecular machines that physically link the surfaces of two organelles and allow for direct exchange of material and information.
In my lab, we are using microscopy-based robotic high-throughput screening approaches to identify the molecular players involved in formation of LD contact sites. Our goal is to unravel the molecular mechanisms of LD communication, and to ultimately gain a deeper understanding of lipid homeostasis in health and disease.
Vita
- 2002-2007: Dipl.Mol.Med., University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- 2007-2011: Dr.rer.nat, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- 2012-2015: Postdoc, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- 2015-2018: Postdoc, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Since Sept. 2018: Gerty Cori Group leader, Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging,
University of Münster, Germany
Selected references
Eisenberg-Bord M, Mari M, Weill U, Rosenfeld-Gur E, Moldavski O, Castro IG, Soni KG, Harpaz N, Levine TP, Futerman AH, Reggiori F, Bankaitis VA, Schuldiner M* and Bohnert M* (2018). Identification of seipin-linked factors that act as determinants of a lipid droplet subpopulation. J. Cell Biol. 217, 269-282. *corresponding author
Schuldiner M and Bohnert M* (2017). A different kind of love – lipid droplet contact sites. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1862, 1188-1196. *corresponding author (selected for cover)
Zerbes RM, Höß P, Pfanner N, van der Laan M and Bohnert M (2016). Distinct roles of Mic12 and Mic27 in the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system. J. Mol. Biol. 428, 1485-1492.
Eisenberg-Bord M, Shai N, Schuldiner M* and Bohnert M* (2016). A tether is a tether is a tether: Tethering at membrane contact sites. Dev. Cell 39, 395-409. *corresponding author
Bohnert M, Zerbes RM, Davies KM, Mühleip AW, Rampelt H, Horvath SE, Boenke T, Kram A, Perschil I, Veenhuis M, Kühlbrandt W, van der Klei IJ, Pfanner N and van der Laan M (2015). Central Role of Mic10 in the Mitochondrial Contact Site and Cristae Organizing System. Cell Metab. 21, 747-755.
Links