Welcome to the SPP 2416

End of March 2022, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) established the Priority Programme “Code𝛘 – Chitin, chitosan and chito-oligosaccharides and their interaction with proteins of the extracellular matrix and cellular signaling” (SPP 2416)”. This programme is designed to run for six years, and the call invited proposals from researchers working in this field to join for the first three-years funding period, which has started in October 2023.

Aims and Scope of the Programme

Chitin and chitosans (C/CS) are among the most abundant and versatile polymers in nature, occurring as structural components in numerous types of extracellular matrices (ECM), such as the arthropod cuticles, hydrogel-like peritrophic matrices, or fungal cell walls. The structural tenets underlying the immense range of different physicomechanical properties covered by these ECM are currently unknown. Equally, C/CS biosynthesis, assembly and degradation during development, differentiation and morphogenesis as well as their interactions with other cellular components and their involvement in the communication between organisms are poorly understood. Based on emerging new evidence, we strongly believe that the molecular fine structure of C/CS (i.e. degree of polymerisation, degree and pattern of acetylation) and their interactions with different types of C/CS binding proteins (CBP) and C/CS modifying enzymes (CME) contribute to define the ECM properties.

Partners

  • Prof. Fritz-Olaf Lehmann, Department of Animal Physiology, University of Rostock
  • Prof. Stanislav Gorb, Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel
  • Dr. Bernard Moussain, Institute Sophia Agrobiotech, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
     
  • If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact:
    fritz.lehmannuni-rostockde

Function of Resilin in the chitin matrix

Elastic Resilin as part of the chitin matrix in insects has many functions for protection and locomotion.Gand locomotion. Goal of our project is too uncover these functions in transgene Resilin-lines of Drosophila.