Priv.-Doz. Dr. Leif Dehmelt

Team   CV

The development and function of multicellular organisms critically depends on dynamic changes in the shape of cells. Perturbations in the signal networks that control these changes can lead to developmental anomalies or cancer. In our research group, we investigate how the morphology and function of mammalian cells is controlled by such signal networks. We particularly focus on self-organizing pattern forming mechanisms that emerge from coupled reactions and diffusion of molecules inside individual cells [1-3]. To study these systems, we implement an interdisciplinary approach [1,4,5] that combines acute, microscopy-based experimental perturbations, the development of novel analysis technologies and theoretical investigations.

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[1] Nanda S, Calderon A, Sachan A, Duong TT, Koch J, Xin X, Solouk-Stahlberg D, Wu YW, Nalbant P, Dehmelt L. (2023)
Rho GTPase activity crosstalk mediated by Arhgef11 and Arhgef12 coordinates cell protrusion-retraction cycles.
Nat Commun 14:8356

[2] Kamps D, Koch J, Juma VO, Campillo-Funollet E, Graessl M, Banerjee S, Mazel T, Chen X, Wu YW, Portet S, Madzvamuse A, Nalbant P, Dehmelt L, (2020).
Optogenetic Tuning Reveals Rho Amplification-Dependent Dynamics of a Cell Contraction Signal Network.
Cell Reports 33(9):108467

[3] Graessl M, Koch J, Calderon A, Kamps D, Banerjee S, Mazel T, Schulze N, Jungkurth JK, Patwardhan R, Solouk D, Hampe N, Hoffmann B, Dehmelt L, Nalbant P (2017).
An excitable Rho GTPase signaling network generates dynamic subcellular contraction patterns.
J Cell Biol 21(14):5311-6.

[4] Chen X, Venkatachalapathy M, Kamps D, Weigel S, Kumar R, Orlich M, Garrecht R, Hirtz M, Niemeyer CM, Wu YW, Dehmelt L. (2017).
Molecular-Activity Painting": Switch-like, Light-Controlled Perturbations inside Living Cells.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 21(14):5311-6.

[5] Gandor S, Reisewitz S, Venkatachalapathy M, Arrabito G, Reibner M, Schröder H, Ruf K, Niemeyer CM, Bastiaens PI, Dehmelt L (2013).
A protein-interaction array inside a living cell.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 52(18):4790-4.

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