From Molecules to Modules: Organisation and Dynamics of Functional Units in Cells
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Introduction The SFB 740 (Sonderforschungsbereich, Collaborative Research Centre) deals with specific subsets of the proteome termed functional modules. Functional modules (Hartwell et al., Nature 402, C47 (1999)) are specific subsets of the proteome, which fulfil an autonomous function in living cells, thus bridging the gap between molecular detail and systems biology. Functional modules include the important group of macromolecular machines, which are organized as compact structure, such as the ribosome or the proteasome (Alberts, Cell 92, 291 (1998)), but also ensembles that change their composition and / or organisation during function – like G-protein coupled signal transducers. On receiving an input, modules go through functional cycles, in which they pass through different levels of complexity from the molecular to the modular level and back (Hofmann et al., Trends Biochem. Sci. 31, 497 (2006)). Characteristic properties include spatial sequestration and / or a characteristic time domain at which functional cycles proceed, and specific input / output schemes. Typical for research on modules is the “iteration” between model building and exploration of the molecular detail. A comparison between seemingly distant functional modules may help to get a better understanding of the individual systems. In the SFB, each of the project areas A - D and Z is devoted to a common theme, namely polynucleotide protein interaction (A), protein interaction with unfolded or misfolded peptides (B), the interplay between protein-protein and protein-lipid interaction (C), protein-protein interaction during signal transfer (D), and cross-sectional aspects in technology (Z). Our preliminary work has already shown that seemingly disparate modules exhibit unexpected similarity in properties. We expect that the cooperative effort within the SFB will lead to a more profound understanding of the overarching principles and relationships, and that contributing researchers will gain a more comprehensive understanding of their specific research object. Most of the currently available methodology is incorporated in the SFB or will be developed ad hoc, including specifically adapted theoretical approaches. A long-term perspective of the SFB is to demonstrate both the potential and the limits of modular analysis. 
International Symposium "Membranes and Modules"
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