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Portrait Ünal Coskun

I received my PhD degree working on the structural and functional characterization of ATP synthases and vacuolar ATPases. Working at the interface of structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics constituted fantastic training for my future forays into interdisciplinary research. During this work on membrane-embedded enzymes, I developed a strong interest in the bioactive potential of lipids on membrane protein regulation. The starting point of my new interest were two fundamental questions: Why do eukaryotic organisms invest that much energy into synthetizing a dazzling array of lipids, when only one lipid is sufficient to form a functional membrane bilayer? And, if proteins and lipids have co-evolved, what are the consequences of specific protein-lipid interactions for protein regulation as well as membrane targeting of proteins?

Understanding the bioactivity of lipids on protein structure and function is an emerging field that is expected to make pivotal contributions to our understanding of important cell biological processes (Coskun and Simons, 2011, Structure). The overarching theme of my research group is “Membrane Biochemistry of Cell Signaling”. We challenge the mutual interdependence of lipid-protein interactions by an interdisciplinary approach, combining cell biology and synthetic biology as well as protein biochemistry, structure biology and biophysics. Our strong expertise allows us study lipid-protein interaction based phenomena at different scales, from the organ and cellular systems down to minimal synthetic systems in which we can control the proteins as well as the lipid, for instance to monitor the allosteric effects of specific lipids on fundamental receptors such as the EGF receptor (Coskun et al (2011) PNAS) and the insulin receptor.

Ünal Coskun Research: Figure
Fig.1: Proposed allosteric inhibition scheme of EGF receptor kinase activation by the ganglioside GM3 (A) EGF receptor association with sphingolipid/cholesterol domains prevents aberrant activation of EGFR signaling. EGF ligand binding promotes EGFR dimerization (1) leading to the formation of an active dimer (2). (B) When GM3 is present in the bilayer, the direct association of GM3 with the EGFR ectodomain leads to the inactivation of the EGFR kinase activity (3). For details please read Coskun and Simons (2011) Structure

Future Projects and Goals

Working at different scales also allows us to focus on understanding the pathology of diseases, such as diabetes, from the membrane biochemical point of view.

A key unanswered question in diabetes research is is how β-cells choose between proliferation and insulin secretory granule (ISG) production. Moreover it remains unclear how β-cells can generate a graded response to insulin or even remain sensitive to it, conceivably being exposed to far greater concentrations of the hormone than other cell types such as adipocytes or muscle cells. A part of the explanation might be the changes in plasma membrane lipid composition that accompany the secretion process and lead to changes in signaling properties of the receptors present at the plasma membrane (IGF-1R, IR). Could lipid changes in the plasma membrane of secretory β-cells may be responsible for modulating the cellular response to insulin exposure?

Methodological and Technical Expertise

  • Protein Biochemistry
  • Structure Biology (Single Particle EM, SAXS)
  • Lipid Chemistry
  • in vitro Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Biophysics

CV

since 2023
Max Planck Fellow

since 2022
MPI-CBG Fellow

since 07/2021
W3 (Full) Professor and Director, Center of Membrane Biochemistry and Lipid Research

08/2020–06/2021
W2 (Associated) Professor of Membrane Biochemistry and Lipid Research at the Paul Langerhans Institut (PLID), Medical Faculty, TU Dresden and the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IKL), Medical Faculty, TU Dresden

since 09/2012
Research group leader at the Paul Langerhans Institut (PLID), Medical Faculty, TU Dresden

2005–2012
Postdoctoral scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)

2001–2005
PhD thesis, Saarland University, Institute for Biophysics in Homburg/Saar

2000–2001
Diploma work at the University of Osnabrück

1995–2001
Study of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Germany

Selected Publications

Gutmann T, Kim KH, Grzybek M, Walz T, Coskun, Ü
Visualization of ligand-induced transmembrane signaling in the full-length human insulin receptor.
Journal of Cell Biology, jcb.201711047 (2018)

Bilkova E, Pleskot R, Rissanen S, Sun S, Czogalla A, Cwiklik L, Róg T, Vattulainen I, Cremer PS, Jungwirth P, Coskun Ü
Calcium Directly Regulates Phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-Bisphosphate Headgroup Conformation and Recognition.
Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 139, no. 11 (2017)

Kaszuba K, Grzybek M, Orłowski A, Danne R, Róg T, Simons K, Coskun Ü, Vattulainen I
N-Glycosylation as determinant of epidermal growth factor receptor conformation in membranes.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. vol. 112, pp. 4334–4339 (2015)

Coskun Ü and Simons K
Cell Membranes: The Lipid Perspective.
Structure 19, 1543-1548 (2011)

Coskun Ü, Grzybek M, Drechsel D, Simons K
Regulation of human EGF receptor by lipids.
PROC. NAT. ACAD. SCI. USA 108, 9044–9048 (2011)

Contact

Center of Membrane Biochemistry and Lipid Research
Medical Faculty
TU Dresden
Fetscherstraße 74
01307 Dresden