Dysferlin and the emergency vesicle fusion of membrane repair [ 2016 - 2018 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: A/Pr Sandra Cooper (Principal investigator)

Brief description Membrane repair is a vital cell survival mechanism of all eukaryotic cells, using calcium-triggered vesicle fusion to ‘patch’ membrane ruptures. The muscular dystrophy protein dysferlin is a key mediator of membrane repair, although, exactly how dysferlin mends membranes has been unclear. We show that the calcium that floods through membrane tears, activates a group of enzymes called calpains, that specifically cleave dysferlin to release a specialist vesicle-fusion module for membrane repair.

Funding Amount $AUD 496,442.76

Funding Scheme Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant