Research Topic
Lipid droplets are ubiquitous organelles that consist of a central compartment composed of neutral lipids surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer that houses the organelle proteome. Lipid droplets fulfil central roles in lipid storage and metabolism. Our group investigates how these key players in lipid handling cooperate with the different cellular membrane systems. To identify novel players in lipid droplet biology, we utilize genome-wide microscopy-based screening approaches in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, combined with classical cell biology, genetics, and biochemistry techniques. Within the Collaborative Research Center, we focus on the interplay of lipid droplets with the plasma membrane during the processes of cell division and cell fusion. Our aim is to uncover the molecular players and mechanisms underlying lipid droplet-plasma membrane communication, and to understand the biological roles of this connection in cellular interplay.
Selected Publications
- Bohnert, M. (2020). Tether Me, Tether Me Not-Dynamic Organelle Contact Sites in Metabolic Rewiring. Dev. Cell 54, 212–225.
- Castro, I.G., Eisenberg-Bord, M., Persiani, E., Rochford, J.J., Schuldiner, M., and Bohnert, M. (2019). Promethin Is a Conserved Seipin Partner Protein. Cells 8.
- Bohnert, M., and Schuldiner, M. (2018). Stepping outside the comfort zone of membrane contact site research. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 19, 483–484.
- Eisenberg-Bord, M., Mari, M., Weill, U., Rosenfeld-Gur, E., Moldavski, O., Castro, I.G., Soni, K.G., Harpaz, N., Levine, T.P., Futerman, A.H., et al., and Bohnert, M. (2018). Identification of seipin-linked factors that act as determinants of a lipid droplet subpopulation. J. Cell Biol. 217, 269–282.
- Eisenberg-Bord, M., Shai, N., Schuldiner, M., and Bohnert, M. (2016). A Tether Is a Tether Is a Tether: Tethering at Membrane Contact Sites. Dev. Cell 39, 395–409.
- Zerbes, R.M., Höß, P., Pfanner, N., van der Laan, M., and Bohnert, M. (2016). Distinct Roles of Mic12 and Mic27 in the Mitochondrial Contact Site and Cristae Organizing System. J. Mol. Biol. 428, 1485–1492.
- Bohnert, M., Zerbes, R.M., Davies, K.M., Mühleip, A.W., Rampelt, H., Horvath, S.E., Boenke, T., Kram, A., Perschil, I., Veenhuis, M., et al. (2015). Central Role of Mic10 in the Mitochondrial Contact Site and Cristae Organizing System. Cell Metab. 21, 747–755.
- Bohnert, M.*, Wenz, L.-S.*, Zerbes, R.M.*, Horvath, S.E., Stroud, D.A., von der Malsburg, K., Müller, J.M., Oeljeklaus, S., Perschil, I., Warscheid, B., et al. (2012). Role of mitochondrial inner membrane organizing system in protein biogenesis of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Mol. Biol. Cell 23, 3948–3956. (*first authors)
- Zerbes, R.M.*, Bohnert, M.*, Stroud, D.A., von der Malsburg, K., Kram, A., Oeljeklaus, S., Warscheid, B., Becker, T., Wiedemann, N., Veenhuis, M., et al. (2012). Role of MINOS in Mitochondrial Membrane Architecture: Cristae Morphology and Outer Membrane Interactions Differentially Depend on Mitofilin Domains. J. Mol. Biol. 422, 183–191. (*first authors)
- von der Malsburg, K.*, Müller, J.M.*, Bohnert, M.*, Oeljeklaus, S., Kwiatkowska, P., Becker, T., Loniewska-Lwowska, A., Wiese, S., Rao, S., Milenkovic, D., et al. (2011). Dual role of mitofilin in mitochondrial membrane organization and protein biogenesis. Dev. Cell 21, 694–707. (*first authors)