Petra Knaus Profile Page
| Organisation: | Freie Universität Berlin |
| Institute: | Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry |
| Address: | Thielallee 63 14195 Berlin |
| Campus: | Dahlem |
| E-Mail: | This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Website: | userpage.chemie.fu-berlin.de/biochemie/agknaus/ |
| Field: | Biochemistry |
| Track(s): | Bio |
| CV: | Since 2004: C3-Professor for Biochemistry, “Signal transduction, Membrane and Cell Biology, Molecular Basis of Tissue regeneration”, Freie Universität Berlin 2002-2004: Assistant Professor (C2), “Molecular mechanism of TGFß2 and BMP2 signaling”, Universität Würzburg 2002: Habilitation, Venia Legend, Physiological Chemistry 1996-2002: Group Leader (C1), Assistant Professor, “Molecular mechanism of TGFß2 and BMP2 signaling”, Universität Würzburg 1994-1996: Postdoctoral Associate, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1991-1993: Postdoctoral Fellow, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1991: PhD, Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie, Heidelberg 1985: Diploma, Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie, Heidelberg 1980-1985: Biology studies, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg |
| Research Interests: | Our overall goal is to understand the molecular mechanism by which growth factors with high regenerative properties, such as BMPs (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins), regulate and modulate signaling in different cell types. Focusing on mesenchymal precursor cells we investigate distinct differentiation lineages (bone, cartilage, fat, muscle) to identify the corresponding signaling pathways. For this we distinguish needs of the precursor/stem cell to maintain their fate towards needs of cells entering a specific differentiation program. To answer these questions, we particularly focus on signaling pathways initiated by the BMP- and TGFß- receptors in these cells. By the use of complementary assays based in cell biology, biochemistry, microscopy and molecular biology we are addressing the questions on the step-by-step molecular processes in signaltransduction via BMPs and TGFß. Using different BMPs and mutants thereof, we aim to specifically target distinct signaling pathways. In order to picture signaling dynamics (specificity, intensity and duration) we aim to integrate different cellular events such as receptor mobility, receptor endocytosis, phosphorylation, shuttling of cytoplasmic molecules to the nucleus and regulation of gene expression to understand BMP and TGFß signal transduction. These studies are a prerequisite for translational approaches, since our findings will be of importance to (a) develop highly specific and stable regenerative growth factors or therapeutics, (b) define the right matrix for these growth factors and therapeutics and (c) to consult in medical application since potential side effects might be expected from the analyses on many signaling pathways. |
| Publications: | Sieber C, Kopf J, Hiepen C, Knaus P. Recent advances in BMP receptor signaling. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2009 Oct-Dec;20(5-6):343-55 Bengtsson L, Schwappacher R, Roth M, Boergermann JH, Hassel S, Knaus P. PP2A regulates BMP signalling by interacting with BMP receptor complexes and by dephosphorylating both the C-terminus and the linker region of Smad1. J Cell Sci. 2009 Apr 15;122(Pt 8):1248-57 Schwappacher R, Weiske J, Heining E, Ezerski V, Marom B, Henis YI, Huber O, Knaus P. Novel crosstalk to BMP signalling: cGMP-dependent kinase I modulates BMP receptor and Smad activity. The EMBO Journal (2009) 28, 1537-1550, doi:10.1038/emboj.2009.103 Hartung A, Bitton-Worms K, Rechtman MM, Wenzel V, Boergermann JH, Hassel S, Henis YI, Knaus P. Different routes of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) receptor endocytosis influence BMP signalling. Mol Cell Biol. 2006 Oct;26(20):7791-805 Hassel S, Yakymovych M, Hellman U, Rönnstrand L, Knaus P, Souchelnytskyi S. Interaction and functional cooperation between the serine/threonine kinase bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor with the tyrosine kinase stem cell factor receptor. J Cell Physiol. 2006 Feb;206(2):457-67 |
