Protein quality control & ageing

The functional state of a cell is defined by its proteome, i.e. abundance, localisation, turnover and mobility of all proteins and their organisation in complexes and organelles. Numerous cellular systems contribute to proteome homeostasis through prevention, detection and removal of misfolded and damaged proteins. Proteome homeostasis declines with ageing and in some cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, resulting in the accumulation of abnormal proteins and loss of cell functionality.

Our aim is to understand how cells recognise abnormal proteins and how protein quality systems change in healthy versus diseased or aged cells. We employ a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular and cell biology techniques, biochemistry, computational biology and genomic and proteomic approaches that allow us to follow proteome dynamics down to the single cell level.

Research website

Positions held

  • Since 2018: Group Leader, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz
  • 2013: Visiting Scientist, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto
  • 2011 - 2017: Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg
  • 2011 - 2016: Visiting Scientist, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg
  • 2010 - 2011: Postdoctoral Researcher, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg

Education

  • 2010: PhD in Biology, University of Heidelberg
  • 2005: Licenciatura degree in Biochemistry, University of Lisbon

Selected publications by Anton Khmelinskii

Ivanova E and Khmelinskii A (2020) (Photo)convert to pooled visual screeningMol Syst Biol, 16:e9640 Link

Dederer V, Khmelinskii A, Huhn AG, Okreglak V, Knop M and Lemberg MK (2019) Cooperation of mitochondrial and ER factors in quality control of tail-anchored proteinseLife, 8:e45506 Link

Meurer M, Duan Y, Sass E, Kats I, Herbst K, Buchmuller BC, Dederer V, Huber F, Kirrmaier D, Štefl M, Van Laer K, Dick TP, Lemberg MK, Khmelinskii A#, Levy ED# and Knop M# (2018) Genome-wide C-SWAT library for high-throughput yeast genome taggingNat Methods, 15:598–600 (#indicates joint correspondence) Link

Khmelinskii A, Meurer M, Ho C-T, Besenbeck B, Fuller J, Lemberg MK, Bukau B, Mogk A and Knop M (2016) Incomplete proteasomal degradation of green fluorescent proteins in the context of tandem fluorescent protein timersMol Biol Cell, 27:360–370 Link

Yofe I#, Weill U, Meurer M, Chuartzman S#, Zalckvar E, Goldman O, Ben-Dor S, Schütze C, Wiedemann N, Knop M, Khmelinskii A# and Schuldiner M# (2016) One library to make them all: Streamlining the creation of yeast libraries via a SWAp-Tag strategyNat Methods, 13:371–378 (#indicates joint correspondence) Link