Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Andreas Bausch

Courses and Dates

Offered Bachelor’s or Master’s Theses Topics

Cell-size-dependent regulation of the budding yeast contractile ring

The ability to robustly assemble and maintain complex intracellular structures is fundamental for cell function. The budding yeast septin ring, which sets the basis for bud formation and downstream assembly of the contractile actomyosin ring, is one of the best-studied biological self-assembly processes and serves as an important model system to understand cell polarization and non-linear feedback dynamics. However, what determines the the diameter of the emerging ring structure is so far unclear.

Recently, our lab was able to demonstrate that cell size sets the septin ring diameter in an actin-dependent manner. Aim of this thesis is to use a combination of molecular biology, genetic manipulations, live-cell imaging and image analysis to reveal the molecular processes that underlie the observed scaling of ring diameter with cell volume. Ultimately, theoretical modelling will be used to obtain a quantitative understanding.

This project will be carried out together with the Schmoller lab, Helmholtz Zentrum Neuherberg

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Matter to Life

Supervisor: Andreas Bausch