Identification of a Golgi quality control network

To stay healthy, cells ensure that all proteins bind to their correct partners and are in the right place. This process is known as quality control. A key player in this process is the Golgi apparatus the cells distribution center, responsible for sorting proteins to their correct organelle. However, when orphan proteins appear meaning proteins that have lost their partners or ended up in the wrong organelle they can harm the cell. How exactly the cell detects and disposes of these orphan proteins is still poorly understood. Our project investigates a quality control system in the Golgi apparatus that recognizes such orphan proteins and ensures they are selectively degraded. In our initial experiments, we discovered that there is a complex network of quality control mechanisms at the Golgi. When this system fails, orphan proteins accumulate and cause severe structural damage in the cell. In this project, we aim to uncover how these Golgi quality control mechanisms work together, how cells respond to this type of stress, and how they protect their membranes in the process. We use yeast as a well-established model organism and apply cutting-edge methods from genetics, cell biology, and microscopy. Our findings will contribute to a better understanding of how cells maintain protein quality a process that plays a crucial role in many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders.