Priority Programme „Integration of mitochondria into the cellular proteostasis network” (SPP 2453)
In March 2023, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) established the Priority Programme “Integration of mitochondria into the cellular proteostasis network” (SPP 2453). The programme, which is designed to run for six years, started in September 2024. The present call invites proposals for the second three-year funding period.
Aims and Scope of the Programme
Mitochondrial functions and biogenesis depend on the import of more than thousand proteins that are produced as precursors on cytosolic ribosomes. Co- and post-translational import mechanisms have been reported for mitochondrial proteins. In co-translational import mechanisms, protein synthesis and import occur in a coupled manner. In post-translational import, molecular chaperones guide these proteins from ribosomes to the mitochondrial surface. The mechanisms of protein targeting to mitochondria and its quality control are poorly understood. Upon import failure in defective mitochondria, non-imported mitochondrial precursor proteins accumulate in the cell and challenge the cellular proteostasis system, linking mitochondrial fitness to cellular viability. Conversely, perturbations of the proteostasis network can cause accumulation of mitochondrial precursor proteins and affect mitochondrial biogenesis. In this priority programme, we combine the expertise from two different fields, mitochondrial protein import and cellular proteostasis, to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern targeting and quality control of mitochondrial precursor proteins. In the first funding period, we used and further developed advanced technologies such as genetic screens, proteomics, ribosome profiling, cryo-EM and cryo-ET to identify factors and mechanisms monitoring protein targeting and quality control of mitochondrial precursor proteins.
In the second funding period, we aim to define the molecular mechanisms and how these factors monitor quality control and intracellular targeting of mitochondrial precursor proteins. We will investigate the structural basis for the role of targeting and quality control factors to define how cellular proteostasis factors specifically function on mitochondrial precursor proteins. We will use three different model systems (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans and cultured mammalian cells) that allow us to mechanistically study questions of targeting, quality control and stress responses. Projects should address one of the following questions:
- What are the molecular mechanisms that ensure the co-translational and post-translation transport of precursor proteins to mitochondria?
- How do quality control factors across different cellular compartments cooperate to specifically remove non-imported mitochondrial proteins?
- How are the mitochondrial and cellular stress response pathways coordinated to re-establish import of mitochondrial precursor proteins?
The priority programme will exclusively fund tandem or tridem projects combining expertise from the mitochondrial protein import field and from the cellular proteostasis field.
To maintain the focus of this priority programme, we do not aim to fund:
- predominantly descriptive projects that lack a focus on molecular mechanisms;
- research projects that are not directly related to mitochondrial precursor proteins, such as studies analysing mitophagy, apoptosis or antiviral signalling. The focus of the priority programme is centred on targeting and quality control of mitochondrial precursor proteins.
Proposal Submission
Please submit your proposal to the DFG by 27 January 2027. Proposals must be written in English and are to be submitted solely via the (externer Link) in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted.
To submit a new project within the existing Priority Programme, go to Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes and then select “SPP 2453” from the current list of calls.
To submit a proposal for the renewal of an existing project, please navigate to Proposal Submission – Proposal Overview/Renewal Proposal. Here, the currently funded project is displayed and should be selected for submission of the renewal proposal.
When preparing your proposal, please refer to the guidelines ((interner Link), section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions ((interner Link)).
If this is the first time you are submitting a proposal to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal before you can submit your proposal. You must do so by 20 January 2027. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.
The review colloquium for the Priority Programme will be held 7–9 April 2027 in Bonn.
Equity and Diversity
The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.
Good Research Practice
According to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to research institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the (externer Link) in their own regulations. The management of your institution is responsible for implementing the guidelines in a legally binding manner. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of funding, please verify implementation within your institution in good time. For information regarding the implementation, please refer to the (externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the (externer Link) at the DFG Head Office.
Further Information
Please find detailed information on the Priority Programme (externer Link).
When submitting proposals, please use the (externer Link) and refer to the respective guidelines DFG forms (interner Link) and (interner Link). The (interner Link) may also be helpful.
For scientific enquiries, please contact the Priority Programme coordinator:
(externer Link), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Nußallee 11, 53115 Bonn, Tel. +49 228 287-62900
Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office
Programme contact: (externer Link), Life Sciences 1, Tel. +49 228 885-2441
Administrative contact: (externer Link), Life Sciences 1, Tel. +49 228 885-2139
Privacy Policy
We, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), take the protection of your personal data and its confidential treatment extremely seriously. Therefore, please refer to the DFG’s (interner Link). If you intend to transmit personal data of third parties, please make sure to do so only if the necessary legitimation under data protection law exist. Before transmitting data of third parties to the DFG, please forward the DFG’s Data Protection Notice to the individuals affected (data subjects). If there is a legitimate interest not to inform individuals beforehand (e.g. for reasons of secrecy or in case of a nomination or candidate proposal), these individuals should be informed no later than at the time of publication.