Membrane Trafficking and Signalling

We investigate how membranes of the secretory pathway are regulated by signal transduction pathways. Here, we are particularly interested in the role of the protein kinase D family. Specifically, we address how external cues control PKD activity and how the kinase engages its interactors and substrates to coordinate the secretory pathway.

Ultimately, we aim at determining the relevance of PKD in cell growth, polarity, migration and invasion, and stem cell maintenance to understand the impact of dys-regulation of PKD signaling and secretion in human diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most commonly used host for biopharmaceutical production. Although transcription and translation strategies have been employed to generate highly productive cell clones, secretion still remains a bottleneck for cellular productivity. By targeting the secretory pathway at multiple levels using synthetic biology tools, we aim to generate highly productive cell lines with predictable performance at an industrially relevant scale.

We employ an interdisciplinary approach combining 2D and 3D cell culture including primary cells from mice and humans, biochemistry, advanced microscopic techniques e.g. TIRF, FRET, and FRAP, image-based high-throughput screening, and in vivo mouse models.

We will be exploring the SECRETory pathway regulation and its contribution to cancer by providing a highly qualified platform for European research training of bright young scientists, with the aim of defining secretory pathway-linked candidate biomarker genes suitable for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

For details, check out the SECRET-ITN website: https://secret-itn.eu/

Protein Kinase D: A Key to β-Cell Aging and Metabolism

The authors examined the crucial role of protein kinase D (PKD) in regulating the function of pancreatic β-cells in the context of aging and glucose homeostasis. Their research identifies PKD as a key regulatory hub that influences cellular senescence in these insulin-producing cells. By specifically inhibiting PKD activity, they generated a senescence-like phenotype in mature mice, characterized by enlarged cells and increased oxidative stress. Unexpectedly, this condition did not lead to impairment, but rather to a significant improvement in glucose tolerance and an increase in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. These results suggest that protein kinase D plays an essential role in maintaining β-cell function during aging and under metabolic stress.

To find out more, find the full text publication at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877825002042 

Our lab’s latest work on PKD3 and late endosomes is now published! We show that PKD3 supports lysosomal homeostasis and Wnt signaling to drive breast cancer stem cell formation. Congratulations to Elena on her first first-author research paper!

• Lieb WS, Oueslati Morales CO, Ellwanger K, Koch C, Lutz S, Eisler SA, Möller AM, Leiss V, Hausser A. Protein kinase D deficiency induces a senescence-like phenotype in β-cells and improves glucose and insulin tolerance under high-fat diet conditions. Mol Metab. 2026 Jan;103:102297. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2025.102297. Epub 2025 Dec 3. PMID: 41349796; PMCID: PMC12775600. 
  
  
• Protein Kinase D drives the secretion of invasion mediators in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. Gali, A., Bijnsdorp, I. V., Piersma, S. R., Pham, T. V., Gutiérrez-Galindo, E., Kühnel, F., Tsolakos, N., Jimenez, C. R., Hausser, A. & Alexopoulos, L. G. (2024). iScience, 108958. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.108958

• Membrane trafficking in breast cancer progression: protein kinase D comes into play. Gutiérrez-Galindo, E., Yilmaz, Z. H., & Hausser, A. (2023).  Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 11, 1173387. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2023.1173387
  
  
• Dendritic effects of genetically encoded actin labelling probes in cultured hippocampal neurons. Ignácz A, Nagy-Herczeg D, Hausser A, Schlett K. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 2023. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E22-08-0331
  
  
• PKD autoinhibition in trans regulates activation loop autophosphorylation in cis. Reinhardt R, Hirzel K, Link G, Eisler SA, Hägele T, Parson MAH, Burke JE, Hausser A, Leonard TA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2023; 120(7):e2212909120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2212909120

Click here for a full publication list.

Angelika Hausser on ResearchGate

Angelika Hausser on Bluesky: @angelikahausser.bsky.social 

Prof. Dr. Angelika Hausser (apl.) (Lab head)
Zeynep Hazal Yilmaz (PhD student)
Sara Suárez López (PhD Student)
Anastasia Gaitanidou (PhD Student, EpiSignal RTG)
Prabin Bawali (joint PhD Student with Prof. Dr. Monilola Olayioye)
Gisela Link (Technical assistant)
Dilan Torcuk (Master Student)
Anna Sofía Müller (Bachelor Student)
Genís Cid Blasco (ERASMUS+ Student, University of Barcelona)

Lab Group Sketch  - by Dilan Torkuc

Applications of students and scientists interested in signal transduction and membrane trafficking, and joining our team are always welcome! Please send your CV and a short summary of your research interests to Angelika Haußer.