ZMB Member Perihan Nalbant

ZMB Member
Perihan Nalbant

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portrait photo of ZMB member Perihan Nalbant
© UDE/Bettina Engel-Albustin

Prof. Dr. Perihan Nalbant

Group

Molecular Cell Biology

Faculty of Biology
University of Duisburg-Essen
Universitätsstr. 2
45141 Essen

Research Overview

The Rho family of GTPases—most notably Rho, Cdc42, and Rac—are central regulators of actin dynamics and cell morphology. Mutations in these GTPases or their upstream activators, such as guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), are frequently linked to cancer-related phenotypes. Our research aims to elucidate how specific spatial and temporal activity patterns of Rho GTPases are generated, and how these signals are translated into both normal and aberrant cellular behaviors. To dissect the components and dynamics of Rho GTPase signaling networks, we employ a broad array of cell biological and advanced microscopy techniques. In particular, we use high-resolution imaging modalities such as TIRF, spinning disk, and structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to visualize molecular processes in living cells. These methods are complemented by fluorescence-based activity sensors and rapid, chemically- and optogenetically-driven protein perturbation strategies. Together, these approaches enable us to directly investigate causal relationships between key signaling components and their roles in organizing molecular processes in space and time to control cell behavior.
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Selected Publications

    Journal articles

  • Wagner, Jessica; Feller, Konstantina; Schrenke, Nicole; Schulze, Nina; Paschen, Annette; Dehmelt, Leif; Nalbant, Perihan
    Optogenetic stimulation of Lbc GEF-mediated Rho activity dynamics promotes cell invasion
    In: Molecular Biology of the Cell, Vol. 36, 2025, Nr. 11
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Patwardhan, Rutuja; Nanda, Suchet; Wagner, Jessica; Stockter, Tom; Dehmelt, Leif; Nalbant, Perihan; Li, Rong (Eds.)
    Cdc42 activity in the trailing edge is required for persistent directional migration of keratinocytes
    In: Molecular Biology of the Cell, Vol. 35, 2023, Nr. 1, br1
    DOI, Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Nalbant, Perihan; Wagner, Jessica; Dehmelt, Leif
    Direct investigation of cell contraction signal networks by light-based perturbation methods
    In: Pflügers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology, Vol. 475, 2023, Nr. 12, pp. 1439 – 1452
    DOI
  • Nanda, Suchet; Calderon, Abram; Sachan, Arya; Duong, Thanh-Thuy; Koch, Johannes; Xin, Xiaoyi; Solouk-Stahlberg, Djamschid; Wu, Yao-Wen; Nalbant, Perihan; Dehmelt, Leif
    Rho GTPase activity crosstalk mediated by Arhgef11 and Arhgef12 coordinates cell protrusion-retraction cycles
    In: Nature Communications, Vol. 14, 2023, Nr. 1, 8356
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Kowalczyk, Manuela; Kamps, Dominic; Wu, Yaowen; Dehmelt, Leif; Nalbant, Perihan
    Monitoring the Response of Multiple Signal Network Components to Acute Chemo-Optogenetic Perturbations in Living Cells
    In: ChemBioChem, Vol. 23, 2022, Nr. 4, e202100582
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Hensel, Astrid; Stahl, Paul; Moews, Lisa; König, Lena; Patwardhan, Rutuja; Höing, Alexander; Schulze, Nina; Nalbant, Perihan; Stauber, Roland H.; Knauer, Shirley
    The Taspase1/Myosin1f-axis regulates filopodia dynamics
    In: iScience, Vol. 25, 2022, Nr. 6, 104355
    DOI, Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Dorsch, Madeleine; Kowalczyk, Manuela; Planque, Mélanie; Heilmann, Geronimo; Urban, Sebastian; Dujardin, Philip; Forster, Jan; Ueffing, Kristina; Nothdurft, Silke; Oeck, Sebastian; Paul, Annika; Liffers, Sven T.; Kaschani, Farnusch; Kaiser, Markus; Schramm, Alexander; Siveke, Jens T.; Winslow, Monte M.; Fendt, Sarah-Maria; Nalbant, Perihan; Grüner, Barbara M.
    Statins affect cancer cell plasticity with distinct consequences for tumor progression and metastasis
    In: Cell Reports, Vol. 37, 2021, Nr. 8, 110056
    DOI, Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Kamps, Dominic; Koch, Johannes; Juma, Victor O.; Campillo-Funollet, Eduard; Gräßl, Melanie; Banerjee, Soumya; Mazel, Tomáš; Chen, Xi; Wu, Yao-Wen; Portet, Stephanie; Madzvamuse, Anotida; Nalbant, Perihan; Dehmelt, Leif
    Optogenetic Tuning Reveals Rho Amplification-Dependent Dynamics of a Cell Contraction Signal Network
    In: Cell Reports, Vol. 33, 2020, Nr. 9, pp. 108467
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Nalbant, Perihan; Dehmelt, Leif
    Exploratory cell dynamics : A sense of touch for cells?
    In: Biological Chemistry, Vol. 399, 2018, Nr. 8, pp. 809 – 819
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Gräßl, Melanie; Koch, Johannes; Calderon, Abram; Kamps, Dominic; Banerjee, Soumya; Mazel, Tomáš; Schulze, Nina; Jungkurth, Jana; Patwardhan, Rutuja; Solouk, Djamschid; Hampe, Nico; Hoffmann, Bernd; Dehmelt, Leif; Nalbant, Perihan
    An excitable Rho GTPase signaling network generates dynamic subcellular contraction patterns
    In: The Journal of Cell Biology (JCB), Vol. 216, 2017, Nr. 12, pp. 4271 – 4285
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Jeruschke, Stefanie; Jeruschke, Kay; DiStasio, Andrew; Karaterzi, Sinem; Büscher (A.), Anja; Nalbant, Perihan; Klein-Hitpaß, Ludger; Hoyer, Peter Friedrich; Weiss, Jürgen; Stottmann, Rolf W; Weber, Stefanie
    Everolimus Stabilizes Podocyte Microtubules via Enhancing TUBB2B and DCDC2 Expression
    In: PLoS ONE, Vol. 10, 2015, Nr. 9, pp. e0137043
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Jeruschke, Stefanie; Rekasi, Heike; Karaterzi, Sinem; Buescher, AnjaKarin; Klein-Hitpaß, Ludger; Jeruschke, Kay; Weiss, Juergen; Saleem, MoinAhson; Hoyer, Peter Friedrich; Nalbant, Perihan; Weber, Stefanie
    Everolimus Prevents Podocyte Injury Via Stabilizing Tubb2b And Dcdc2 Expression
    In: Pediatric Nephrology, Vol. 29, 2014, Nr. 9, pp. 1674 – 1674
    DOI
  • Schulze, Nina; Gräßl, Melanie; Soares, Alexandra Blancke; Geyer, Matthias; Dehmelt, Leif; Nalbant, Perihan
    FHOD1 regulates stress fiber organization by controlling the dynamics of transverse arcs and dorsal fibers
    In: Journal of Cell Science, Vol. 127, 2014, Nr. 7, pp. 1379 – 1393
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Jeruschke, S.; Büscher (A.), Anja; Rekasi, H.; Karaterzi, S.; Saleem, M. A.; Oh, J.; Hoyer, Peter Friedrich; Nalbant, Perihan; Weber, Stefanie
    Differential expression of cytoskeletal-associated genes in human podocytes by the mTOR inhibitor everolimus
    In: Pediatric Nephrology, Vol. 28, 2013, Nr. 8, pp. 1438 – 1438
  • Jeruschke, Stefanie; Büscher, Anja Katrin; Oh, Jun; Saleem, Moin Ahson; Hoyer, Peter Friedrich; Weber, Stefanie; Nalbant, Perihan
    Protective effects of the mTOR inhibitor everolimus on cytoskeletal injury in human podocytes are mediated by RhoA signaling
    In: PLoS ONE, Vol. 8, 2013, Nr. 2, pp. e55980
    DOI, Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Sokolova, Viktoriya; Rotan, Olga; Klesing, Jan; Nalbant, Perihan; Buer, Jan; Knuschke, Torben; Westendorf, Astrid; Epple, Matthias
    Calcium phosphate nanoparticles as versatile carrier for small and large molecules across cell membranes
    In: Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Vol. 14, 2012, Nr. 6, 0910
    DOI
  • Jeruschke, Stefanie; Büscher (A.), Anja; Saleem, Moin; Hoyer, Peter Friedrich; Oh, Jun; Nalbant, Perihan; Weber, Stefanie
    Protective effects of everolimus on puromycin-induced cytoskeletal alterations in human podocytes are mediated by RhoA-signalling
    In: Pediatric Nephrology, Vol. 27, 2012, Nr. 9, pp. 1638 – 1638
  • MacHacek, Matthias; Hodgson, Louis; Welch, Christopher; Elliott, Hunter; Pertz, Oliver; Nalbant, Perihan; Abell, Amy; Johnson, Gary L.; Hahn, Klaus M.; Danuser, Gaudenz
    Coordination of Rho GTPase activities during cell protrusion
    In: Nature, Vol. 461, 2009, Nr. 7260, pp. 99 – 103
    Online Full Text
  • Nalbant, Perihan; Chang, Y.-C.; Birkenfeld, J.; Chang, Z.-F.; Bokoch, G.M.
    Guanine nucleotide exchange factor-H1 regulates cell migration via localized activation of RhoA at the leading edge
    In: Molecular Biology of the Cell, Vol. 20, 2009, Nr. 18, pp. 4070 – 4082
  • Manukyan, Maria; Nalbant, Perihan; Luxen, Sylvia; Hahn, Klaus M.; Knaus, Ulla G.
    RhoA GTPase activation by TLR2 and TLR3 ligands: Connecting via Src to NF-κB
    In: The Journal of Immunology (JI), Vol. 182, 2009, Nr. 6, pp. 3522 – 3529
    DOI
  • Chang, Y.-C.; Nalbant, Perihan; Birkenfeld, J.; Chang, Z.-F.; Bokoch, G.M.
    3GEF-H1 couples nocodazole-induced microtubule disassembly to cell contractility via RhoA
    In: Molecular Biology of the Cell, Vol. 19, 2008, Nr. 5, pp. 2147 – 2153
  • Birkenfeld, Jörg; Nalbant, Perihan; Yoon, Soon-Hee; Bokoch, Gary M.
    Cellular functions of GEF-H1, a microtubule-regulated Rho-GEF: is altered GEF-H1 activity a crucial determinant of disease pathogenesis?
    In: Trends in Cell Biology, Vol. 18, 2008, Nr. 5, pp. 210 – 219
    Online Full Text
  • Carlile, Mark; Nalbant, Perihan; Preston-Fayers, Keziah; McHaffie, Gavin S.; Werner, Andreas
    Processing of naturally occurring sense/antisense transcripts of the vertebrate Slc34a gene into short RNAs
    In: Physiological Genomics, Vol. 34, 2008, Nr. 1, pp. 95 – 100
    Online Full Text
  • Lim, Yangmi; Lim, Ssang-Taek; Tomar, Alok; Gardel, Margaret; Bernard-Trifilo, Joie A.; Xiao, Lei Chen; Uryu, Sean A.; Canete-Soler, Rafaela; Zha, Jinbin; Lin, Hong; Schlaepfer, William W.; Nalbant, Perihan; Bokoch, Gary; Ilic, Dusko; Waterman-Storer, Clare; Schlaepfer, David D.
    PyK2 and FAK connections to p190Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor regulate RhoA activity, focal adhesion formation, and cell motility
    In: The Journal of Cell Biology (JCB), Vol. 180, 2008, Nr. 1, pp. 187 – 203
    DOI
  • El-Sibai, Mirvat; Nalbant, Perihan; Pang, Huan; Flinn, Rory J.; Sarmiento, Corina; Macaluso, Frank; Cammer, Michael; Condeelis, John S.; Hahn, Klaus M.; Backer, Jonathan M.
    Cdc42 is required for EGF-stimulated protrusion and motility in MTLn3 carcinoma cells
    In: Journal of Cell Science, Vol. 120, 2007, Nr. 19, pp. 3465 – 3474
    Online Full Text
  • Birkenfeld, Jörg; Nalbant, Perihan; Bohl, Benjamin P.; Pertz, Oliver; Hahn, Klaus M.; Bokoch, Gary M.
    GEF-H1 Modulates Localized RhoA Activation during Cytokinesis under the Control of Mitotic Kinases
    In: Developmental Cell, Vol. 12, 2007, Nr. 5, pp. 699 – 712
    DOI (Open Access)
  • Frantz, Christian; Karydis, Anastasios; Nalbant, Perihan; Hahn, Klaus M.; Barber, Diane L.
    Positive feedback between Cdc42 activity and H+ efflux by the Na-H exchanger NHE1 for polarity of migrating cells
    In: The Journal of Cell Biology (JCB), Vol. 179, 2007, Nr. 3, pp. 403 – 410
    Online Full Text
  • Zhao, Tieming; Nalbant, Perihan; Hoshino, Mikio; Dong, Xuemei; Wu, Dianqing; Bokoch, Gary M.
    Signaling requirements for translocation of P-Rex1, a key Rac2 exchange factor involved in chemoattractant-stimulated human neutrophil function
    In: Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Vol. 81, 2007, Nr. 4, pp. 1127 – 1136
    Online Full Text
  • Manukyan, Maria; Nalbant, Perihan; Pertz, Oliver; Halut, Klaus; Knaus, Ulla G.
    Visualizing TLR2- and TLR3-dependent RhoA activation by fret biosensor
    In: Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2007, Nr. Supplement, pp. 36 – 36
  • Dehmelt, Leif; Nalbant, Perihan; Steffen, Walter; Halpain, Shelley
    A microtubule-based, dynein-dependent force induces local cell protrusions: Implications for neurite initiation
    In: Brain Cell Biology, Vol. 35, 2006, Nr. 1, pp. 39 – 56
  • Hodgson, Louis; Nalbant, Perihan; Shen, Feimo; Hahn, Klaus M.
    Imaging and photobleach correction of Mero-CBD, sensor of endogenous Cdc42 activation
    In: Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 406, 2006, Nr. 12, pp. 140 – 156
  • Belvindrah, R.; Nalbant, Perihan; Ding, S.; Wu, C.; Bokoch, Gary M.; Müller, U.
    Integrin-linked kinase regulates Bergmann glial differentiation during cerebellar development
    In: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience (MCN), Vol. 33, 2006, Nr. 2, pp. 109 – 125
  • Subauste, M. Cecilia; Nalbant, Perihan; Adamson, Eileen D.; Hahn, Klaus M.
    Vinculin controls PTEN protein level by maintaining the interaction of the adherens junction protein β-catenin with the scaffolding protein MAGI-2
    In: The Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC), Vol. 280, 2005, Nr. 7, pp. 5676 – 5681
    Online Full Text
  • Nalbant, Perihan; Hodgson, Louis; Kraynov, Vadim; Toutchkine, Alexei; Hahn, Klaus M.
    Activation of endogenous Cdc42 visualized in living cells
    In: Science, Vol. 305, 2004, Nr. 5690, pp. 1615 – 1619
  • Tan, Xin; Nalbant, Perihan; Toutchkine, Alexei; Hu, Dehong; Vorpagel, Erich R.; Hahn, Klaus M.; Lu, H. Peter
    Single-Molecule Study of Protein-Protein Interaction Dynamics in a Cell Signaling System
    In: Journal of Physical Chemistry B: Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces & Biophysical Chemistry, Vol. 108, 2004, Nr. 2, pp. 737 – 744
    Online Full Text
  • Graham, C.; Nalbant, Perihan; Schölermann, B.; Hentschel, H.; Kinne, R. K. H.; Werner, A.
    Characterization of a type IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter from zebrafish (Danio rerio) kidney
    In: American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology, Vol. 284, 2003, Nr. 4, pp. F727 – F736
    Online Full Text
  • Tan, Xin; Nalbant, Perihan; Hu, Dehong; Vorpagel, Erich R.; Hahn, Klaus M.; Lu, H. Peter
    Single-molecule protein-protein interaction dynamics of GTP-binding protein Cdc42 with downstream effector WASP
    In: Biophysical Journal, Vol. 84, 2003, Nr. Suppl 2 Pt 2, pp. 485a
    Online Full Text
  • Toutchkine, Alexei; Nalbant, Perihan; Hahn, Klaus M.
    Facile synthesis of thiol-reactive Cy3 and Cy5 derivatives with enhanced water solubility
    In: Bioconjugate Chemistry, Vol. 13, 2002, Nr. 3, pp. 387 – 391
    Online Full Text
  • Werner, A.; Preston-Fayers, K.; Dehmelt, L.; Nalbant, Perihan
    Regulation of the NPT gene by a naturally occurring antisense transcript
    In: Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vol. 36, 2002, Nr. 2/3, pp. 241 – 252
  • Nalbant, Perihan; Boehmer, Christoph; Dehmelt, Leif; Wehner, Frank; Werner, Andreas
    Functional characterization of a Na+-phosphate cotransporter (NaP(i)-II) from zebrafish and identification of related transcripts
    In: Journal of Physiology, Vol. 520, 1999, Nr. 1, pp. 79 – 89
    Online Full Text
  • Werner, Andreas; Dehmelt, Leif; Nalbant, Perihan
    Na+-dependent phosphate cotransporters : The NaPi protein families
    In: The Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol. 201, 1998, Nr. 23, pp. 3135 – 3142
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