Meet Joris Dommisse

Joris Dommisse

The goal of my project will be to obtain robust and autonomous FtsZ-mediated constriction of liposomes. This is inspired by FtsZ found in nature, which forms the core of the division machinery of most bacteria, as well as various archaea.

Hi, my name is Joris Dommisse. I have recently joined EVOLF as a PhD with a shared position between the groups of Gijsje Koenderink and Marileen Dogterom. The goal of my project will be to obtain robust and autonomous FtsZ-mediated constriction of liposomes. This is inspired by FtsZ found in nature, which forms the core of the division machinery of most bacteria, as well as various archaea.

In vitro, successful constriction of giant liposomes with a Z-ring has been achieved using FtsZ and FtsA expressed with cell-free expression systems. However, the mechanism by which FtsZ can constrict the membrane - as well as the required conditions - are largely unknown. Therefore, in addition to providing a divisome for the synthetic cell, my work could give valuable insight into the mechanism of FtsZ-mediated membrane constriction.

We will start with reconstituting the best studied example of the FtsZ system of the bacterium Escherichia coli in liposomes. In parallel I will explore FtsZ from other species for their efficacy in liposome constriction. I will use a combination of protein purification and reconstitution, cell-free expression, GUV production techniques, microfluidics, light-microscopy, QCM-D and machine-learning assisted methods.

Before I started in Delft, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Molecular Life Sciences in Utrecht. Afterwards I continued with the master’s degree Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, also in Utrecht. During my master, I focused on mammalian microtubules for my major internship and did a minor in bioinformatics, working on transposable elements in a spinach pathogen. By the end of my master I pivoted towards synthetic biology after writing my thesis on methods of achieving synthetic cell division and a short internship at the TU Delft working on thermally driven liposome division in the group of Cees Dekker.

When I’m not working, you will probably find me either chilling with my cat, learning to play guitar, or play boardgames with family and/or friends.