Research

Short overview of the different working groups

Research in the Cell Biology Division is concerned with molecular mechanisms and structures in algae and plant cells, which underlie the perception and transduction of signals or the modification of cellular processes by signaling. We are focusing on light and gravity signaling, and on the control of polar cell growth. Experimental systems covering a wide range of the evolutionary spectrum are studied: Euglena gracillis (photosynthetic protist), Chlamydomonas (green alga), Physcomitrella patens (moss) and tobacco (vascular plant). Investigations are based on cutting edge cell biological, molecular biological, biochemical and genetic methodology.

Research Groups

Benedikt Kost

Mechanism and regulation of polar plant cell growth

Our working group is interested in the control of the tip growth of tobacco pollen tubes and apical Physcomitrella (moss) protonema cells by Rac/Rop signaling. more …

Georg Kreimer

Photoorientation of flagellate green algae

Our research is focused on the analysis of the eyespot apparatus, the „eye“, of flagellate green algae. Using a combination of biochemical, cell and molecular biological techniques we try to functional characterize this primordial visual system. more …

Michael Lebert

Photo- and graviorientation of flagellates

Our group is interested in the molecular understanding of the sensing of light and gravity in single cells. As a model system for this research we use Euglena gracilis, a unicellular, motile, photosynthetic flagellate. more …

Sabine Müller

Molecular Mechanisms of Cellular Morphogenesis

Control of cell morphology is a fundamental property of life, essential to the form and function of all organisms. Polarized cell division and cell expansion are the key determinants of cellular morphogenesis and constitute prerequisites of three-dimensional organ development. more …