Lehrstuhl für Biochemie
AG Uwe Sonnewald
Pflanzen-Biochemie und -Biotechnologie
Main focus of our research is to secure and improve crop yield under conditions of climate change. To this end we are studying crop
(barley, sugar beet, potato and cassava) as well as model (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants. Methods applied involve Molecular Biology,
Plant Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology. Crop yield is depended on the integration of internal and external signals
adapting plant growth and development to changing environmental conditions. As sessile organisms’ plants continuously scan their
environment to adjust phases of vegetative and generative growth which ensures successful reproduction. Critical abiotic
environmental factors are light, temperature, nutrient and water availability. Based on current climate models, heat waves and
extended periods of drought are to be expected, endangering current farming practices. To counterbalance negative effects of
climate change, we therefore study plant responses to drought and heat stress and design genetically engineered plants, better
adopted to these adverse conditions. Genetic engineering strategies concentrate on efficient assimilate production in leaves,
allocation in the phloem system and utilization in storage tissues. Apart from these strategies we design new protein assemblies for
use in smart biomaterials or novel metabolic modules. [email protected]
AG Christian Koch
Phytopathogenic Fungi
We study the interactions of phytopathogenic fungi
with their host plants.
The hemibiotrophic ascomycete Colletotrichum
higginsianum belongs to a large group of
agronomically important pathogens of crop plants.
C. higginsianum also infects the model plant
Arabidopsis thaliana. We use this model system to
investigate virulence factors and effector proteins
including proton pumps, transcription factors and
small extracellular polypeptides. We are also
interested in the genomics, chromosomal instability
and the evolution of host specific pathogenicity
factors. Plant defense mechanisms against
hemibiotrophic pathogens is a further area of
research. We use the following techniques for of
investigations: forward genetics; common cloning
techniques, genome sequencing, microscopy, RNA
and protein expression analysis, [email protected]
AG Sophia Sonnewald
Molecular Physiology
The aim of our work is to understand the regulation
of the source – sink relation during plant
development and growth as well as under stress
conditions, such as heat or pathogen attack. To
achieve this we apply molecular, biochemical and
cell-biology tools and techniques. The main focus of
our work is to elucidate molecular and biochemical
mechanisms as well as the underlying genetic
variance of potato plants in response to abiotic
stress as they are very sensitive to heat and
drought. Moreover we are interested in
developmental changes occurring during potato
tuber life cycle, e.g. during tuberisation and loss of
dormancy. The better understanding of these
processes will enable us to develop strategies to
improve agronomic performance of crop plants like
potato and to ensure yield stability under changing
environmental conditions.
Genotypes Phenotypes Molecular biology & physiology
Bio
ma
ss
allo
ca
tio
n
Photosynthesis
tuberisation
starch content
tuber qualityField trials
glasshouse &
climate chambersTransgenic & Omics approaches
AG Jörg Hofmann
Bioanalytics
We operate a metabolomics and proteomics platform for the qualitative and
quantitative analysis of biomolecules. The focus is on plant intermediates of
primary and secondary metabolism as well as proteins. Hereby we uncover
e.g. influences of the environment or of mutations on organisms or we open
up metabolic pathways and previously unknown gene and protein
functions. One hot topic is to identify the “doormen" of plant cells. Waiting in
the cell connecting tunnels (Plasmodesmata (PDs)) they play a role e.g. in
the spread of viruses within a plant. We use optimized extraction methods
as well as separation and detection techniques such as U-HPLC, RPC, IC,
Äkta-FPLC, Orbitrap-Fusion-Tribrid, ESI-TripleQuad / Iontrap-mass
spectrometry, GCMS, amperometry, fluorescence / diode array
spectrometry , UV / Vis photometer, microtiter plate reader. We develop
appropriate analysis methods and offer a limited service for external
projects. [email protected]
AG José María Corral García
Biocomputing and Molecular Breeding
The objective of our research is to develop biocomputing
workflows for modelling and understanding the global gene
regulatory networks, and to discover candidate genes, allelic
variants, markers, and signalling molecules associated to traits
of interest. Our analytical pipelines aim as well to solve complex
biological problems in a broad range of scientific fields such as
molecular medicine, microbiology, drug development, evolution,
systems biology, or crop improvement. For that, we work
integrating, modelling and interpreting multi-omic data (genome,
transcriptome, epigenome, proteome, metabolome and
phenome) using latest molecular and bioinformatics
technologies. [email protected]
Methods
Genomes
Analytics
ProteomesTranscriptomes Metabolomes
Genetics
GMOs BreedingGenome editing
Data analysis Data analysis
TP
Suc
Starch
Suc
K+
ATP
ADPH+H+
Suc
H+
Suc
AKT2
ATPase
SUT2 SWEET
SucSuc
Suc
Suc Suc
Mesophyll
Phloem Parenchym
Companion Cells
SieveElements
Suc Starch
Suc
Hex
Hex
Respiration
Inv
SuSy
SUT
HT
SWEET
SWEET
Suc
Storage Parenchym
PR - 1
PR - 2
Wt Vir-49
0 2 3 4 0 2 3 4 dpi
AG Wolfgang Zierer
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is one of the most important staple food crops worldwide. Its starchy tuberous roots supply over 800 million people with
carbohydrates. Especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, the plant is vital for local agriculture and food supply. The Cassava Source-Sink (CASS) Project concentrates
the expertise of international plant scientists, computer scientists and breeders to elucidate key processes in cassava physiology and biochemistry in order to
develop high-yielding cassava plants for African smallholder farmers. In particular, we aim to improve the assimilation, allocation and utilization of
carbohydrates and nitrogen via a large-scale biotechnology approach. Our biotechnology pipeline is supported by state-of-the-art systems biology and basic
research activities in order to advance our understanding of cassava and to discover novel targets for improvement. Together with a growing international
scientific community focused on crop enhancement for developing countries, we contribute to the improvement of food security where it is needed most.
Cassava source-sink project
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