Plant Biochemistry & Physiology

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Since 1994: Full Professor (C4), University of Cologne; Chair in Botany

EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND:
• 'Diplom' in Biochemistry, University of Tübingen;
• PhD, University of Munich
• Assistant, University of Göttingen
• Habilitation in Biochemistry, University of Göttingen
• Associate Professor, University of Würzburg (1988-1994)

AWARDS:
• Heinz-Meyer-Leibnitz prize for Research in Photosynthesis (1981)
• Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz prize of the DFG (1996)

EDITORSHIPS, MEMBERSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
• Editor of FEBS Letters; since 1993
• Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences Göttingen; since 2002
• Chairman of DFG-Graduate College: 'Molecular Analysis of Developmental Processes in Plants'; since 1997
• Chairman of the 'Section Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology' of the German Botanical Society; (1997-2002)
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the German Botanical Society; (1998-2002)
• President of the German Botanical Society; since 2003
• Member of the Central Selection Committee of the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation; since 1997
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Boards of the 'Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben'; (since 2001) and of the 'Center for Plant Molecular Biology, ZMBP', University of Tübingen (since 2004)
• Member of the Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres (SFBs) of the German Research Foundation (Mitglied des DFG-Bewilligungsausschusses für die Angelegenheiten der Sonderforschungsbereiche); since 2003
• Chairman of the Committee for the Intermediate Examination in Biology (Ausschuss für die Zwischenprüfung im Fach Biologie); since 1996
• Chairman of the Strukturkommission 'Biozentrum'; since 2000

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Our research interest is focused on the molecular characterization of plastid transporters in plant cells that are involved in the transport and allocation of photoassimilates within the plant. Several transporters have been described at the molecular levels, e.g. the triose phosphate/phosphate translocator (TPT) belonging to the first group of plastidic phosphate translocators (PT) which export the fixed carbon out of the chloroplasts in form of triose phosphates, transporters involved in nitrogen assimilation and of amino acid biosynthesis (DiT1 and DiT2), a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)/phosphate translocator representing the second group of PTs that supplies the plastids with PEP which is used as substrate for the formation of aromatic amino acids via the shikimic acid pathway leading further to a series of secondary compounds. The glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P)/phosphate translocator (GPT) represents the third phosphate translocator group importing Glc6P into non-green plastids where it is used either as substrate for the syntheses of starch and fatty acids or is fed into the plastidic oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. A recently identified pentose phosphate translocator (XPT), representing a fourth group of PTs is assumed to play a key role in the cooperation between reactions providing pentose phosphates in the cytosol and the reductive and oxidative pentose phosphate pathways in the plastids.

To ascertain the physiological role of these genes for plant metabolism and development, the function of these genes are comprehensively studied, e.g. by heterologous expression of the transporters, by cell- and tissue-specific expression analysis, or by the isolation and characterization of insertion mutants defective in particular transporter genes at the molecular, biochemical and physiological levels.

In an more unbiased approach, biotechnological applications based on transport and signalling processes are being developed. This functional genomics project focuses on the identification, classification, and functional characterization of plant membrane proteins involved in sensing and transport. Many of these proteins will be critically involved in response and tolerance reactions of plants to environmental challenges (water-, salt-, temperature-stress, uptake of nutrients, chemical plant protection agents, pollutants/toxins, etc.). Arabidopsis thaliana is used as a model plant in these studies. Since the genome sequence of A. thaliana is known, this model plant is best suited for a most possible acquisition of data on genes that are involved in transport processes.