Project Details
Projekt
GRK 1342: Molecular and Functional Analysis of Lipid-based Signal Transduction Systems
Subject Area
Plant Sciences
Term
from 2007 to 2015
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 19719780
Membrane lipids are essential components of all biological membranes and display two important functions. On one hand, they form lipophilic boundary surfaces thereby serving as diffusion barriers that separate cells from the environment and intracellular compartments from the cytosol. On the other hand, lipids may have essential functions as signals in developmental processes and in the interaction of cells with the environment.
Lipid-based signal transduction processes in plants are in the focus of this Research Training Group: In response to extracellular abiotic and biotic stresses, plants cells can activate lipid-based signal cascades that lead to a rapid and specific adaptation of the cell metabolism. Typically, lipid mediators can be generated from membrane lipids by hydrolytic or oxidative processes and modulate via fast posttranslational and slow transcriptional regulation mechanisms plant responses involved in development, adaptation and senescence. A goal of current research is, to clarify the biosynthesis and regulation of lipid mediators as well as to characterise their mechanisms of action and function.
In order to reach the goals of the Research Training Group, a close cooperation of biochemists, biophysicists, molecular biologists and protein biochemists has been established. This cooperation involves groups from botanical, pharmaceutical and biomedical divisions and also forms the basis for our teaching programme, in which lipid-based signal transduction processes are discussed in the context of fundamental biological processes such as development, reproduction, stress adaptation and host defence.
An essential element of the programme is a specifically designed, interdisciplinary lecture series offered by our docents. The concepts and technologies discussed in the lectures are the cutting-edge of research, something students will not see in textbooks for years to come. Modern methods are practiced in special workshops and during lab rotations. Students are trained to present and to critically discuss their own results as well as recent breakthrough work of the scientific community within the journal club, the progress report series and our guest scientist programme. Supplementary to our own courses we encourage our students to participate in lectures, courses and excursions arranged by the Research Training Group and the university including study skills and career development.
Lipid-based signal transduction processes in plants are in the focus of this Research Training Group: In response to extracellular abiotic and biotic stresses, plants cells can activate lipid-based signal cascades that lead to a rapid and specific adaptation of the cell metabolism. Typically, lipid mediators can be generated from membrane lipids by hydrolytic or oxidative processes and modulate via fast posttranslational and slow transcriptional regulation mechanisms plant responses involved in development, adaptation and senescence. A goal of current research is, to clarify the biosynthesis and regulation of lipid mediators as well as to characterise their mechanisms of action and function.
In order to reach the goals of the Research Training Group, a close cooperation of biochemists, biophysicists, molecular biologists and protein biochemists has been established. This cooperation involves groups from botanical, pharmaceutical and biomedical divisions and also forms the basis for our teaching programme, in which lipid-based signal transduction processes are discussed in the context of fundamental biological processes such as development, reproduction, stress adaptation and host defence.
An essential element of the programme is a specifically designed, interdisciplinary lecture series offered by our docents. The concepts and technologies discussed in the lectures are the cutting-edge of research, something students will not see in textbooks for years to come. Modern methods are practiced in special workshops and during lab rotations. Students are trained to present and to critically discuss their own results as well as recent breakthrough work of the scientific community within the journal club, the progress report series and our guest scientist programme. Supplementary to our own courses we encourage our students to participate in lectures, courses and excursions arranged by the Research Training Group and the university including study skills and career development.
DFG Programme
Research Training Groups
Applicant Institution
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Spokesperson
Professor Dr. Martin J. Müller
Participating Researchers
Professor Dr. Dirk Becker; Privatdozentin Dr. Susanne Berger; Rosalia Deeken, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Dröge-Laser; Professor Dr. Dietmar Geiger; Professor Gregory S. Harms, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Rainer Hedrich; Professorin Dr. Ute Hentschel-Humeida; Dr. Ines Kreuzer; Professorin Dr. Irene Marten; Professor Dr. Thomas Müller; Professor Dr. Markus Riederer; Professor Rob Roelfsema, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Markus Sauer; Professor Dr. Marco Trujillo Linke; Privatdozent Dr. Frank Waller; Professor Dr. Erhard Wischmeyer
