Max Planck Research Groups

Prokaryotic Cell Biology

The Max Planck Research Group Prokaryotic Cell Biology, headed by Dr. Martin Thanbichler, aims at revealing the mechanisms that allow bacteria to organize cellular processes in a temporally and spatially controlled manner. The specific focus is on Caulobacter crescentus, an oligotrophic alpha-proteobacterium that has emerged as a powerful model system for the study of prokaryotic cell biology. Its characteristic is an asymmetric cell division that gives rise to a mobile swarmer cell and an immobile stalked cell. This differentiation process is governed by a complex regulatory network and involves the dynamic reorganization of polarity determinants and cytoskeletal structures. A combination of cell biological, biochemical, biophysical, and genetic approaches are used to investigate the mechanisms underlying Caulobacter's developmental program.
Homepage Prokaryotic Cell Biology.

Molecular Biology of Archaea

The Max Planck Research Group Molecular Biology of Archaea is headed by Dr. Sonja-Verena Albers. The central theme in the research is the assembly of cell-surface appendages in archaea and their role in adhesion and biofilm formation. The model organism studied is the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, which grows optimally at 80°C and a pH of 2-4. Genetic approaches are used to identify systems in S. solfataricus that are involved in the assembly of cell-surface appendages and to biochemically characterize the subunits and their interplay in the assembly process.
Homepage Molecular Biology of Archaea

Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology

The research of the Max Planck Research Group "Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology", led by Dr. Lennart Randau, aims to understand the processing of small RNAs involved in the defense against integrative elements (e.g. viruses) in Bacteria and Archaea. The group uses an interdisciplinary approach combining computational, biochemical and microbiological techniques to investigate (i) the RNAs that play the central role in the prokaryotic CRISPR immune system and (ii) the evolution of diverse disruptive elements within archaeal transfer RNA genes. These systems will be exploited for the modulation of prokaryotic immunity and the creation of gene knock-down technology.
Homepage Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology

Fungal Biodiversity

The research of the Max Planck Research Group "Fungal Biodiversity" headed by Dr. Eva H. Stukenbrock aims to understand diversification, speciation and host specialization processes in plant pathogenic fungi using next generation sequencing data and functional analyses. The model system is a group of closely related grass pathogens including the prominent wheat pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola. By comparative analyses of genome and transcriptome data the underlying molecular mechanisms of species divergence are investigated and putative candidate genes involved in host specialization and speciation identified. The functional roles of selected candidate genes are investigated by molecular and experimental approaches.

Homepage Fungal Biodiversity