Plant Molecular Biology

Our central research theme is the molecular dissection of photosynthesis and of its interdependence of, and integration into, other cellular processes - within and outside chloroplasts. Photosynthesis-relevant cellular functions and their regulation within the organelle and in cross-talk to the nucleus are characterised by a combined approach, complementing genetic, biochemical, physiological and molecular-biological methodology with system biology approaches. The plastid-wide characterization of protein functions, in particular for photosynthesis, and of networks imposed on their regulation, will result into the redesign of the photosynthetic process by synthetic biology and experimental evolution.