Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry

Peroxisomes harbour variable metabolic pathways that differ depending on cell type, developmental stage and food supply. Refering to the multiplicity of cellular functions and to the ability of cells to adjust the enzymatic equipment as well as the size and number of these organelles in response to the cellular demand, peroxisomes are appropriately called multi-purpose organelles. The importance of peroxisomes for cellular function is especially emphasised by a number of inherited diseases in man that are caused by peroxisomal dysfunction and usually have profound clinical consequences. We focus on the identification and functional characterization of components required for peroxisome biogenesis which conceptually consists of three aspects: (1) biogenesis of the peroxisomal membrane, (2) targeting and import of peroxisomal matrix proteins and (3) proliferation of the organelle. All three aspects are under current investigation in our laboratory with bakers yeast as model system. Another point of emphasis comprises the exploration and characterization of new metabolic functions of yeast peroxisomes.

 Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry