SFB 429:  Molecular Physiology, Energetics, and Regulation of Primary Metabolism in Plants

Subject Area Biology
Term from 1999 to 2010
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5483172
 

Project Description

The principal goals of research within the collaborative research centre are directed toward an increased understanding of the functions of known and unknown proteins in primary plant metabolism. A deeper understanding of the integration and regulation of metabolic pathways at a genetic and epigenetic level and at the level of plant ontogeny is sought. Conceptually, the centre has been divided into three main sections. Projects in Section A are focused on the investigation of energy transforming processes in photosynthesis using complementary methodologies and with particular emphasis on the regulatory aspects of energy transformation. In Section B the close relationship between metabolic processes and control of gene expression will be investigated in systems of differing complexity. In these projects, the double function of many metabolites will be addressed that act as substrates or products in metabolism and as components in signal transaction pathways. Section C contains projects that concentrate on the mechanisms of transport and storage of photoassimilates with particular emphasis given to source-sink relationships. In general Arabidopsis, either as wild type or with mutations in specific metabolic pathways, will serve as the model organism; although, specific problems will be addressed using other higher plants, mosses, algae and cyanobacteria.
DFG Programme Collaborative Research Centres

Completed projects

Applicant Institution Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Participating University Freie Universität Berlin; Technische Universität Berlin; Universität Potsdam
Participating Institution Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie (MPI-MP)
Spokesperson Professor Dr. Thomas Börner