Institute of Cytobiology

Our Institute is part of the Medical Faculty of Philipps-Universität Marburg. Its mission is basic research in Cell Biology and Biochemistry as well as teaching for Medical and Human Biology students. Central research projects are focused on the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms in the biogenesis, function and regulation of cell organelles. Of particular interest are the pathogenic alterations of these processes by mutations in important biogenesis components. Our research employs model organisms such as baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), human cell cultures, and mice. We use methods from Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics. Our institute hosts two Core Facilities of Philipps-Universität Marburg for ‘Protein Biochemistry and Spectroscopy’ and ‘Bioimaging’ with state-of-the-art equipment.

Central research projects include

• Biogenesis, function and regulation of iron-sulfur proteins in mitochondria, cytosol and nucleus (Lill)
  
• Molecular basis of iron-sulfur diseases including the neurodegenerative Friedreich ataxia (Lill)
  
• Mechanism and regulation of mitochondrial iron transport (Mühlenhoff)
  
• Intracellular trafficking, maturation and sorting of proteins in polarized epithelial cells (Jacob)
  
• Function of the zinc finger transcription factor Miz1 in Schwann and Sertoli cells (Elsässer)