Signal perception at the cell surface and transduction of this signal to the cell’s interior is essential to all life forms. Plants have evolved membrane-integral receptor proteins and associated signaling cascades that drastically differ from the well-studied systems in animals. Our aim is to dissect these signaling pathways in mechanistic detail.
A second line of research aims at uncovering the roles of linear and inositol polyphosphates in plants. We are interested where these phosphate and energy-rich molecules are located within cells, how they are being synthesized/broken down and what’s their cellular function and physiological role.
Recent publications (group members in bold)
- Wild R, Gerasimaite R, Jung JY, Truffault V, Pavlovic I, Schmidt A, Saiardi A, Jessen HJ, Poirier Y, Hothorn M, Mayer A (2016)
Control of eukaryotic phosphate homeostasis by inositol polyphosphate sensor domains.
Science 352(6288):986-90 - Santiago J, Brandt B, Wildhagen M, Hohmann U, Hothorn LA, Butenko MA, Hothorn M (2016)
Mechanistic insight into a peptide hormone signaling complex mediating floral organ abscission.
eLife doi: 10.7554/eLife.15075 - Martinez J, Truffault V, Hothorn M (2015)
Structural Determinants for Substrate Binding and Catalysis in Triphosphate Tunnel Metalloenzymes.
J Biol Chem 290:233348-60 - Bojar D, Martinez J, Santiago J, Rybin V, Bayliss R, Hothorn M (2014)
Crystal structures of the phosphorylated BRI1 kinase domain and implications for brassinosteroid signal initiation.
Plant J 78:31-43 - Santiago J, Henzler C, Hothorn M (2013)
Molecular Mechanism for Plant Steroid Receptor Activation by Somatic Embryogenesis Co-Receptor Kinases.
Science 341:889-92
