Membrane Biophysics

Welcome to the MEMBRANE BIOPHYSICS LABs:

The bio³MET project contains applied research about the use of MICROALGAE for GREEN CHEMISTRY and CIRCULAR ECONOMY. Microalgae are conditioned by growing under different environmental conditions to specifically produce desired chemical compounds. During growth, microalgae convert CO₂ with the help of light into valuable compounds and biopolymers which serve as non oil-based raw material for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Basic research focusses on plant reproduction and the generation of polarity in biological systems using the growing pollen tube as a model system. Pollen grains landing on a stigma start to germinate and grow a pollen tube through the stigma tissue towards the egg cells where the two sperm cells are released and eventually, fertilisation takes place. The production of human food relies on the successful fertilisation of plants to produce fruits, veggies, seeds, wine, bread, beer and beef.
Unfortunately, this process is very sensitive to water shortages. Drought stress during the fertilization process will result in crop losses and less food for human nourishment. We investigate the ability of the pollen, especially how pollen tubes cope with osmotic stress during tube growth and fertilisation. Therefore, the molecular mechanisms of osmosensors and osmoregulation signalling networks in pollen are studied as well as water and ion transport by using biophysical and biochemical techniques:  ANALYTICAL MICROSCOPY,  PATCH-CLAMP or POLLEN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY.   

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