Prof. Dr. Rainer Hedrich

Uni-Prof. Dr. Rainer Hedrich (Head)

Matthias Dziony (Sekretariat)
Karin Roth (Sekretariat)

Julia Köber (Technische Assistentin)
Brigitte Neumann (Technische Assistentin)
Kerstin Neuwinger (Technische Assistentin)
Dr. Christian Wiese (IT-Bereichsmanager)

Dr. Tobias Maierhofer (Scientific Coworker)
Dr. Sönke Scherzer (Scientific Coworker)

Dorothea Graus (Doctoral Researcher)

 

Rainer Hedrich, chair of Molecular Plant Physiology & Biophysics, pioneered the biology of plant ion channels. He introduced the patch clamp technique into the plant field by demonstrating for the first time the existence of plant ion channels. This discovery resulted in the elucidation of the structure-function relationships of plant ion channels, established the key role of ion channels in plants, and inspired the formation of a new research field, which is part of today’s plant biology text books. This Würzburg lab made major contributions to uncover the functions of plant ion channels, co-transporters and pumps and showed crucial functions of these proteins for plant physiology and development. Using physiological and molecular-genetic analysis his lab revealed the voltage and pH sensor of plant potassium channels, uncovered their selectivity filters, demonstrated the interaction sites of important components to channel proteins and studied subsequent signaling events. He succeeded in reconstitution of the fast ABA signaling pathway of guard cells from receptor to anion channels activation, via protein phosphorylation, by using a drought stress protein kinase/phosphatase pair. Besides of basic research, the Würzburg lab contributed to the development of new model systems by elucidating the molecular basis of plant adaptation to dry, hot, and saline environments. Recently the Hedrich lab has show the carnivorous Venus flytrap is able to count electrical impulses.

Center of Excellence in Biodiversity Research

ERC-2009 Carnivorom

 Projects

• Membrane Transport: Ion channels & Pumps & Carriers

• Stomata & Guard Cell Action

• Phytosensorics & Calcium signaling

• Carnivorom: Roots of Carnivory

• Salt tolerance

• Anion channels: molecular switches in guard cells

   

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