Marie-Theres Hauser

Research Focus

Our research has started with genetic analyses of key parameters of plant and in particular root development mostly in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In large genetic screens, genes regulating cell division, pattern formation, polarized cell expansion, vesicle trafficking and wall formation were identified, cloned and functionally characterized. Apart from genetic, cell biological and biochemical approaches we further explore the genetic diversity of natural populations to identify regulators responsible for the adaptation to particular environments (UV-B, metal ions, xenobiotics) or differences in pattern formation (trichome density). Other projects are focusing on the functional characterization of genes and gene families which were initially isolated in the root morphogenesis screens. These include cytoskeletal and cell wall components and genes involved in post-translational regulation.