Department of Molecular Ecology
The overarching objective of the research in the department is to manipulate ecological interactions in nature to identify traits that are demonstrably important for an organism’s Darwinian fitness in the complexity of interactions that occur in nature. We focus on plant-mediated interactions and have developed ecological expression systems with two native plants that have a rich suite of ecological interactions, Wild Tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata) and Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum), as well as the herbivores that feed on them, the fungi and bacteria that interact with their roots, and their floral visitors. We have developed molecular (transformation systems, VIGs silencing, cDNA and genomic libraries, cDNA and oligo microarrays, real time RT-PCR, microsatellites, SAGE, SSH, DD-RTPCR display ), analytical (high throughput HPLC and UPLC--MS (DAD, ion trap, TOF, triple Quad), GC-MS (quad,ion trap) and GCxGC-TOF, z-Nose) and ecological (field stations in Utah and Jena, insect cultures, and natural history expertise) tools to rigorously manipulate the genetic basis for ecological sophistication in these two plant systems.
Director: Prof. Dr. Ian T. Baldwin
+49 (0) 3641 57 1100
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Project Group Leaders in the Department of Molecular Ecology
Dr. Gustavo Bonaventure
Comparative studies performed in N. attenuata plants demonstrated that application of exogenous JA to leaves or their mechanical wounding do not recapitulate the gene expression and physiological responses triggered by insect feeding. more »
Investigates transcriptional regulatory networks to understand mechanisms involved in activation and deactivation of induced plant defenses against environmental stresses. Nicotiana attenuata plants have evolved particularly efficient defenses against herbivores, including accumulation of alkaloids, trypsin proteinase inhibitors and other secondary metabolites after herbivore attack. more »
Investigates, using metabolomic approaches, metabolism-related functions in plant defense and growth processes with the objective of revealing new and useful gene functions or networks and identifying small molecules that mediate N. attenuata’s ecological interactions. more »
Ecological performance is all about timing, and the endogenous clock that allows the entrainment of rhythms and anticipation of fitness-determining events is rapidly being characterized. more »
Protein post-translational modification plays a critical role in regulating protein activity, stability, and localization. more »
Examines the role of arbuscular mycorrhiza on the ecological interactions of Nicotiana attenuata with the long-term goal of understanding the communication between the two partners and the consequences of infection for the plants’ Darwinian fitness in its natural environment. more »
Dr. Sagar Pandit
Studies the responses of Lepidopteran M. sexta larvae to N. attenuata’s defenses. Transcriptomic ‘signatures’ of first-instar larvae against the host plant’s major defense nicotine were characterized more »