MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY
Center of Molecular Biology - Max F. Perutz Laboratories

Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9, Campus Vienna Biocenter 4, A-1030 Vienna, Austria
phone: +43-1-4277 52851, fax: +43-1-4277 52854
 

RESEARCH

Research Topics:

Role of cytolinkers in morphogenesis, signaling and disease

Molecular and functional analysis of microtubule-associated proteins during differentiation in cell culture and knockout mice

IRESEARCH GROUPS

Peter Fuchs
Friedrich Propst
Gerhard Wiche

STUDENTENSEITEN

Wahlbeispiele

The founding of this Department (Chair: Gerhard Wiche) was linked to the creation of the Vienna Biocenter (VBC) in 1992. The dual goal of the Department is to bring the field of  Molecular Cell Biology to our students in association to other disciplines, very particularly to Molecular Biology, and to perform competitive research in the field. To reach this goal, a compact research unit based on a net of groups with overlapping interfaces, complementary experimental approaches, and a common research interest was established. The common interest is the cytoskeleton and its role in determining the shape and function of mammalian cells. Major research topics in recent years were the structural and functional analyses of intermediate filament-associated cytolinker proteins (plectin, epiplakin, and MAPs), and their role in human disease. Our approach to answer questions in cell biology is built on the application of a broad spectrum of methodologies including basic protein chemistry (biochemistry, structural biology), molecular biology, ultrastructure research (laser, video and electron microscopy), and transgenic (mouse) techniques. The transgenic (knock-out, knock-in) mouse is our principal animal model for mimicking human diseases.

Due to common scientific interests and partially overlapping projects, the groups associated with this Department enjoy the benefit of broadly based and mutually stimulating interactions, including fund sharing and cost-efficient operation of highly specialized equipment. Associated with the Department is a fully functional transgenic mouse facility, an electron microscopy laboratory, a video/laser light microsopy unit, and a cell culture laboratory.

The scientific staff of the Department consists of the chairman and six faculty members. Faculty members are involved in teaching Molecular Cell Biology in both basic and advanced lectures and laboratory courses to students of Molecular Biology (130 students in 2002), Chemistry and Biology.