Sascha Martens

The molecular biologist Sascha Martens studies the molecular mechanisms of autophagy – the process that is responsible for the degradation of cellular components. Autophagy does not only help the cell during periods of starvation by recycling the cell's own components and using them to produce energy but also during the "disposal" of defective cellular components and pathogens. With the ERC Consolidator Grant Sascha Martens wants to find out how cells generate autophagosomes. Autophagosomes are little vesicles (blisters) that transport unnecessary or unwanted cellular components to the cellular waste-bin, the so-called lysosome.