Hosted by Kerstin Kaufmann (HU)
Prof. Dr. Rainer Hedrich
Universität Würzburg - Department of Molecular Plant-Physiology and Biophysics
Rainer Hedrich is professor at the Universität Würzburg and head of the Molecular Plant Physiology & Biophysics Group. As a pioneer in 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.
The Molecular Plant Physiology & Biophysics Group 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 they 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. They 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 Molecular Plant Physiology & Biophysics Group also 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 shown that the carnivorous Venus flytrap is able to count electrical impulses, which is another exciting discovery by the research group.
