The chosen scientific focus centers on the dynamics and communication of plant cell compartments, such as plastids and nuclei, which are key factors defining the properties of plant cells. The unifying research hypothesis of this RTG is that the control of key physiological processes during plant development or environmental adaptation involves the coordinated action of organelles. So far, studies of plant cell compartments have mostly focused on a single type of organelle, leading to a wealth of information regarding its structure, function, and biogenesis.
In contrast, the interaction and coordination of different compartments has not been addressed to any substantial depth. Therefore, the Projects within RTG focus on processes that functionally link plastids, nuclei and selected other important cell compartments to address the fundamental question of how plant organelles communicate and dynamically associate depending on changing cellular requirements. By focusing on processes that functionally link two or more organelles, we take a necessary step towards understanding the mutual dependency of subcellular compartments with
key roles in plant cell physiology.
