Underlying Philosophy
	Our long-standing general interest is to understand:
	How polarity in plants is generated and maintained?
	How cellular polarity allows cell-to-cell interactions to build plant tissues?
	DNA organization and gene expression has no predetermined orientation in space. For this, a structured cell is necessary. Polarity of cell structure is generated and maintained primarily by the cytoskeleton and its interactions with membranes. This allows vectorial distributions of mRNAs, vesicles and organelles as well as the generation and maintenance of membrane domains.
	One of the most important conclusion from the current genome sequencing projects is that the elements which fabricate the cytoskeleton and which assist vesicular trafficking processes both belong to the most highly conserved molecules present in eukaryotic organisms. Therefore, studies on these molecules and processes have general implications for all classes of organisms. Plants represent an important model object in our efforts to understand the critical processes which allow cells to build multicellular organisms. The simple anatomy of root apices combined with the small size of Arabidopsis roots makes roots extremely suitable for in vivo analysis using diverse GFP-based tools. Thus we have an unique opportunity to study complex processes of generation and maintenance of cellular polarity which is the basis for cell-to-cell interactions and communications in multicellular organisms.
Current Research Topics
	Cytoskeleton and Vesicular Trafficking Cytoskeleton {ۤell Wall Structural Continuum Actin Cytoskeleton and Auxin Transport Cell Growth and Polarity in Root Apices Cell Growth and Polarity in Tip-Growing Root Hairs Polarity Switch in the Transition Zone of the Root Apex Polarity Switch in Root Hair Trichoblasts During Root Hair Initiation Polarity Switch in Pericycle Cells Initiating Lateral Root Primordia
Model Objects
	Arabidopsis thaliana
	Zea mays
	Physcomitrella patens
Molecules in Focus
	Myosin VIII Synaptotagmins
Molecular Tools & Methods
	Steedmans wax embedding Freeze-shattering method for immunolabeling of root hairs Whole-mount immunolabeling