Michael Bölker

Research Area

The Bölker lab studies the genetics, secondary metabolism and cell biology of the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis. The main focus of our work is the molecular mechanism of fungal dimorphism and polarized growth. In addition, we are interested in the regulation of secondary metabolism and the biogenesis and metabolic function of peroxisomes. Further research interests are the posttranscriptional control of protein biosynthesis and its role for intracellular sorting of organellar proteins. In the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae we study unusual targeting pathways that result in peroxisomal sorting via transit through mitochondria.

Expertise

Secondary metabolism fungal genetics fungal cell biology polarized growth peroxisome biogenesis translational reprogramming cell cycle regulation posttranscriptional regulation intracellular protein targeting

Recent Publications, Last 3 Years

1. Reyes-Fernández EZ, Shi Y-M, Grün P, Bode HB, Bölker M (2019) An Unconventional Melanin Biosynthetic Pathway in Ustilago maydis. bioRxiv 2019.12.28.889758; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2019.12.28.889758

2. Geiser E, Przybilla SK, Friedrich A, Buckel W, Wierckx N, Blank LM, Bölker M. (2016) Ustilago maydis produces itaconic acid via the unusual intermediate trans-aconitate. Microb Biotechnol 9: 116-26.

3. Stiebler AC, Freitag J, Schink KO, Stehlik T, Tillmann BA, Ast J, Bölker M (2014) Ribosomal readthrough at a short UGA stop codon context triggers dual localization of metabolic enzymes in fungi and animals. PLoS Genet 10: e1004685.