Prof. Dr. Jan Riemer

Prof. Dr. Jan Riemer and his team analyze redox processes and the mechanisms of mitochondrial biogenesis. Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that are tightly integrated into cellular signaling networks. Our group’s work focusses at deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes so as to understand the connected physiological consequences of their dysfunction.

Our research: Mitochondria contain thousands of proteins and harbour critical processes for cellular survival and adaptation to multiple external and internal cues. To allow this dynamic adaptation, mitochondria need to constantly communicate with the remainder of the cells. We investigate how this communication proceeds, especially communication via redox molecules and metabolic intermediates, how the communication changes during cellular dysfunction and how it impacts on mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial proteome plasticity.

Our successes: We have characterized novel pathways for protein import into the mitochondrial intermembrane space, and we have investigated the crosstalk of mitochondrial protein import, redox regulation, and metabolic processes in the intermembrane space.

Our goals: We want to understand in molecular detail the mechanisms and regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial communication with the remainder of the cell.

Our methods/techniques: We perform a variety of biochemical and cell biological experiments, including experiments to determine protein redox states and with a variety of genetically encoded sensors for small biomolecules that allow the constant non-invasive monitoring with high spatiotemporal resolution in intact cells.