Dr. Rudiger Woscholski

Biography

The Woscholski group focuses on elucidating phosphoinositide (PI) dependent signaling pathways, with particular emphasis on the role of 3-phosphorylated inositol lipids and their effectors. The research investigates the breaking of lipids controlled by kinases and phosphatases, which play important roles in the regulation of cellular processes leading to apoptosis, glucose uptake, and proliferation. Understanding the contribution of PI lipids to cellular function relies on the availability of tools and techniques that facilitate the imaging dynamics of PI lipids and their downstream effectors. Biological tools, including lipid recognition domains and effector proteins, are employed to assess cellular levels and the impacts on cellular function in a temporo-spatial fashion using fluorescence microscopy. The research is complemented by the generation of novel chemical tools in collaboration with scientists at the Institute of Chemical Biology, currently being tested for applicability. The focus of the research aims to unravel the role of phosphoinositide phosphatases in vivo. Fluorescence microscopy is utilized to image phosphatases and substrates within the cellular environment, particularly examining the cellular and molecular impacts of fatty acid sensitivity, head group recognition, and catalytic properties of enzymes. This research addresses crucial biological and biomedical questions regarding the roles of phosphatases in Lowe syndrome, Cancer, Diabetes, and degenerative diseases, involving monitoring cellular lipid signaling and employing metabolic profiling techniques to ultimately aid in the elucidation of the roles of PI phosphatases in the development of diseases and human health.

Research Interests