Martin H. Wühr

How do molecules organize into living systems?

We now have a near complete parts list of all the molecules constituting cells. However, we still only poorly understand how all these tiny molecules self-organize into much larger organelles, cells, and organisms. Our group aims to elucidate principles underlying this organization. Specifically, we study how the proteome partitions between nucleus and cytoplasm. We aim to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms, and ask how different nuclear composition affects biological function. To address these questions we employ and develop mass-spectrometry based proteomics and combine this technology with computational, biochemical, and imaging approaches.  Our main research models are human tissue culture cells and the eggs, cell-free extracts, and embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis.