Research
Christoph Thiele, Dr. rer. nat.Professor of Biochemistry & Cell Biology of Lipidsphone: +49 (0)2 28 / 73 - 6 28 17 |
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1985–1990 |
Study of chemistry, University of Freiburg im Breisgau |
1991–1994 |
PhD thesis with Falk Fahrenholz at the MPI of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main |
1994-1999 |
Post-Doc with Wieland B. Huttner at the Institute of Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg |
2000 |
Post-Doc with Gerrit van Meer at the Academical Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
2001–2009 |
Independent research group leader at the MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden |
Since 2009 |
Professor of Biochemistry at the Institute of Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES), University of Bonn |
Research Interests
Our research focuses on the functional organisation and the metabolism of cellular lipid assemblies. In particular, our interest is on fat storage in cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Current projects include:
Intracellular lipid transport to lipid droplets Mechanisms of protein localization to lipid droplets Lipid droplets as platforms of lipid metabolic pathways Formation and degradation of lipid droplets
We use biochemical methods, advanced imaging technologies and large-scale genetic screening by siRNA gene knock-down. We also develop functionalized small molecules as tools for lipid and membrane research.
Key publications
Thiele, C. & Spandl, J. Cell biology of lipid droplets. Curr Opin 385 (2008)
Kuerschner, L., Moessinger, C. & Thiele, C. Imaging of Lipid Biosynthesis: How a Neutral Lipid Enters Lipid Droplets. Traffic 9, 338-352 (2008)
Suchanek, M., Radzikowska, A. & Thiele, C. Photo-leucine and photo-methionine allow identification of protein-protein interactions in living cells. Nat Methods 2, 261-268 (2005)
Panakova, D., Sprong, H., Marois, E., Thiele, C. & Eaton, S. Lipoprotein particles are required for Hedgehog and Wingless signalling. Nature 435, 58-65 (2005)
Kuerschner, L., Ejsing, C.S., Ekroos, K., Shevchenko, A., Anderson, K.I. & Thiele, C. Polyene-lipids: A new tool to image lipids. Nat Methods 2, 39-45 (2005)
Thiele, C., Hannah, M.J., Fahrenholz, F. & Huttner, W.B. Cholesterol binds to synaptophysin and is required for biogenesis of synaptic vesicles. Nat Cell Biol 2, 42-49 (2000)