Dr. Florian Altegoer

Research focus

My group investigates the molecular mechanisms that underly plant-fungal interactions. We are especially interested in obtaining structural information on fungal effector proteins, which enables us to understand how these proteins manipulate central host pathways. Furthermore, we investigate fungal receptor proteins to gain insights into the colonization process and to identify key molecules involved in the communication between fungi and plants. Using an integrative approach, we combine structural biology and biochemical techniques with cell biology and in planta experiments.

Most important publications

  1. Weiland P, Dempwolff F, Steinchen W, Freibert SA, Tian H, Glatter T, Martin R, Thomma B, Bange G, Altegoer F (2023) Structural and functional analysis of the cerato-platanin-like protein Cpl1 suggests diverging functions in smut fungi. Mol Plant Pathol 24(7):768-787. doi: 10.1111/mpp.13349.
  2. Feyh R, Waeber NB, Prinz S, Giammarinaro PI, Bange G, Hochberg G, Hartmann RK, Altegoer F (2021) Structure and mechanistic features of the prokaryotic minimal RNase P. Elife 10. doi: 10.7554/eLife.70160.
  3. Weiland P, Altegoer F (2021) Identification and Characterization of Two Transmembrane Proteins Required for Virulence of. Frontiers in Plant Science 12. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.669835.
  4. Altegoer F, Weiland P, Giammarinaro PI, Freibert SA, Binnebesel L, Han X, Lepak A, Kahmann R, Lechner M, Bange G (2020) The two paralogous kiwellin proteins KWL1 and KWL1-b from maize are structurally related and have overlapping functions in plant defense. J Biol Chem 295(23):7816-7825. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.012207.
  5. Han XW, Altegoer F, Steinchen W, Binnebesel L, Schuhmacher J, Glatter T, Giammarinaro PI, Djamei A, Rensing SA, Reissmann S, Kahmann R, Bange G (2019) A kiwellin disarms the metabolic activity of a secreted fungal virulence factor. Nature 565(7741):650–653. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0857-9.