Abstract - Cell-to -cell communication is a principal in multi-cellularity to coordinate growth and differentiation of organ bearing organisms. Plasmodesmata are highly complex plantspecific intercellular pore structures allowing local and long distance transport of
metabolites and trafficking of macromolecules such as homeotic transcription factors, small RNAs, and long mRNAs. Our research focuses mainly on identifying long distance - transported mRNAs and on understanding their transport mechanism and function, which is critical to our understanding how plants develop and respond to their environment.

Biography

CURRENT POSITION:
Project Leader (Independently Funded Project Group), 'Local and Systemic Phloemmediated
Transport of Macromolecules'

EDUCATION:
• Diplom: University of Wien, 1991
• PhD: University of Wien, 1995
• Habilitation: University of Wien, 2004

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
The main focus of Dr Fritz Kragler's group is the characterization of the transport mechanism
and function of proteins and RNA molecules moving between cells. Pores named
plasmodesmata connect adjacent plant cells and facilitate the exchange of proteins and
RNA molecules between cells. A plasmodesma forms a channel through the cellulosic cell
wall and viruses use the connection to spread from cell to cell. We are especially interested
in the mechanism of intercellular transport and the function of the transported molecules
such as RNA and transcription factors as morphogenic and metabolic signals.

For details about the work in Prof. Kragler’s group: LINK