Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences

Feussner, Ivo, Prof. Dr.

Professor of Biochemistry


  • 1990: Diploma (Chemistry), Philipps-University, Marburg
  • 1993: Dr. rer. nat., Philipps-University, Marburg
  • 1997-1999: Leader of an independent research group at the Institute for Plant Biochemistry (IPB), Halle/Saale
  • 2000: Habilitation (Biochemistry), Martin-Luther-University, Halle/Saale
  • 2000-2002: Leader of an independent research group at Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben
  • 2001: Habilitation-Prize of the Ernst Schering Research Foundation
  • since 2002: Professor of Biochemistry, Georg-August-University, Göttingen
  • 2009: Fellow of the Saxonian Academy of Sciences, Leipzig(
  • 2012: Terry-Galliard Medal
  • 2013: Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Göttingen



Major Research Interests
The group is currently studying different aspects of the lipid metabolism of plants, algae, mosses and fungi. In this context we are primarily interested in the metabolism of structural lipids and lipid-derived signal transduction processes. For this purpose, we make use of both classical techniques as analytical chemistry and biochemistry as well as of modern approaches in the area of molecular genetics, including the generation of transgenic organisms („gain-of-function“) or mutants („loss-of-function“).
Biochemistry and function of oxylipin metabolism:
We are interested in physiological functions of lipid peroxidation processes. Thus we analyze the function of specific lipoxygenases, i.e. the role of their products, so-called oxylipins (oxygenated fatty acid derivatives), as signals or defence substances during biotic and abiotic stress. Lipid peroxidation reactions are analysed in general by metabolomic approaches. Other studies deal with the role of oxylipins in mosses and algae. In addition the catalytic mechanism of lipoxygenases and related dioxygenases is analysed.
Biochemistry of the biosynthesis of structural lipids:
We study the biochemical pathways or networks that led to an increase in the seed oil content of oilseed crop plants and oleogenous algae. Two other projects deal with the biochemistry and function of sphingolipids in plants with wax ester forming enzymes. In addition we aim to identify chemical signals by metabolomics approaches that are exchanged during the interaction between insects and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Homepage Department/Research Group
http://www.plant-biochem.uni-goettingen.de/

ORCID: 0000-0002-9888-7003