FRANZ HOFFMANN, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer Dr. rer. nat. (habil.), FR Germany, 1974 106 HH Greenhouse Irvine, CA 92697-2300 Tel: (949) 824-4346 Fax: (949) 824-4709 fjhoffma@uci.edu HOFFMANN LAB (Profile)

RESEARCH INTEREST: Plant cell development

Isolated plant protoplasts are our main tool to study the initiation and mechanism of cell division in cultured cells and the regeneration of plants from single cells. The respective investigations include aspects of cell wall synthesis, microtubule transition and cytoplasmic streaming as prerequisites for cell division as well as neoplastic systems such as tumors and root nodules. Techniques used to study cell regeneration include immunofluorescence of the cytoskeleton, laser microsurgery of cellular structures such as cytoplasmic strands and organelles. Genetic manipulation techniques focus on protoplast fusion, utilizing chemo-, electro-, and laser-induced fusion, and laser-enhanced DNA uptake into cells. The illustration shows an immunofluorescence image of cortical microtubules of electro-fused protoplasts.