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Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roland Knorr

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roland Knorr

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roland Knorr

Emmy Noether Group Leader “Interfacial Cell Biology”, Professor for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

email

roland.knorr(at)uni-koeln(dot)de

phone

0221 478 87938

details

Büro:

Dr. Jessica Pietsch
Tel.: +49 221 478 85398
E-Mail: jessica.pietsch(at)uk-koeln(dot)de

About the Knorr Lab

How organelles develop in cells? The DFG funded 'Interfacial Cell Biology' Emmy Noether Group investigates this question in the framework of the Professorship for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne of the University of Cologne.

Particularly, we focus on morphogenic processes that are mediated by contacts between emerging liquid compartments (also known as biomolecular condensates, membrane-less organelles or droplets) and conventional cellular structures such as membrane-bound organelles. 

Selected Publications

  1. Hauer, L.; Sporbeck, K.; McKenna J. F.; Puchkov, D.; May, A. I.; Frigerio, L.; Knorr, R. L.; Bahrami, A. H.: Condensate-mediated shape transformations of cellular membranes by capillary forces. PNAS, 2026
    For condensate-localized, interfacial membranes (tubes, sheets and cup-shapes), we calculate free energies, identify energy barriers of their shape transitions, report tube-to-cup shape hysteresis and propose a role of condensates for the biogenesis of cup-like ‘bulbs’ in plant vacuoles.

  2. Wang, Y.; Li, S.; Mokbel, M. [...] Knorr, R. L.; Fang, X.: Biomolecular condensates mediate bending and scission of endosome membranes. Nature, 2024
    We report that condensates mediate scission of membrane necks without the ESCRT or dynamin protein machineries or ATP consumption.
    ► Press Release from the University of Cologne
    ► Research briefing in Nature

  3. Kusumaatmaja, H.; May, A. I.; Knorr, R. L.: Intracellular wetting mediates contacts between liquid compartments and membrane-bound organelles. Journal of Cell Biology, 2021
    First review on intracellular capillarity, focussing on membrane-bound organelles.

  4. Kusumaatmaja, H.; May, A. I.; Feeney, M.; McKenna, J. F.; Mizushima, N.; Frigerio, L.; Knorr, R. L.: Wetting of phase-separated droplets on plant vacuole membranes leads to a competition between tonoplast budding and nanotube formation. PNAS, 2021
    We show that condensates mediate formation of protein storage vacuoles in plants.

  5. Agudo-Canalejo, J.; Schultz, S. W.; Chino, H.; Migliano, S.; Saito, C.; Koyama-Honda, I.; Stenmark, H.; Brech, A.; May, A. I.; Mizushima, N.; Knorr, R. L.: Wetting regulates autophagy of phase separated droplets and the cytosol. Nature, 2021
    First demonstration of intracellular capillary force existing and being physiologically relevant during the formation of autophagosomes.

  6. Fujioka, Y; Alam, J. M. D.; Noshiro, D.; Mouri, K.; Ando, T.; Okada, Y.; May, A. I.; Knorr, R. L.; Suzuki, K.; Ohsumi, Y; Noda, N. N.: Phase separation organizes the site of autophagosome formation. Nature, 2020
    We discovered that the yeast autophagy initiation complex is a liquid-like condensate.