Congrats to Johannes for winning the poster prize at the EMBO workshop for ‘RNA localization and local translation’ in Portugal!

Johannes presented some exciting details on our project within the CRC1535 MibiNet.

On the frontpage!

How do RNA-binding proteins distinguish functional targets from the vast pool of cellular RNAs?

We’re excited to share our latest publication in Nucleic Acids Research (featured as breakthrough article), where we dissect how modular RNA-binding domains shape transcriptome-wide interactions. Focusing on the endosomal mRNA transporter Rrm4 in Ustilago maydis, we used a comparative iCLIP2 approach to resolve the contributions of its three RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) at unprecedented resolution.

Our results reveal a surprising division of labor: while the third RRM dominates global RNA binding, it is largely dispensable for function. In contrast, the essential regulatory interactions depend on a coordinated interplay between RRM1 and RRM2. By integrating RNA-binding and transcriptomic data, we show that these sites act as regulatory elements controlling mRNA abundance, thereby linking endosomal transport to mRNA stability.

This work uncovers how modular RNA-binding defines distinct RNA regulons governing mitochondrial activity, polarity, and cell wall remodeling—key processes underlying polar growth—and provides a broader framework for understanding how RBPs encode functional specificity within complex RNA networks.

Read the article here 

Vesicles as mRNA Couriers in the Cell

In a recent EMBO Reports article, Melissa and colleagues highlight vesicle-coupled mRNA transport as a key mechanism of intracellular communication. They describe how mRNAs associate with membrane-bound organelles and are locally translated, enabling precise spatial control of gene expression. This emerging concept reshapes our understanding of how organelles coordinate their functions to maintain cellular homeostasis.

Read more here.

How does a fungal pathogen know it's inside the host?

We’re excited to share our latest findings on how the maize pathogen Ustilago maydis senses when it has entered its plant host. In this study, we discovered a new GPCR-based system that links host protease activity to fungal signaling, allowing the pathogen to recognize the host environment and trigger infection-related responses. This work, led by Gabriel and Philip, uncovers the Gpe1–Pit2 system as a key example of how fungi translate host-derived cues into developmental decisions during infection.

Read the preprint here

Microbiology for Preschool Kids

What does a microbiologist actually do? Kerstin Schipper explored this fascinating question with the youngest scientists of all – children aged 2 to 6 from a KiTa in Düsseldorf.

Studying tiny living organisms is no easy task! The children discovered that a simple magnifying glass is not enough to see bacteria, protozoa, or viruses. For that, you need a powerful microscope. An amazing fact they learned: up to 100,000 bacteria can fit on a single grain of sand!

Through an interactive quiz, the children also found out that even fungi can be incredibly small and are part of everyday life. They appear as the rind on Camembert cheese and salami, in blue cheese, and even help us bake bread through baker’s yeast.

The highlight of the day was a hands-on experiment. The children mixed baker’s yeast with sugar and warm water and watched as gas was produced, inflating a balloon before their eyes. The room quickly filled with excitement—and plenty of giggles about all that “microbial burping”!