Stefan Binder and his team investigate the pathway of amino acid metabolism in plants and the genes and enzymes involved. A related topic of current research is the biosynthesis of glucosinolate, which is also of high agricultural potential.
The analysis of gene expression in plant mitochondria concentrates on expression profiling, regulation of RNA stability and the variations between different ecotypes.

Axel Brennicke and his crew analyse the process of RNA editing in plant mitochondria to identify the underlying molecular mechanism. The enzymes and the proteins involved in recognition of the many sites are investigated. A second line of research investigates the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression in the daily physiological rhythm of day and night cycling.

Anita Marchfelder and her laboratory work on tRNA processing in plants, animals, fungi and archea. The universal 3' processing endonuclease is being intensively investigated with respect to its biochemical properties in various representative organisms throughout the living world. In plants the distinct functions of the respective gene family are being clarified.

Friedrich Ossenbühl and his group investigate the assembly of protein complexes for photosynthesis in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. Protein cofactors and chaperones are assigned to the various highly organized steps of complex generation. A second topic is the analysis of mRNA splicing and general processing in chloroplasts.