Ph.D., 1977, Braunschwieg Technical University, Germany

	Position: Managing Director, MPI Molecular Plant Physiology
	Research Group Leader, Central Metabolism

	Identifying factors involved in sucrose utilisation in sink tissues, especially factors central to the competition between respiration and starch biosynthesis.
	Engineering plants to produce various commercially important metabolites and novel polymers such as polyhydroxylalcanoates.
	Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato, and potato are the primary model systems used.

GJW Abel, F Springer, L Willmitzer, and J Kossmann. 1996. Cloning and functional analysis of a cDNA encoding a novel starch synthase from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Plant J. 10(981-991).

G Felix, T Altmann, U Uwer, A Jessop, L Willmitzer, and PC Morris. 1996. Characterisation of waldmeister, a novel developmental mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana. J Exp Bot. 47(1007-1017).

O Herde, R Atzorn, J Fisahn, C Wasternack, L Willmitzer, and H Peña-Cortés. 1996. Localised wounding by heat initiates the accumulation of proteinase inhibitor II in abscisic acid deficient plants by triggering jasmonic acid biosynthesis. Plant Physiol. 112(853-860).

H Hesse and L Willmitzer. 1996. Expression analysis of a sucrose synthase gene from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L). Plant Mol Biol. 30(863-872).

DK Hincha, U Sonnewald, L Willmitzer, and JM Schmitt. 1996. The role of sugar accumulation in leaf frost hardiness: Investigations with transgenic tobacco expressing a bacterial pyrophosphatase or a yeast invertase gene. J Plant Physiol. 147(604-610).

S Hoffmann-Benning, R Ehwald, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1996. Cell wall properties of transgenic tobacco plants that express a yeast derived acid intertase in their vacuoles. In Pectins and Pectinases. J Visser and AGJ Voragen, Eds. Elsevier Science Publishers, Netherlands. 

A Kauschmann, A Jessop, C Koncz, M Szekeres, L Willmitzer, and T Altmann. 1996. Genetic evidence for an essential role of brassinosteroids in plant development. Plant J. 9(701-713).

J Kossmann, B Müller-Röber, JW Riesmeier, and L Willmitzer. 1996. Potential to modify source-sink interactions through the genetic manipulation of carbohydrate metabolism. In Distribution of Photoassimilates in Plants and Crops: Sink-Source relationships. E Zamski and A Schaffer, Eds. Marcel Dekker Inc, New York. (369-388).

U Lacognata, V Landschutze, L Willmitzer, and B Müller-Röber. 1996. Structure and expression of mitochondrial citrate synthases from higher plants. Plant and Cell Physiol. 37(1022-1029).

H Penacortes, S Prat, R Atzorn, C Wasternack, and L Willmitzer. 1996. Abscisic acid deficient plants do not accumulate proteinase inhibitor II following systemic treatment. Planta. 198(447-451).

JW Riesmeier, J Kossmann, B Müller-Röber, and L Willmitzer. 1996. Transgenic plants with special emphasis on photosynthetic carbon metabolism. In Frontiers of Molecular Biology 14: Molecular Genetics of Photosynthesis. B Andersson, AH Salter, and J Barber, Eds. IRL Press, Oxford. (160-174).

JW Riesmeier, U Rink, M Laloi, G Leggewie, M Kwart, R Tretheway, J Kossmann, and L Willmitzer. 1996. The physiological role and regulation of photoassimilate and nutrient transport across biomembranes with special emphasis on transgenic potato plants. In Regulation and Manipulation of Starch and Sucrose Metabolism in Plants. Y Nakamura, Ed. National Institute of Agrobiological Resources, Tsukuba. (71-74).

M Röber, K Gleider, B Müller-Röber, and L Willmitzer. 1996. Synthesis of fructans in tubers of transgenic starch-deficient potato plants does not result in an increased allocation of carbohydrates. Planta. 199(528-536).

M Bucher, B Schroeer, L Willmitzer, and JW Reismeier. 1997. Two genes encoding extensin-like proteins are predominantly expressed in tomato root hair cells. Plant Mol Biol. 35(497-508).

V Büttcher, T Welsh, L Willmitzer, and J Kossmann. 1997. Cloning and characterisation of the gene for amylosucrase from Neisseria polysaccharea: Production of a linear alpha-1,4-glucan. J. Bacteriol. 179(3324-3330).

E Duwenig, M Steup, L Willmitzer, and J Kossmann. 1997. Antisense inhibition of cytosolic phosphorylase in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) affects tuber sprouting and flower formation with only little impact on carbohydrate metabolism. Plant J. 12(323-333).

EM Hellwege, D Gritscher, L Willmitzer, and A Heyer. 1997. Transgenic potato tubers accumulate high levels of 1-ketose and nystose: Functional identification of a sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) blossom disks. Plant J. 12(1057-1065).

O Herde, H Peña-Cortés, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1997. Stomatal responses to jasmonic acid, linolenic acid, and abscisic acid in wild type and ABA deficient tomato plants. Plant Cell Environ. 20(136-141).

S Hoffmann-Benning, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1997. Analysis of growth, composition, and thickness of the cell walls of transgenic tobacco plants expressing a yeast derived invertase. Protoplasma. 200(146-153).

J Kossmann, V Büttcher, GJW Abel, E Duwenig, M Emmermann, C Frohberg, JR Lloyd, R Lorberth, F Springer, T Welsh, and L Willmitzer. 1997. Starch biosynthesis and modification of starch structure in transgenic plants. Macromol. Symp. 120(29-38).

G Leggewie, L Willmitzer, and JW Riesmeier. 1997. Two cDNAs from potato are able to complement a phosphate uptake deficient yeast mutant -- Identification of phosphate transporters from higher plants. Plant Cell. 9(381-392).

T Martin, H Hellmann, R Schmidt, L Willmitzer, and WB Frommer. 1997. Identification of mutants in metabolically regulated gene expression. Plant J. 11(53-62).

M Muschak, S Hoffmann-Benning, H Fuss, J Kossmann, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1997. Gas exchange and ultrastructural analysis of transgenic potato plants expressing mRNA antisense construct targeted to the cp-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate phosphatase. Photosynthetica. 33(455-465).

LB Pachepsky, B Acock, S Hoffman-Benning, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1997. Estimation of the anatomical, stomatal, and biochemical components of differences in photosynthesis and transpiration of wild-type and transgenic (expressing yeast-derived invertase targeted to the vacuole) tobacco leaves. Plant Cell Environ. 20(1070-1078).

U Sonnewald, MR Hajirezaei, J Kossmann, A Heyer, RN Trethewey, and L Willmitzer. 1997. Increased potato tuber size resulting from apoplastic expression of a yeast invertase. Nature Biotech. 15(794-797).

EM Hellwege, M Raap. D Gritscher, L Willmitzer, and AG Heyer. 1998. Differences in chain length distribution of inulin from Cynara scolymus and Helianthus tuberosus are reflected in a transient plant expression system using the respective 1-FFT cDNAs. FEBS Letters. 427(25-28).

O Herde, H Peña-Cortés, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1998. Remote stimulation by heat induces characteristic membrane potential responses in the veins of wild type and ABA deficient tomato plants. Planta. 206(146-153).

O Herde, H Peña-Cortés, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1998. Time resolved analysis of Pin2 gene expression. Botanica Acta. 111(383-390).

O Herde, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1998. Exogenous electrical stimulation of tomato plants: Induction of proteinase inhibitor II gene expression and control of photosynthetic activity. In Photosynthesis: Mechanisms and Effects, vol V (4179-4182). G Garab, Ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

J Kehr, F Hustiak, C Walz, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1998. Transgenic plants changed in carbon allocation pattern display a shift in diurnal growth pattern. Plant J. 16(497-503).

R Lorberth, G Ritte, L Willmitzer, and J Kossmann. 1998. Inhibition of a novel starch granule bound protein leads to modified starch and repression of cold sweetening. Nature Biotech. 16(473-477).

M Muschak, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1998. Gas exchange and environmental parameters of FBPase antisense potatoes. In Photosynthesis: Mechanisms and Effects, vol V (3475-3478). G Garab, Ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

LB Pachepsky, M Muschak, B Acock, J Kossmann, S Blechschmidt-Schneider, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1998. Calculating leaf boundry layer parameters with the two dimensional model 2DLEAF comparing transpiration rates of normal (cv. Desiree) and transgenic (sucrose transport antisense) potato leaves. Biotronics. 27(41-52). 

J Rehm, L Willmitzer, and AG Heyer. 1998. Production of 1-kestose in transgenic yeast expressing a fructosyltransferase from Aspergillus foetidus. J. Bacteriology. 180(1305-1310).

J Riesmeier, J Kossmann, R Trethewey, A Heyer, V Landschutze, and L Willmitzer. 1998. Production of novel polymers in transgenic plants. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 59(383-386).

RN Tretheway, P Geigenberger, K Riedel, MRHajirezaei, U Sonnewald, M Stitt, JW Riesmeier, and L Willmitzer. 1998. Combined expression of glucokinase and invertase in potato tubers leads to a dramatic reduction in starch accumulation and a stimulation of glycolysis. Plant J. 15(109-118).

U Uwer, L Willmitzer, and T Altmann. 1998. Inactivation of a glycyl-tRNA synthetase leads to an arrest in plant embryo development. Plant Cell. 10(1277-1294).

S Brandt, J Kehr, C Walz, A Imlau, L Willmitzer, and Joachim Fisahn. 1999. A rapid method for detection of plant gene transcripts from single epidermal, mesophyll and companion cells of intact leaves. Plant J. In press.

O Herde, H Peña-Cortés, H Fuß, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1999. Effects of mechanical wounding, current application, and heat treatment on chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment composition in tomato plants. Physiologia Plantarum. 105(179-184). 

O Herde, H Peña-Cortés, C Wasternack, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1999. Electric signalling and Pin2 gene expression on different abiotic stimuli depend on a distinct threshold level of endogenous abscisic acid in several abscisic acid-deficient tomato mutants. Plant Physiol. 119(213-218).

J Kehr, S Haebel, S Blechschmidt-Schneider, L Willmitzer, M Steup, and J Fisahn. 1999. Analysis of phloem protein patterns from different organs of Cucurbita maxima Duch. By matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight mass spectroscopy combined with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Planta. 207(612-619).

J Kehr, C Wagner, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1999. Effect of modified carbon allocation on turgor, osmolality, sugar, potassium, and membrane potential in the epidermis of transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants. J. Expt. Bot. 50(565-571).

M Muschak, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1999. Gas exchange analysis of cpFBPase antisense potatoes at different air humidities and at elevated CO2. Planta. 209(104-111).

E Tauberger, S Hoffmann-Benning, H Fleischer-Notter, L Willmitzer, and J Fisahn. 1999. Inpact of invertase overexpression on cell size, starch granule formation, and cell wall properties during tuber development in potatoes with modified carbon allocation patterns. J Expt. Bot. 50(477-486). 

L Willmitzer (1999) Plant biotechnology : output traits - the second generation of plant biotechnology products is gaining momentum Current Opinion in Biotechnology 10, 161 - 162

RN Trethewey, AJ Krotzky, L Willmitzer (1999) Metabolic profiling : a Rosetta stone for genomics? Current Opinion in Plant Biology 2, 83 - 85