Pavelka, Margit

Research Focus

The Golgi apparatus is a complex organelle built up by interconnected stacks of cisternae that fulfill multiple cellular tasks and form a central crossroads in the secretory and endocytic pathways (please see the cartoon below). Throughout many years, the main research interest of Margit Pavelka and her colleagues was dedicated to the Golgi apparatus and its organization in cell physiology and pathology. In her work, particular attention is drawn to the Golgi apparatus architecture, structure-function relationships and dynamics influenced by endocytic traffic, drug treatments and cellular stress.

The research is continued now in the research group of Prof. Adolf Ellinger and colleagues.

Main Objectives

The main objective of the work is to understand how the complex Golgi apparatus compartments are organised under different physiologic and pathologic conditions and which mechanisms lead to their reorganisations and to changes of their architectures. Visualisation of these dynamics is a main goal of the research.

Content Of Research

Electron microscopy and 3D-electron tomography are used for visualising the dynamics of the Golgi apparatus taking place under various physiologic and pathologic conditions. Steps of Golgi apparatus disassembly and restoration are studied with the aid of the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose that allows controlled dis- and reorganisations of the Golgi apparatus stacks.