2015 (Dec) Lecturer in Molecular Immunology, Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

2010-2015 Senior Scientist, Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany

2005-2010 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA

2003-2005 Research Associate, Department of Biochemical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Dr. v. Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany

1998-2003 Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Metabolism, Dr. v. Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich; in collaboration with the Institute of Experimental Genetics, GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Munich, Germany

My general research interests include protein sorting, organelle homeostasis, protein quality control, and antigen presentation. Malfunctions in these processes are the cause of severe human diseases, and research in my group aims to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. In particular, we are interested in molecular machineries that facilitate protein and peptide translocation across eukaryotic membranes.

My current research focuses in particular on peroxisomal biogenesis. Peroxisomes are ubiquitous organelles responsible for various metabolic pathways. Their significance in human metabolism is illustrated by the existence of severe inherited metabolic diseases caused by the failure of peroxisomal function. In addition, peroxisomal homeostasis is involved in diverse cellular and systemic processes such as apoptosis, cellular aging, cancer development, immune defence, and host-pathogen interactions.

By characterizing an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) mediated de novo peroxisomal biogenesis pathway, we recently challenged the long-standing theory that peroxisomes arise exclusively by growth and division of pre-existing peroxisomes. Moreover, we revealed mechanistic details of human peroxisomal membrane protein (PMP) entry into and exit from the ER membrane. These findings suggest that at least some mammalian PMPs transit through the ER on their way to peroxisomes.

Part of the research in my group is directed to understand the function of macromolecular complexes that initiate, regulate, and facilitate ER-mediated peroxisomal biogenesis. Moreover, we aim at elucidating how defects in peroxisomal homeostasis are related to the adaptive and innate immune system.

Mayerhofer PU, Bano-Polo M, Mingarro I, Johnson AE. (2015) 'Human peroxin PEX3 is co-translationally integrated into the ER and exits the ER in budding vesicles'. Traffic, doi: 10.1111/tra.12350 Mayerhofer PU, Tampé R. (2015) 'Antigen translocation machineries in adaptive immunity and viral immune evasion'. J Mol Biol, 427, pp. 1102-1118. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.09.006 Mayerhofer PU. (2015) 'Targeting and insertion of peroxisomal membrane proteins: ER trafficking versus direct delivery to peroxisomes'. Biochim Biophys Acta, doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2015.09.021 Lin J, Eggensperger S, Hank S, Wycisk AI, Wieneke R, Mayerhofer PU, Tampé R. (2014) 'A negative feedback modulator of antigen processing evolved from a frameshift in the cowpox virus genome'. PLoS Pathog, 10 doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004554