Heidelberg University | Germany
Dr. Markus Wirtz is an accomplished life scientist and Akademischer Oberrat at Heidelberg University, Germany, renowned for his extensive research in plant biology and biochemical adaptation mechanisms. With over 25 years of professional experience, he has made significant contributions to understanding N-terminal protein acetylation and its impact on protein stability and function in higher plants. His academic journey is rooted in the biological sciences, where he developed expertise in plant physiology, molecular biology, and protein biochemistry. Dr. Wirtz’s research explores plant resilience mechanisms under fluctuating nutrient conditions, aiming to uncover how post-translational modifications regulate stress responses and metabolic efficiency. He has successfully led multiple national and international research projects, securing nearly two million euros in third-party funding, and his prolific publication record includes over 120 peer-reviewed papers with more than 12,000 citations and an h-index of 65. Recognized for his scientific excellence, he actively serves as a reviewer for leading international journals and is a member of the German-French University network. His work continues to advance our understanding of plant stress biology and protein regulation, making a lasting impact on the fields of molecular plant science and environmental adaptability.
Featured Publications
Sun, S.-K., Ahmad, N., Callenius, H., Rajab, H., Uslu, V.V., Cruz Cruz, J.R., Zhao, F.-J., Wirtz, M., & Hell, R. (2025). The plastid cysteine synthase complex regulates ABA biosynthesis and stomatal closure in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications.
Xu, X., Sun, S.-K., Gao, A., Huang, X.-Y., Wirtz, M., Hell, R., & Zhao, F.-J. (2024). Biofortifying multiple micronutrients and decreasing arsenic accumulation in rice grain simultaneously by expressing a mutant allele of OAS-TL gene. New Phytologist.
Eirich, J., Boyer, J.-B., Armbruster, L., Ivanauskaite, A., De La Torre, C., Meinnel, T., Wirtz, M., Mulo, P., Finkemeier, I., & Giglione, C. (2024). Light changes promote distinct responses of plastid protein acetylation marks. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics.
Etherington, R.D., Bailey, M., Boyer, J.-B., Armbruster, L., Cao, X., Coates, J.C., Meinnel, T., Wirtz, M., Giglione, C., & Gibbs, D.J. (2023). Nt-acetylation-independent turnover of SQUALENE EPOXIDASE 1 by Arabidopsis DOA10-like E3 ligases. Plant Physiology.
Wirtz, M., Leemhuis, W., Hell, R., & Obata, T. (2023). Dynamic association of the plastid localized cysteine synthase complex is vital for efficient cysteine production, photosynthesis, and granal thylakoid formation in transgenic tobacco. Journal of Experimental Botany.
Jethva, J., Lichtenauer, S., Schmidt-Schippers, R., Steffen-Heins, A., Poschet, G., Wirtz, M., van Dongen, J.T., Eirich, J., Finkemeier, I., Bilger, W., et al. (2023). Mitochondrial alternative NADH dehydrogenases NDA1 and NDA2 promote survival of reoxygenation stress in Arabidopsis by safeguarding photosynthesis and limiting ROS generation. New Phytologist.
Pożoga, M., Armbruster, L., & Wirtz, M. (2022). From nucleus to membrane: A subcellular map of the N-acetylation machinery in plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.