Torsten Wittmann

Torsten Wittmann, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Cell & Tissue Biology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). His research focuses on understanding how the microtubule cytoskeleton governs cell polarity, migration, and division. The Wittmann Lab employs advanced fluorescent imaging techniques and develops optogenetic tools to study protein interactions at microtubule plus ends, particularly +TIP proteins like Doublecortin and EB1. Their work bridges molecular mechanisms with cellular behavior, addressing topics such as stress granule formation, lysosome pH regulation in cancer, and neurodegenerative disease pathways.

Key research interests include the phosphoregulation of +TIP proteins, microtubule dynamics in growth cones, and the role of microtubules in innate immunity. The lab’s methodologies include live-cell imaging, biosensor engineering (e.g., pHLARE for lysosome pH), and optogenetic systems to manipulate intracellular processes. Notable contributions include insights into TRIM1-LRRK2 interactions in Parkinson’s disease and neurotoxic microglia in TDP-43 proteinopathies.

Publications span high-impact journals like Nature, Current Biology, and Cell Host & Microbe, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches to cell biology and disease mechanisms. The Wittmann Lab actively develops novel tools, such as light-sensitive EB1 variants and protein nanocages, to probe cellular systems in real time.