Oguz Top

Dr. Oguz Top is a Researcher at the Department of Biology I - Botany, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), affiliated with the Biocenter LMU Munich. He is part of the AG Frank research group, focusing on plant molecular biology and stress adaptation mechanisms in mosses and other plant systems. His work integrates genetic, genomic, and biotechnological approaches to understand gene regulation under abiotic stresses and optimize heterologous protein production in plant-based systems.

Research Interests: Dr. Top’s research spans plant stress biology, small RNA regulation, and bioreactor applications. Key areas include the role of DICER-LIKE genes in Marchantia polymorpha development, FLOTILLIN’s influence on salt tolerance in Physcomitrium patens, and optimizing gene expression in moss for producing therapeutic proteins like MFHR1. He also investigates light acclimation mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana and evaluates strategies for plant-based production of blood coagulation factors.

Publications Highlight: His recent work demonstrates the modulation of salt tolerance via FLOTILLIN (2025), identifies DICER-LIKE genes’ roles in Marchantia stress adaptation (2023), and explores heterologous gene expression challenges in moss (2021). A 2020 patent details methods to enhance gene expression efficiency. Earlier studies (2014) focused on enhancing antioxidant traits in tomato through Solanum species analysis.

Laboratory Affiliation: AG Frank Group at LMU’s Biocenter, where he collaborates on projects combining fundamental plant biology with applied biotechnology solutions.