Roger Schneiter

Roger Schneiter is a Professor at the Department of Biology within the Faculty of Science and Medicine at the University of Fribourg. His research focuses on fundamental mechanisms of lipid metabolism, organelle biogenesis, and host-pathogen interactions, with particular emphasis on lipid droplets and CAP superfamily proteins. He leads multiple Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)-funded projects investigating lipid storage disorders, membrane biology, and pathogen virulence mechanisms.

Research Interests: Schneiter's work spans lipid droplet formation/turnover, sterol transport, and the role of CAP-domain proteins in plant immunity and fungal pathogenesis. His group employs yeast genetics, biochemical assays, and multi-omics approaches to study:

• Molecular mechanisms of lipid droplet biogenesis at ER subdomains
• Regulation of neutral lipid storage and mobilization
• Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in plant defense and microbial virulence
• Lipid-binding functions of CAP/SCP/TAPS protein superfamily members

Research Trends: Analysis of recent publications reveals three interconnected themes: (1) Structural and functional characterization of proteins regulating lipid droplet dynamics (perilipins, seipin); (2) Mechanistic studies of CAP-domain proteins in sterol binding, pathogen defense, and cellular signaling; (3) Stress adaptation mechanisms in plants and yeasts using integrated omics approaches. The work consistently bridges basic membrane biochemistry with biomedical and agronomic applications.

Major Grants:

• SNSF Project 10000909: 'Unveiling the Function and Mechanisms of Pathogenesis-Related Proteins' (2024-2027)
• SNSF Project: 'Biogenesis and Turnover of Lipid Droplets' (2022-2026)
• SNSF Project: 'Deciphering functions of FITM2 in lipodystrophy' (2021-2025)
• SNSF Project: 'Lipid Storage, Binding, and Export' (2017-2022)

Laboratory & Teams: Leads the SchneiterLab with extensive international collaborations. Research integrates yeast genetics, structural biology, plant pathology, and advanced microscopy to study lipid metabolism across model systems. Current projects involve characterization of ER-LD contact sites, lipid-binding proteins, and pathogen-derived virulence factors.