Home > Projects

SFB-Projects

Dosage compensation is a mechanism that assures the balanced expression from dimorphic sex chromosomes. In flies a ribonucleoprotein ‘dosage compensation complex’ (DCC) selectively associates with and increases the expression of the single male X chromosome [more]

M2 - Study of RNA polymerase II functions required for transcription of chromatin templates

In higher eukaryotes, an unusual carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) is crucial to the function of RNA polymerase II in transcription. The CTD consists of multiple heptapeptide repeats with the consensus repeat tyr1-ser2-pro3-thr4-ser5-pro6-ser7. Specific post-translational modifications in CTD appear to fulfil specific tasks during the transcription process. [more]

M3 - Structure-function analysis of chromatin transcription

Over the last period, we determined structures of the histone methyl-transferase Set2 SRI domain and the nucleosome assembly factor Spt6 SH2 domain, and crystallized the chromatin elongation factor Spt4/5. Over the next period, we aim to determine the X-ray structure of Spt4/5, and the cryo-EM structures of the Pol II-Spt4/5 and -Paf complexes. [more]

M4 - Mechanisms of Chromatin Based Inheritance

The differential packaging of DNA into chromatin plays an important role during establishment and maintenance of gene expression patterns. In order to keep epigenetic information that is stored within particular chromatin structures they have to be maintained under various physiological conditions. [more]

M5 - Developmental maturation of the chromatin structure

Molecular analysis of the epigenetic principles of gene regulation is key to understand the basis of gene expression programs underlying somatic cell differentiation. Recent data from a variety of biological systems has indicated a developmental maturation of chromatin structure [more]

M6 - Determinants for Nucleosome Positioning in S. cerevisiae and S. pombe

The translational positioning of nucleosomes is an important eukaryotic strategy for the regulation of access to DNA. We study the molecular mechanisms that determine nucleosome positioning in both S. cerevisiae and S. pombe by a combination of in vivo chromatin analysis and in vitro chromatin reconstitution assays. [more]

M7 - Cryo-EM analysis of the ISWI chromatin remodeller ACF

M8 - Functional architecture of the INO80 chromatin-remodelling complex in DNA repair

The damage of DNA is a constant threat to the integrity of the genome and a major cause of cancer diseases and aging. Repair of damage, in particular DNA double-strand breaks, is fundamental for cell survival and un-/misrepaired DNA can lead to cell death, chromosome aberrations and cancerogenic mutations. [more]

M9 - Control of DNA replication by epigenetic modification and chromatin remodelling

DNA replication is tightly controlled at its initiation stage and strictly limited to once-per-cell-cycle. Replication competence is gained only in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, a process called licensing, which is characterized by the formation of pre-replicative complexes (pre-RC). [more]

M10 - The role of mammalian histone H3 variants in gene regulation

Many different mechanisms exist to change the structure of chromatin, thereby influencing the functional output. These processes include methylation of the DNA itself, posttranslational histone modifications, remodeling of nucleosomes and the incorporation of specialized histone variants. [more]

M11 - The biological roles of H4K20 methylation

In this project we want to address the biological roles of H4K20 methylation, a highly abundant histone modification which has been linked with a broad range of biological and developmental processes, ranging from heterochromatin formation and DNA damage repair to aging and cancer progression. [more]

M12 - Mechanism of cell cycle regulation by histone H3 lysine 76 methylation in Trypanosoma brucei

Although many conserved cell cycle regulators are also present in trypanosomes, substantial divergence of their functions and other regulatory mechanisms seem to have evolved in trypanosomes. One novel mechanism of cell cycle regulation appears to involve changes in chromatin structure mediated through dynamic methylation of histone H3K76. [more]

M13 - Role and regulation of DNA methyltransferase interactions with chromatin

All three DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt1, 3a and 3b) are known to interact with chromatin. We now want to investigate where and when during the cell cycle these interactions occur [more]

M15 - Kinetics of chromatin formation and CpG methylation of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpes virus family, is a paradigm for human tumor viruses and a model of viral latency amenable for study in vitro. It induces resting human B-lymphocytes to proliferate indefinitely in vitro and initially establishes a strictly latent infection in these cells. [more]

QUICK LINKS

About the SFB

Projects

M1 Prof. Dr. Becker

M2 Prof. Dr. Eick

M3 Prof. Dr. Cramer

M4 Prof. Dr. Imhof

M5 Prof. Dr. Rupp

M6 Dr. Korber

M7 Prof. Dr. Beckmann

M8 Prof. Dr. Hopfner

M9 PD Dr. Schepers

M10 Dr. Hake

M11 Prof. Dr. Schotta

M12 Dr. Janzen

M13 Prof. Dr. Leonhardt

M15 Prof. Dr. Hammerschmidt

Core Facilities

Graduate Program

Events

Gender Program

Staff

Contact

SFB-Projects