Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Experimentelle Biophysik/Mechanobiologie (Juniorprofessur)

Funding

 

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Australian Research Council - Defining the spatial and temporal regulation of neurite branching

The project is in collaboration with Prof. Dr. T. Fath at UNSW Sydney. The overarching aim of this project is to use super-resolution microscopy to decipher the role of the actin cytoskeleton-associated protein tropomyosin in cell extension of nerve cells (neurons) which is essential for establishing neuronal networks in vitro and in vivo.

 

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HFSP - Mechanical regulated gene expression during T-cell activation.

Dr. Klotzsch together with Dr. Ries (EMBL Heidelberg) got awarded the Human Frontiers Science Program Young Investigator Award this project will be carried out at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where Dr. Klotzsch holds a second affiliation. The spatial organization of chromatin is of key importance for gene expression and maintenance. Different from stem cell differentiation, during T-cell activation gene regulation happens on a much faster timescale, as the immune response is critical for the bodies defense mechanism. A likely regulatory mechanism for this is the chromatins’ 3D structure and its interaction with nuclear lamina.

Here we will study how mechanical forces `ultimately regulate gene expression. We hypothesize that mechanical force triggers structural/conformational changes of nuclear lamina network; hence genes encoded in chromatin proximal to lamina can be up/downregulated. We propose to develop new Super-Resolution Microscopy and live-cell imaging technologies and combine them with single cell transcriptomic and epigenetic markers in a correlative approach to resolve the 3D structure of lamina associated chromatin domains and their dynamics during T-cell activation.

 

VolkswagenFoundation

VW Stiftung - Experiment! -The Influence of Mechanical Forces in Neuro Degenerative Diseases. 

It is common knowledge that proteins upon mechanical impact can form aggregates. The central question of this project is whether mechanical forces can impact protein aggregation and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. In order to adress this hypothesis, the dynamics of FUS protein aggregation (pathological hallmark of the neurodegenerative diseases) depending on pathogenic mutations and mechanical impact such as shock will be studied in in-vitro, in cellular systems and in a mouse model. If successful, mechanisms for mechanical driven protein aggregation important during traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and in disease progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyothropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) will be identified.