A5045024431- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- RNA modifications and cancer
- RNA regulation and disease
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- 14-3-3 protein interactions
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
2014-2025
Urologische Klinik München
2022-2023
Centre of Experimental Medicine of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
2022
Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich
2011-2019
Helmholtz Zentrum München
2008-2011
Institute for Environment and Human Security
2006-2008
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2001-2008
Evolutionarily young genes that serve essential functions represent a paradox; they must perform function either was not required until after their birth or redundant with another gene. How rapidly acquire is largely unknown. We traced the evolutionary steps by which Drosophila gene Umbrea acquired an role in chromosome segregation D. melanogaster since gene's origin less than 15 million years ago. neofunctionalization occurred via loss of ancestral heterochromatin-localizing domain,...
Abstract Mitosis relies on forces generated in the spindle, a micro-machine composed of microtubules and associated proteins. Forces are required for congression chromosomes to metaphase plate their separation anaphase. However, besides forces, torques may exist yet they have not been investigated. Here we show that spindle is chiral. Chirality evident from finding microtubule bundles human spindles follow left-handed helical path, which cannot be explained by but rather torques. Kinesin-5...
Postzygotic isolation by genomic conflict is a major cause for the formation of species. Despite its importance, molecular mechanisms that result in lethality interspecies hybrids are still largely unclear. The genus Drosophila, which contains over 1600 different species, one best characterized model systems to study these questions. We showed past expression levels two hybrid incompatibility factors Hmr and Lhr diverged closely related Drosophila D. melanogaster simulans, resulting an...
In all eukaryotic cells, origins of DNA replication are characterized by the binding origin recognition complex (ORC). How ORC is positioned to sites where initiates unknown, because metazoan binds without apparent sequence specificity. Thus, additional factors might be involved in positioning. Our experiments indicate that a family member high-mobility group proteins, HMGA1a, can specifically target DNA. Coimmunoprecipitations and imaging studies demonstrate HMGA1a interacts with different...
Histone variants play an important role in shaping the mammalian epigenome and their aberrant expression is frequently observed several types of cancer. However, mechanisms that mediate function composition variant-containing chromatin are still largely unknown. A proteomic interrogation containing different H2A macroH2A.1.2, H2A.Bbd revealed a strikingly protein composition. Gene ontology analysis reveals strong enrichment splicing factors as well components replisome H2A.Bbd-containing...
Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy achieves super-resolution by exciting a diffraction-limited volume and then suppressing fluorescence in its outer parts depletion. Multiple lasers may introduce misalignment bleaching. Hence, single wavelength is preferable for multi-color analyses. However, this limits the number of usable spectral channels. Using cultured cells, common staining protocols, commercially available fluorochromes microscopes we exploit that STED or confocal can be...
Members of the soil-dwelling prokaryotic genus Streptomyces are indispensable for recycling complex polysaccharides, and produce a wide range natural products. Nutrient limitation is likely to be major signal onset their development, resulting in spore formation by specialized aerial hyphae. Streptomycetes grow on numerous carbon sources, which they utilize preferential manner. The main signaling pathway underlying this phenomenon catabolite repression, streptomycetes totally dependent...
Maleless (MLE) is an evolutionary conserved member of the DExH family helicases in Drosophila. Besides its function RNA editing and presumably siRNA processing, MLE best known for role remodelling non-coding roX context X chromosome dosage compensation male flies. human orthologue, DHX9 contain two tandem double-stranded binding domains (dsRBDs) located at N-terminal region. The dsRBDs are essential localization X-territory it presumed that this involves secondary structures. However, dsRBD1...
Abstract The MLE DExH helicase and the roX lncRNAs are essential components of chromatin modifying Dosage Compensation Complex (DCC) in Drosophila. To explore mechanism ribonucleoprotein complex assembly, we developed vitRIP, an unbiased, transcriptome-wide vitro assay that reveals RNA binding specificity. We found has intrinsic specificity for U-/A-rich sequences tandem stem-loop structures binds many RNAs beyond vitro. selectivity physiological substrates is further enhanced by core DCC....
Centromeres are chromosomal regions crucial for correct chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis. They epigenetically defined by centromeric proteins such as the centromere‐specific histone H3‐variant centromere protein A (CENP‐A). In humans, 16 additional have been described to be constitutively associated with centromeres throughout cell cycle, known constitutive centromere‐associated network (CCAN). contrast, only one is in Drosophila melanogaster (D.mel) , conserved CCAN member...
The centrosome is a microtubule orchestrator, nucleating and anchoring microtubules that grow radially exert forces on cargos. At the same time, mechanical stresses from microenvironment cellular shape changes compress bend microtubules. Yet, centrosomes are membraneless organelles, raising question of how withstand forces. Here, we discover can deform even fracture. We reveal experience deformations during navigational pathfinding within motile cells. Coherence maintained by Dyrk3 cNAP1,...
Histone post-translational modifications play an important role in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression vivo . Extensive studies investigated the of core histones H3 H4 or linker histone H1. Much less is known on regulation H2A H2B modifications. Here, we show that a major modification Drosophila melanogaster methylation N-terminal proline, which increases during fly development. Experiments performed cultured cells revealed higher levels when are dense, regardless their cell...
The dosage compensation complex (DCC) of Drosophila identifies its X-chromosomal binding sites with exquisite selectivity. principles that assure this vital targeting are known from the D. melanogaster model: DCC-intrinsic specificity DNA binding, cooperativity CLAMP protein, and noncoding roX2 RNA transcribed X chromosome. We found in virilis , a species separated by 40 million years evolution, all active but contribute differently to specificity. In DCC subunit MSL2 evolved intrinsic...
During interphase centromeres often coalesce into a small number of chromocenters, which can be visualized as distinct, DAPI dense nuclear domains. Intact chromocenters play major role in maintaining genome stability they stabilize the transcriptionally silent state repetitive DNA while ensuring centromere function. Despite its biological importance, relatively little is known about molecular composition chromocenter or processes that mediate formation and maintenance. To provide deeper...
Hybrid incompatibility between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans is caused by a lethal interaction of the proteins encoded Hmr Lhr genes. In loss HMR results in mitotic defects, an increase transcription transposable elements deregulation heterochromatic To better understand molecular mechanisms that mediate HMR's function, we measured genome-wide localization tissue culture cells chromatin immunoprecipitation. Interestingly, find localizing to genomic insulator sites can be classified...
The evolutionarily conserved nucleoplasmin family of histone chaperones has two paralogues in Drosophila, named Nucleoplasmin-Like Protein (NLP) and Nucleophosmin (NPH). NLP localizes to the centromere, yet molecular underpinnings this localization are unknown. Moreover, similar homologues other organisms, forms a pentamer vitro, but biological significance its oligomerization not been explored. Here, we characterize oligomers formed by NPH vivo find that is required for at centromere. We...
Abstract Routine system checks are essential for supervising the performance of an advanced light microscope. Recording and evaluating point spread function (PSF) a given provides information about resolution imaging. We compared fluorescent gold beads PSF recordings. then combined open-source evaluation software PSFj with newly developed KNIME pipeline named PSFtracker to create standardized workflow track system's over several measurements thus long time periods. produces example images...
RNA unwinding by DExH-type helicases underlies most metabolism and function. It remains unresolved if how the basic reaction of is regulated auxiliary domains. We explored interplay between RecA domains helicase maleless (MLE) from Drosophila using structural functional studies. discovered that MLE exists in a dsRNA-bound open conformation dsRBD2 domain aligns substrate with accessible tunnel. In an ATP-dependent manner, associates module, leading to tunnel closure around ssRNA. Furthermore,...
Centromeres of higher eukaryotes are epigenetically defined by the centromere specific histone H3 variant CENP-A(CID). CENP-A(CID) builds foundation for assembly a large network proteins. In contrast to mammalian systems, protein composition Drosophila centromeres has not been comprehensively investigated. Here we describe proteome melanogaster as analyzed quantitative affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS). The AP-MS input chromatin material was prepared from D. cell lines...