Fachgebiet Molekulare Genetik

Prof. Dr. Zuzana Storchová

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-3250
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: storchova[at]biologie.uni-kl.de
Room: 24-103

Consulting hours: Wednesday 11:00 - 12:00
CV

 

 

Ingeborg Heiduk, Secretary

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-4273
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: Ingeborg.Heiduk[at]biologie.uni-kl.de
Email: Ingeborg.Heiduk(at)rptu.de
Room: 24-105

Office hours:

Monday 13:00 - 16:30
Tuesday 09:00 - 12:00
Wednesday 10:30 - 16:00
Thursday 09:00 - 12:00


Dr. Markus Räschle, Project Leader

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-4269
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: raeschle[at]bio.uni-kl.de
CV
Room: 24-138B

 

Project description:

Our group uses cutting-edge mass spectrometry to study DNA repair processes. We comprehensively monitor the assembly of DNA repair complexes on chromatin as it undergoes replication and repair in Xenopus egg extracts. From the proteomic profiles we identify novel factors with potential roles in DNA repair and the maintenance of genome stability. Using a variety of biochemical and cell biological assays we try to pinpoint their precise function during the repair process.
Over the past years this approach has reveal several new genome stability factors with important functions in the repair of psoralen crosslinks. By covering additional DNA repair pathways we aim at obtaining a system-wide view of DNA repair.


 

Dr. Prince Saforo Amponsah, Project Leader

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-4385
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: amponsah[at]bio.uni-kl.de
CV
Room: 24-101

 

Project description:

Normal human cells possess diploid copies (2n) of each chromosome. The presence of an abnormal copy number, either through acquisition or loss of chromosome(s), is termed aneuploidy – a hallmark of cancer. One consequence of aneuploidy is proteotoxic stress, due to altered protein homeostasis, which may be resolved by upregulation of autophagy. However, it is not entirely clear which proteins are autophagized in aneuploid cells. My research project aims to address this question.


 

 

Dr. Andrea Tirincsi

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: tirincsi[at]bio.uni-kl.de
Room: 24-109

 

Project description:

Genome stability during cell divisions is maintained by coordinated action of specific proteins. However, mutations of these safe keepers could render the stability, thereby risking DNA damage and subsequent malignant cell transformation. My project focuses on specific proteins that promote faithful chromosome segregation when errors occur during replication or repair and which could give rise to so called anaphase ultrafine bridges (UFBs). The UFBs are DNA entanglements between two chromatids that are not resolved prior to anaphase onset. To identify proteins participating in UFBs resolution, I use state-of-the-art techniques, such as mass spectrometric analysis after co-immunoprecipitation (ChIP-MS), immunofluorescence imaging, flow cytometric and cell sorting and more.

Stefan Redel - PhD Student

Tel. +49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: redel[at]bio.uni-kl.de
Raum: 24-109

 

Project description:

Aneuploidy describes the state of a cell with an aberrant number of chromosomes. In human cells, aneuploidy is associated with an initial impairment of cell proliferation. Nonetheless, aneuploidy is a hallmark of cancer, occurring in approximately 90 % of solid tumors. To investigate how cells overcome the initial impairment and adapt to aneuploidy, I am working with engineered aneuploid cells that have undergone different evolutionary processes. My research focuses mainly on adaptations of the replication machinery and cell cycle dynamics to aneuploidy.

 

Tamara Hamann - PhD Student

Tel. +49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: thamann[at]rptu.de
Raum: 24-109

 

Project description:

Farbod Mohseni - PhD Student

Tel. +49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
fmohsen[at]rhrk.uni-kl.de
Raum: 24-109

 

Project description:

Several specialized proteins work in harmony to ensure genome integrity throughout cell division. Nevertheless, replication errors may result in chromosome missegregation, endangering the integrity of the genome. My project is centered on the principles of restoration anaphase bridges and their repair processes. The primary focus is to identify proteins that localize to anaphase chromatin and ultrafine bridges, facilitate their repair and thus enable reliable chromosomal segregation. To this end, chromatin-IP proteomics is used to identify novel factors with potential roles in anaphase chromatin and ultrafine bridges and their specific function is further evaluated using immunofluorescence imaging, flow cytometry, and more.

Dastin Langner - PhD Student

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: dlangner[at]rhrk.uni-kl.de
Room: 24-109

 

Project description:

Aneuploid cells, meaning cells with an aberrant chromosome number, usually show proliferation defects in vitro compared to euploid cells with a natural set of chromosomes. However, aneuploid phenotypes show an adapted behavior regarding the proliferation rate under selective conditions of a stressful and frequently changing environment, as is the case in cancer. My goal is to investigate which adaptations aneuploid and especially monosomic cells undergo in order to be able to outgrow healthy, euploid cells and what specific vulnerabilities or resistances are associated with them.

Karen Barthel - PhD Student

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-5919
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: kbarthel[at]bio.uni-kl.de
Room: 24-101A

 

Project description:

Healthy human cells have a diploid set of chromosomes and alterations are rarely tolerated. However, aneuploidy – an aberrant chromosome number – is a hallmark of cancer. In laboratory strains proliferation defects occur as a consequence of both gains (polyploidy) as well as losses (monosomy) of chromosomes. Yet, some cellular phenotypes seem to differ dependent on ploidy status and identity of the specific chromosome. My research focuses on the cellular consequences of monosomy as well as identifying factors that allow proliferation after chromosome loss.

Antonius Bröhl - PhD Student

Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-5919
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: broehl[at]rhrk.uni-kl.de
Room: 24-101A

 

Project description:

Healthy human cells typically contain 46 chromosomes, and rarely tolerate changes of this number. However, around 90% of solid tumors exhibit alterations in chromosome count, so called aneuploidy. Most research has focused on understanding the gain of chromosomes (polysomy), as full chromosome loss (monosomy) is generally not viable for cells. In our recent studies we have found that loss of p53 function allows monosomic cells to survive. My research aims to investigate the impact of monosomy on chromosomal stability and identify potential pathways that enable cell survival under these conditions.

Anna-Luisa Hertel - PhD Student

Tel.:+49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: hertela[at]rptu.de
Room: 24-109

 

Project description:

 

Jan-Eric Bökenkamp - PhD Student

Tel. +49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: boekenka[at]biologie.uni-kl.de
Raum: 24-109

 

Project description:

Chromosomal copy number aberrations are a well-established hallmark of cancer cells. Yet, adding extra chromosomes to cells in-vitro often has an initially detrimental effect on cell survival and proliferation. Through statistical analysis of data from various models of evolving cells with altered chromosome numbers, I aim to derive robust and comprehensive characterizations of multi-omic changes that facilitate the tolerance and adaption to aneuploidy.

 

Leah Johnson - PhD Student

Tel. +49 (0)631-205-5920
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email:
Raum: 24-109

 

Project description:

Aneuploidy, a karyotype characterized by the uneven gain or loss of whole chromosomes or regions of chromosomes, is frequently observed in cancer. My project aims to engineer a complete trisomy collection in near-diploid cancer cell lines using Microcell-Mediated Chromosome Transfer (MMCT). The trisomic cells will be analyzed by  transcriptomics and proteomics, and by phenotypic characterization, to identify the changes caused by the gain of a chromosome. The trisomy collection cell lines will serve as a tool to better understand why certain chromosomes are gained more frequently than the others in cancer.

 

 

Bachelor Students

Antonio Guerra Estrada

Lena Johann

Master Students

Amr Ahmed Abdrbo

Diana Munoz Castillo

Bastian Hinkel

Zahra Pourmanouchehri

 

 


Technical Staff

M.Sc. Robin Roth
Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-5921
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: Robin.Roth(at)rptu.de
Room 24-107

Isabell Kirchner
Tel.: +49 (0)631-205-5921
Fax: +49 (0)631-205-4090
Email: isabell.kirchner(at)rptu.de
Room 24-107

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