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Faculties
Our research focuses on the analysis of gene expression and epigenetic modifications in health and disease.
Particular interest is geared towards a better understanding of:
- the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental influences in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases
- epigenetic modifications in ageing
- the potential of epigenetic signatures in diagnosing rare diseases and syndromes
News
Registration Open – Functional EPIgenomics Conference 2024
We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Functional Epigenomics Conference 2024, organized by Jörn Walter, Julia Schulze-Hentrich and Fabian Müller. The conference will take place from May 27, 2024, to May 28, 2024, at Saarland University, Saarbrücken.
Join us to explore the latest insights in epigenetic mechanisms, epigenomics, aging and disease. Please find more information about registration here.
Description
The Functional Epigenomics Conference 2024 is dedicated to integrating basic epigenetic mechanisms, computational epigenomics and clinical research. We are excited that world leading experts are joining us to present and discuss their latest results in a two-day comprehensive program. The conference is open to all interested audiences. Building on a series of workshops and conferences that our labs organized in Saarland over the past decade, it would be a pleasure to also welcome back familiar faces who have been part of our previous events. We particularly encourage students and postdocs to join us and present their work on posters and in selected short talks. Registration is now open.
Please find more information on the Conference Website.
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SATELLITE EVENT of the FENS Forum 2024, Vienna
Topic: FeMale glia: influence of sex differences on glia cell functions in health and disease
When and Who ? June 24th, 2024, FENS forum (https://fensforum.org/satellite-events/).
Venue ? Arcotel Wimberger, Neubaugürtel 34-36, Vienna, Austria
Organizers ? Barbara Di Benedetto and Julia Schultze-Hentrich, Regensburg University and Saarland University (DE).
For more information on registration, programme and speakers please check the meeting flyer.
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Article on a field trip of Master students to biotechnology-related institutes and companies in Berlin
In August 2023, 16 Master students (Biotechnology and Human- and Molecular Biology) visited biotechnology-related institutes and companies in Berlin. The idea of the annual excursion is to provide insight into the tasks and work areas of public institutes like the Robert-Koch-Institue (RKI) or the Federal Institute For Risk Assessment (BfR) aswell as start-up ventures and illustrate job opportunities for Master graduates. Please find more information on the annual excursion here. Recently, an article was published in the University web journal Campus describing the background with comments from the organizers and two Master students participating in the last excursion. Please find the article here.
Research
The DNA of every cell in our body contains the genes inherited from our parents and plays a crucial role in health and disease. While changes in the DNA itself are linked to monogenic diseases, they often fail to explain complex disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases. This can potentially be explained by additional layers of gene regulation known to be stored "above" the DNA, at the epigenetic level. This relatively young field of research has shown over the last years that the molecular structures that package the DNA in the cell nucleus influence gene activity. The DNA itself as well as its packaging structure, the so-called chromatin, can be chemically modified in many ways and is highly dynamic. With these findings, chromatin appears to be a central interface between genes and the environment, and the development and progression of diseases could be decisively influenced by epigenetic changes. Our working group investigates which epigenetic modifications are associated with complex neurological diseases - in particular Parkinson's and Huntington's - and how environmental factors and aging have a modulating effect on them. In addition, we are interested in understanding the molecular basis of rare diseases on an epigenetic level. You can find more about current research projects here.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested to work with us. We are always looking for talented students (bachelor's, master's and doctoral theses) who would like to join our group. Our contact details and further information can be found here.
Most Recent Publications
Schaffner SL, Wassouf Z, Hentrich T, Nuesch-Germano M, Kobor MS, Schulze-Hentrich JM.
Distinct impacts of alpha-synuclein overexpression on the hippocampal epigenome of mice in standard and enriched environments.
Neurobiol Dis, 2023, 186:106274.doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106274.Yaldiz B, Kucuk E, Hampstead J, Hofste T, Pfundt R, Corominas Galbany J, Rinne T, Yntema HG, Hoischen A, Nelen M, Gilissen C; Solve-RD consortium.
Twist exome capture allows for lower average sequence coverage in clinical exome sequencing.
Hum Genomics, 2023, 17(1):39.doi: 10.1186/s40246-023-00485-5.Fitzel R, Secker-Grob KA, Keppeler H, Korkmaz F, Schairer R, Erkner E, Schneidawind D, Lengerke C, Hentrich T, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Schneidawind C.
Targeting MYC in combination with epigenetic regulators induces synergistic anti-leukemic effects in MLLr leukemia and simultaneously improves immunity.
Neoplasia, 2023, 41:100902.doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100902.- Edelmann S, Wiegand A, Hentrich T, Pasche S, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Munk MHJ, Fallgatter AJ, Kreifelts B, Nieratschker V.
Blood transcriptome analysis suggests an indirect molecular association of early life adversities and adult social anxiety disorder by immune-related signal transduction.
Front Psychiatry, 2023, 14:1125553.doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1125553. Kilzheimer A, Hentrich T, Rotermund C, Kahle PJ, Schulze-Hentrich JM.
Failure of diet-induced transcriptional adaptations in alpha-synuclein transgenic mice.
Hum Mol Genet, 2023, 13;32(3):450-461. doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddac205.Xylaki M, Paiva I, Al-Azzani M, Gerhardt E, Jain G, Islam MR, Vasili E, Wassouf Z, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Fischer A, Outeiro TF.
miR-101a-3p Impairs Synaptic Plasticity and Contributes to Synucleinopathy.
J Parkinsons Dis, 2023, 13(2):179-196. doi.org/10.3233/JPD-225055.
Please find all our publications of the last five years here.
Teaching
Lectures and practical courses in genetics and epigenetics are offered together with AG Prof. Jörn Walter in SS2023 and WS2023-24.
An overview as well as details of each course can be found here.