Developmental Molecular Mechanisms

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Since 2008 Full Professor (W3) at the Institute for Genetics and CECAD, Cologne

EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND:
• 2000: PhD at the Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), University of Heidelberg, and at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
• 2001-2003: Postdoctoral associate at the Gene Center and at the ABI, Munich, Germany
• 2003-2008: Group Leader at the Centre for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), Hamburg

HONORS AND AWARDS:
• MPIB Junior Research Award 2001
• Werner Otto Research Award 2007
• EMBO Young Investigator Award 2007
• Walther-Flemming-Medal of the German Society for Cell Biology (DGZ) 2008
• Felix-Jerusalem-Award of the German Society for Muscular Diseases (DGM) 2008

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIPS:
• Ubiquitin Journal
• Targeted Proteins Database UPS Virtual Faculty
• Aging Cell

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Protein degradation in development and aging

Protein ubiquitylation turned out to be a key posttranslational control mechanism providing different fates of targeted substrates in diverse cellular processes such as protein quality control, cell-cycle progression, signal transduction and development. Therefore, it is not surprising that recent studies have identified a role for ubiquitin in the regulation of aging, however, mechanistic aspects are completely unclear.
The main interest of the laboratory is based on age-related processes in multicellular organisms that are governed by ubiquitylation. Besides the already known ubiquitin-activating E1 enzymes, ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzymes and ubiquitin protein E3 ligases that are required for ubiquitin-conjugation of certain protein substrates, we are interested in characterizing/identifying additional modulators involved in substrate recruitment and ubiquitin-chain assembly. Current research addresses proteostasis mechanisms focused on genome stability, protein aggregation diseases and lifespan regulation.