Animal Genetics

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Head of Group: Cancer, Stem Cells, and Transcription Factors, Max-Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
In recent years, great progress has been made in elucidating the stem and progenitor cell hierarchy of the hematopoietic system. The step-wise adoption of a cellular lineage identity during hematopoietic differentiation is preceded by the ordered reorganization of the chromatin, which is mediated by both genetic and epigenetic factors. Transcription factors are key determinants in the orchestration of cellular identity and differentiation fates through expression modulation of specific target gene subsets. Most transcription factors show narrow cell lineage- and stage-restricted expression patterns, indicating the requirement for tight regulation of their activities. Moreover, if dysregulated or mutated, these transcription factors cause the differentiation block observed in many leukaemias. Using mouse genetics as well as biochemical approaches, our research group is particularly interested in the activities and transcriptional regulation of main hematopoietic transcription factors, such as PU.1, and in their functional interplay with epigenetic chromatin modifiers.