List of Participants

Number of registers : 43

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Sagar - Abstract : My research work is focused on understanding intrathymic T cell development at a single cell resolution. We would like to identify not yet identified cell population(s), its/their role and position in the T cell differentiation, in vivo validation as well as to understand the underlying gene regulatory networks. Methods: single cell RNA sequencing, FACS, single molecule FISH, spatial transcriptomics, in vitro differentiation and in vivo transplantation assays.

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Virginia Andreani Laboratory : Grosschedl Abstract : Marginal Zone B Cells is a specific B Cell Population found in the spleen, well organized and localized to respond to blood borne antigens. This localization is mainly due to the high expression of specific integrins, like α4β1 and αLβ2. This expression is also important for the migration of the cells, once they are activated by the presence of an antigen and its later development to plasma cells. The aim of this project is to study the importance of the specific B cell protein, Mzb1, on the activation of integrins and its consequence on migration and adhesion, and in the late immune response. In this project we use mainly flow cytometry and microscopy, as well as basic biochemical technics.

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Milena Bertolotti Laboratory : Reth Abstract : Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can amplify B cell receptor (BCR) signaling; however ROS fluxes have never been systematically studied at the nanoscale level. My aim is to map the nanoscale location and association of ROS producers and transporters to B cells protein islands. For this I will use the lab well-established Fab-based proximity ligation assay (Fab-PLA). Furthermore, with fluorescence live cell imaging, I will also measure localized ROS fluxes through different chimeric BCR-associated receptors, that I will fuse to the ratiometric H2O2 detector called “HyPer”.

Sören Boller Abstract : Early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) is a key transcription factor of B cell development. By using mainly biochemistry and molecular biology methods, I investigate how EBF1 works at the molecular level, how it regulates genes and shapes the chromatin landscape.

anna bremser Laboratory : Ramboldt Abstract : tba

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George Caputa Laboratory : Pearce Abstract : TBD

Reagan Ching Laboratory : Jenuwein Abstract : TBA

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Kevin Daze Laboratory : Jenuwein Abstract : TBA

Lawir Divine Laboratory : Boehm/Schorpp Abstract : Using meiotic recombination mapping and whole genome sequencing to identify genes important for T cell development. Identified genes are mapped into genetic pathways to delinate the complete genetic landscape that control T cell development in vertebrates

Anne Drougard Abstract : It is commonly admitted that microglial cells in the hypothalamus are the first cells demonstrating a inflammatory state during the implementation of type 2 diabetes. My project is to decipher the inflammatory pathways involved and how microglial cells will generate the disruption of metabolism. To this aim, I will first characterize the inflammatory state in microglial cells via IHC, RNA-seq, measures of energy requirement... Then, I will work on a model of mice which present a specific deletion of "inflammatory pathways" in the microglial cells (TAK1 receptor deletion).

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Nathalie Eisenhardt Laboratory : Pichler Abstract : Sumoylation is an essential posttranslational modification including hundreds of cellular substrates implicated in a multitude of cellular processes. It is mediated by an enzymatic triade consisting of E1, E2 and E3 enzymes. Our lab has recently identified the ZNF451 family as a novel class of four SUMO E3 ligases and revealed an unprecedented mechanism of E3 ligase action. The biological functions of these four proteins are elusive and are the main focus of my current research. To address this, I am combining biochemical and cell biological approaches to identify substrates and to investigate the role of their sumoylation by these enzymes which will give me a first glimpse into the biological pathways the ZNF451 family is involved in.

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Chronis Fatouros Laboratory : AG Pichler Abstract : I am working on a novel SUMO E3 ligase and I try to decipher which are the substrates for this ligase as well as the pathways which are influenced by this ligase. I am using the CRISPR/Cas9 tech for geen editing, to make isoform specific KOs and endogenous tagging of genes, and I also plan use Mass Spec from IPs to decipher the interactome of thes ligase. Moreover, I use microscopy, the Apotome as well as confocal.

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Orlando Giorgetti Laboratory : Boehm Abstract : Evolution of the immune system, analysis of repertoire diversification under biological or transgenic constraints, thymic development.

Kasia Grzes Laboratory : Ed Pearce Abstract : TBA

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Erik Hansen Laboratory : Ritwick Sawarkar Abstract : coming soon

Xiaocui He Laboratory : Reth Abstract : Expression of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) is essential for B-cell maturation and persistence. Whether the BCR on resting mature B cells sends a tonic maintenance signal for these cells is still a matter of controversy. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 method, we deleted the genes for all four components of the BCR (HC, LC, Igα and Igβ) in the human RAMOS B-cell line and found that the Igβ alone could deliver the growth/survival signal. Further, we found that this signal requires the surface expression of CD19. The methods used in the project include CRISPR/Cas9, FACS, retrovirus transduction, cell competition assay and Ca2+ flux measurement etc..

benjamin herquel Abstract : won't present a talk because of family duties

Stephen Holland Abstract : I work on the evolution of the adaptive immune system of the primitive vertebrate lamprey. All higher vertebrates from sharks to humans have maintained the same highly complex adaptive immune system, whereas we now know lamprey have evolved an equally complex but distinct adaptive immune system utitlising the same basic building blocks and principles. We are dissecting the lamprey adaptive immune system to understand more about how immunity evolved.

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Claudia Keller Laboratory : Akhtar Abstract : During Dosage Compensation, expression of the X chromosome is equalized between males (XY) and females (XX) by the action of histone modifying complexes such as the MSL complex in Drosophila melanogaster. Interestingly, the MSL complex is not exclusive to flies, as it is also present in other species such as mammals. Yet, its function in locally regulating tissue specific genes and enhancers in both mammalian sexes raises interesting questions about the (rapid) evolution of the DC mechanism and its chromosome-wide action in flies. In my project, I study this by using both Drosophila and mammalian systems, where I use genome editing tools to change fly MSLs into mammalian and vice versa.

Beth Kelly Laboratory : Erika Pearce Abstract : Dictyostelium discoideum is a unicellular amoeba that aggregates into a multicellular organism upon starvation. My research aims to investigate the metabolic pathways at work during this starvation and multicellular development, specifically the roles of glycolysis, mitochondrial metabolism and metabolite balance. Techniques such as Seahorse metabolic analysis, gene expression analysis and confocal microscopy will be key for this research. Overall, the goal is to translate findings from Dictyostelium to mammalian cells, as any conserved metabolic pathways are likely to be fundamental in the mammalian response to survival.

Ramon Klein Geltink Laboratory : Erika Pearce Abstract : We are interested in understanding the function of metabolic enzymes in the control of mRNA translation. Many metabolic enzymes have been found to function within RNA-Enzyme-Metabolite (REM) networks. Previously, our lab identified a role for GAPDH in controlling translation of interferon-gamma in effector T cells, depending on the metabolic context of the cell. We are trying to define the mRNA-Protein interactome in effector T cells under different metabolic conditions. One such example is the glucose transporter GLUT1, translation of which appears to be controlled by GAPDH. We are now trying to determine the immunological control on this self-modulating signal within Glycolysis. We have data suggesting that a co-stimulatory signal during T cell activation contributes to the control of this glycolytic signal through mitochondrial remodelling. Among other techniques, we are using mRNA-pulldown, metabolomics, mass spectrometry, Protein-mRNA co-IP, QRT-PCR, western blotting, in-vitro translation assays and confocal imaging.

Kohei Kometani Laboratory : Grosschedl Abstract : I want to clarify the mechanism of leukemia caused by the reduced expression of transcription factors EBF1 and Pax5.

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daniel latreille Laboratory : Iovino lab Abstract : Upon fertilization, maternal and paternal genomes undergo extensive chromatin remodeling to allow proper embryogenesis. In the lab, we are focusing on H3K27me3, a repressive histone mark deposited by the PRC2 complex. An intriguing feature of this mark is its asymmetric distribution between the two parental genomes in individual nuclei. I aim to use drosophila embryogenesis as a model coupled to biochemical approaches to characterize the composition of PRC2 complex underlying this asymmetry.

Heekyoung Lee Laboratory : Pichler's lab Abstract : The regulation of DNA endonucleases in the process of homologous recombination is still poorly understood. Our group previously identified two proteins EME1 and SLX4 as novel substrates for sumoylated Ubc9, which are subunits of DNA endonuclease EME1 –Mus81 and SLX1-SLX4 complex, respectively. Interestingly, they form a tetrameric complex together which is highly active during mitosis and involved in replication of common fragile sites and holiday junction resolution. Our former PhD student found EME1 sumoylation enhances its recruitment to DNA damage site and thereby shows a significant increased survival advantage. To gain more deep insights into the role and regulation of EME1 sumoylation in vivo. I'm now generating stable cell lines for different constructs including mutants and planning several functional assays to identify a cellular phenotype for EME1 sumoylation such as sister chromatid exchange and clonogenic survival assay.

Ekaterina Lupar Laboratory : Grosschedl Abstract : Will follow later

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Michael Mihlan Laboratory : Tim Lämmermann Abstract : Mast cells and macrophages are tissue resident innate immune cells that initiate and shape the immune response against invading pathogens. However, interactions and communication between both cell types during acute inflammation has not been investigated yet. In my work I analyse whether and how mast cells and macrophages control or help each other in type two immune responses and how this influences inflammation. Therefore I mainly use live cell imaging, biochemical and cell biological approaches.

Thomas Montavon Laboratory : Jenuwein Abstract : to follow

Yaarub Musa Laboratory : Protoemics Facility Abstract : To be submitted later..

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Anja Nusser Laboratory : Boehm Abstract : The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ, which provides a functional environment for the generation of a mature and self-tolerant T cell repertoire. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a major role in all the different steps of thymopoiesis: progenitor attraction, maintenance and T cell selection. In one of the current projects we are working on a model demonstrating the age-related instability of TEC phenotypes due to the partial loss of the transcription factor FOXN1. The instability of TEC phenotypes results in a very diverse antigen repertoire, which is crucial for T cell selection and the prevention of autoimmune disease. Methods for this research project include single cell as well as bulk RNAseq and flow cytometry.

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David O'Sullivan Laboratory : Pearce Abstract : My research is focused on T cell metabolism. I am particularly interested in how substrate utilization and environmental conditions impact metabolic processes and T cell function. The primary methods used for this research are flow cytometry and metabolic assays

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Abhinav Pandey Laboratory : Grosschedl Abstract : The endoplasmic reticulum contains plethora of folding enzymes and chaperones that help maintain protein folding homeostasis. Mzb1, an ER-resident protein is the least mechanistically understood proteins. Our aim is to understand its function in the ER. We are looking at the effect of Mzb1 in Immunoglobulin and Integrin biosynthesis. We are making use of several biochemical methods to address the questions. To understand Mzb1 role in folding we are using radioactive pulse-chase assay. Using this method we can look at the kinetics of protein folding over time.

Daniel Puleston Abstract : TBC

Deepika Puri Abstract : Abstract to follow...

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Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy Laboratory : Grosschedl Abstract : will follow later ........

Fidel Ramirez Abstract : Chromatin is packed into subunits called topologically associating domains (TADs). My research aims to understand the molecular basis for the formation of these domains and their relation with chromatin marks. Using the fly as model organism we have identified five core promoter motifs present at TAD boundaries and two motifs that are not related to promoters. These results show that TAD formation is encoded into the genome thus helping to explain its stability across cell lines, tissues and even species.

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Madhan Selvaraj Laboratory : Andrew Pospisilik Laboratory Abstract : Our lab is investigating the epigenetic underpinnings of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. My project here at the MPI aims to understand the regulatory mechanisms involved in the development / activation of therapeutically relevant brown / beige fat.

Bilal Sheikh Laboratory : Chromatin Regulation Abstract : My work aims to understand how chromatin modifying complexes regulate different transcriptional programs in different contexts. In particular, I am interested in how the MOF-NSL complex plays regulates transcription and cell function during neural development and in both a healthy and diseased brain. I use mouse models along with transcriptomics and ChIP analysis.

Katarzyna Sikora Abstract : I provide computational solutions to biological questions for the Boehm department. The spectrum of analyses pursued includes differential gene expression, differential methylation, variant calling and sequence microassembly, homology analysis. I'm using state-of-the-art tools and pipelines, when available, or combine and adapt tools for the specific needs of a project.

Witold Szymanski Laboratory : Proteomic Facility Abstract : Proteomic Facility so I make everything so that people can get their samples measured and their data analyzed. Methods: mass spectrometry and all related.

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Sarah Toscano Laboratory : Akhtar Abstract : Our lab is working towards gaining a better understanding of how the X chromosome is spatially organized in the nucleus to execute a two-fold upregulation of genes in the milieu of all the other autosomes in flies. Using the HiC chromosome capture technology, we propose a new concept of “conformation based affinity” as the novel mechanism used by the dosage compensation complex to specifically recognize the X chromosome versus autosomes. However, the current model is based on population based genomewide analyses, where chromosomal contact “probabilities” of loci are calculated. Using Oligopaint technique coupled with super resolution microscopy we are now aiming to study on a single cell level, how the high affinity sites located on the X chromosome cluster in space, compared to other regions on autosomes, thereby contributing to X chromosomal specificity.

Inês Trancoso Laboratory : Boehm Abstract : (will follow later)

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Oscar Velazquez Camacho Laboratory : Thomas Jenuwein Abstract : TBA

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Cheng-Yuan Yang Laboratory : Grosschedl Abstract : Interaction of CNOT3 with EBF1 regulates gene-specific transcription and mRNA stability in B lymphopoiesis.