Research Programme

The RTG1591 (GRK1591) is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). We are dedicated to training PhD and MD students in research projects concerning the post-transcriptional control of gene expression in directing cell fate, human diseases and plant-pathogen interactions. On the molecular level, we wish to characterize how RNA-binding proteins, enzymes acting on RNA, and various regulatory RNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and bacterial sRNAs modulate gene expression. On the basis of animal and plant model organisms, we explore how the post-transcriptional control of gene expression determines cell fate and diseases.

Research projects of the RTG1591:

A1: 
The role of the poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) in cellular RNA metabolism    

A3: 
The role of non-canonical poly(A) polymerases in regulating germ cell homeostasis

A4:
Mechanisms of post‐transcriptional regulation of plakophilin 1 (PKP1) expression and its role in carcinogenesis   

A5: 
Post-transcriptional regulation of the myocardin-related coactivators during muscle cell differentiation

B1: 
Expression and function of the non-coding WISP1 transcript (lncWISP1) in fibrosis 

B2: 
The role of mir-221/222 in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated changes in the cardiovascular system

B3: 
The role of the IGF2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) in growth control and diabetes

B4: 
Control of classical HLA class I antigen by microRNAs and RNA-binding proteins, their impact on immune response and clinical relevance

C1: 
The role of selected RNA-binding proteins and small RNAs in bacterial pathogenicity

C2: 
In vitro characterization of viral suppressors of plant RNA silencing

C3: 
The role of natural antisense long non-coding RNAs in plants