General Information

Video

Unit 9 - RG Cardiac Organogenesis

Objectives

Our research focuses on the genetic control mechanisms governing vertebrate development using the mouse as a model organism. More specifically, we are interested in gaining a better understanding of the cellular and molecular processes crucial in the development of mesodermally derived organs including heart, kidney, ureter, muscles and skeleton. We use all techniques of modern cell and molecular biology in addition to embryological manipulations in the mouse as well as transgenics and targeted gene disruption to gain information on the mode of action of genes in vivo and in vitro. A major focus of our molecular work lies in the analysis of transcription factors of the Tbx-gene family in organogenesis.

Research Focus

Within REBIRTH, our work aims at obtaining deeper insight into the regionalization and morphogenesis of the heart, and specification of cardiac sublineages by characterizing the molecular function of T-box genes in cardiac development. To this end, we wish to characterize the phenotypic changes associated with null mutations of Tbx mutant mice (Tbx2, Tbx3, Tbx18, Tbx20) in the heart. Biochemical analyses of T-box proteins complement our efforts to characterize cardiac T-box genes. We also wish to identify new genes and relevant signalling pathways acting in parallel to, or downstream from, Tbx genes in patterning, differentiation and morphogenesis of cardiac subregions, focusing on the epicardium and the inflow region with the caval veins. We have complemented these cardiac-related projects with experiments designed to analyse the role of Tbx2 and Tbx3 in the liver and lung, organs also of relevance to the REBIRTH consortium.

Collaborations

• A. Gossler, N. Malek, Hannover Medical School, Institute for Molecular Biology
• J. Heineke, F. Limbourg, K. Wollert, Hannover Medical School, Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology (within the newly funded KFO136 at MHH)
• A. Mansouri, MPI Göttingen
• C. Englert, Jena, Leibniz Institute for Age Research
• E. Lausch, Andrea Superti-Furga, Heymut Omran, University of Freiburg
• V. M. Christoffels, Amsterdam Medical Center
• A. Brändli, ETH Zürich • T. Sato, New York, Cornell University
• K. Niederreither, Houston, Baylor College

Further Research Projects

• Outside the REBIRTH cluster of excellence we persue various projects characterizing the role of T-box genes in organogenesis of the limb, the vertebral column, the craniofacial region, the inner ear and particularly the ureter, that are funded by the DFG: Functional analysis of anterior-posterior somite polarization. Functional analysis of Tbx15 and Tbx18 in limb development. Function and regulation of Tbx18 in ureter development. Function of Wnt signaling in ureter development. Signaling in smooth muscle cell differentiation of the ureter.
• Within the Clinical Research Group KFO136 we have started to investigate the differentiation and mobilization of epicardial cells in development, homoeostasis and regeneration.

Awards

• Rannar Airik, Price of the Symposium of the Ph.D. programme ‘Molecular Medicine’, Hannover (2006)
• Thomas Grieskamp, Oliver Trowe, Andreas Kispert, Poster-Award of the Leibniz Symposium ‘Transplantation and Regeneration of Thoracic Organs’, LEBAO, Hannover (2006)
• Manvendra Kumar Singh MHH PhDPrize ‘Molecular Medicine’ (2006)
• Rannar Airik, MHH Ph.D.-Prize ‘Molecular Medicine’ (2008)
• Henner Farin, PhD Prize of Hannover Medical School (2009)
• Andreas Kispert, Ruysch Lecture, Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam (2010)
• Thomas Grieskamp, PhD Prize of Hannover Medical School (2011)

Teaching

• M.Sc. Biomedicine, B.Sc. Biology, Ph.D. programme

Equipment and Service Facilities

[Please find a list of all available equipment here]

Publications

[Please find the publications of this workgroup here]

Further Information

http://www.mh-hannover.de/8155.html

Staff