Nuclear organization of centromeres

• Applicant: Dr. Patrick Heun
• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 211808690

The compartmentalization of the eukaryotic cell helps to regulate proper genome function and gene expression. Using Drosophila Schneider S2 cells we can show by live imaging and in fixed cells that the 13 S2-cell centromeres are not randomly positioned in the nucleus, but are closely distributed around the nucleolus in 3-5 clusters throughout interphase. Centromere clustering into chromocenters and association to the nucleolus also occurs in the fly and other higher eukaryotes like mouse and human in a cell type specific way. However, the underlying molecular mechanism or the physiological relevance of neither nucleolus tethering nor centromere clustering is currently understood. To address this question we are planning to use Drosophila tissue culture cells and flies as a model system to knock down candidate proteins by RNA interference (RNAi) or investigate the respective mutants to test for disrupted spatial organization of centromeres.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: United Kingdom