Cellular stress response at centromeres (18)

• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: from 2016 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 201348542

Centromeres are essential for kinetochore formation and correct attachment of chromosomes to microtubules during mitosis. The Erhardt group focuses on how centromeres adapt to cellular stress to avoid genome instability. They found that centromeric RNAs together with RNA binding proteins form phase-separated structures during temperature stress. They will study these structures for their relevance in centromere function and cellular surveillance. In addition, a bioinformatics approach identified transcription factors and non-canonical translation factors as novel pericentromeric proteins. Their roles in centromere functioning under physiological and stress conditions will be investigated.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1036: Cellular Surveillance and Damage Response
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Professorin Sylvia Erhardt, Ph.D.