Quantitative analysis of aneuploid chromosomes using multiplex DNA-FISH

• Applicant: Dr. Laura Breimann
• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 529220992

Multiplexed DNA-FISH has been widely used to study 3D chromatin structure in eukaryotic cells. Still, most analysis methods impose a karyotype assumption for detecting chromosomes, limiting its use in aneuploid cells. However, utilizing multiplexed DNA in aneuploidy research holds great potential to study the architecture of nuclei affected by aneuploidies and the fine-scale structure of chromosomes. My aim for the Walter Benjamin Programme Fellowship is to develop imaging and analysis methods to accurately count chromosomes in cells labeled by multiplexed DNA FISH to facilitate the detection of aneuploidies. This will enable me to characterize the nuclear architecture of cells with trisomies to understand the impact of the aneuploid chromosome. Lastly, I want to study the fine resolution of aneuploid chromosomes using OligoSTORM combined with integrative modeling. Taken together, the proposed project will allow me to study the structure and complex influence of an aneuploid chromosome on its nuclear environment with unprecedented resolution.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professorin Dr. Ting Wu