SPP 2502:  EPIADAPT: Epigenomic adaptations of the developing neural chromatin

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Biology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 540943155

The overarching objective of the SPP 2502 EPIADAPT is to understand the mechanisms of epigenomic adaptations during the development of the central nervous system (CNS) at both molecular and cellular levels. In this context, the SPP 2502 identified two essential areas, in which participating groups will perform their research with the aim to (i) understand in mechanistic detail which signaling pathways impinge on or are under control of chromatin modifications, and (ii) to connect adapted epigenomes to cellular consequences. To achieve the SPP's aims, effective coordination among the participating teams will be essential in advancing the field all together to the next, mechanistic level that is needed to translate the novel findings on neurodevelopmental epigenetics into actionable knowledge. The coordinated framework of the SPP 2502 will result in setting up standards in usage of novel technologies, including generation of human brain organoids, single-cell high throughput sequencing, bioinformatics analyses and data management. To achieve these aims coordinative tasks have a focus (i) to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between epigenomics, molecular neurosciences and computational biology, (ii) to spread technological innovations including human brain organoid generation, single-cell multiomics, or CRISPR/Cas9 mediated local epigenetic perturbation, and (iii) to integrate molecular and cellular insights from individual projects to provide a broader view on the epigenetic landscape of the developing CNS. The coordination efforts rely on multiple modules, including a scientific manager who will take on all organizational tasks, implements measures of quality control, and deals with the administrative duties. To allow data sharing across research group, the coordination shall support a central facility to generate standardized human brain organoids. As this resource is prone to inherent variability, but the SPP 2502 aims to make epigenetic data transferable between projects, a standard is of particular importance. Regular meetings of the SPP 2502 members and their training in specific workshops are additional means to foster standards, interaction and advancement of the field. The SPP 2502 supports early career scientists by workshops and meetings, in addition to an award for exceptional research proposals to advance the neuroepigenetics research. Another important measure for qualification towards scientific independence is a supervised and structured training for PhD researchers. The quality of the research of the SPP 2502 is last but not least shown by integrating two experts as Mercator-Fellows to complement and advance expertise in single-cell technology and bioinformatics analysis.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes

Projects

• Allele-specific epigenetic regulation by Zfp57 in the control of neuronal identity and function during neuronal differentiation (Applicant Zocher, Sara )
• Coordination Funds (Applicant Vogel, Tanja )
• Dissecting and Perturbing Epigenetic Regulation in Human Cerebral Organoids (Applicant Bonev, Ph.D., Boyan )
• Dissecting the role of the chromatin remodeling BAF complex in cell fate determination in human brain organoids (Applicants Ebert, Peter ;  Gabriel, Elke ;  Sivalingam, Ph.D., Sugirtahn )
• Effects of nutritional stimuli on the epigenetic regulation of human cortical development (Applicant Albert, Mareike )
• Epigenetic Priming of Astrocytes by Early-Life Neuroinflammation: The Role of the SWI/SNF/BAF Complex (Applicants Bano, Daniele ;  Blaess, Sandra ;  Brüstle, Oliver )
• Functional analysis of H3 methylation writers and erasers regulated at the end of neurogenesis (Applicant Götz, Magdalena )
• How Environmental Signals Shape Epigenetic Barriers in Establishing and Reprogramming Brain Cell Fate (Applicants Ninkovic, Ph.D., Jovica ;  Stricker, Stefan )
• Investigating distinct neuronal epigenetic states organized by the nucleoporin Nup153 (Applicants Reis, André ;  Toda, Ph.D., Tomohisa )
• Investigating the interplay of neuron-specific transcription factors and ubiquitous epigenetic regulators in safeguarding neuronal fate induction and maintenance —EpiSafeFate— (Applicant Mall, Moritz )
• Mechanistic Insights how the Direct Interactions of Proteins Involved in DNA Methylation Dynamics Impact Neuronal Differentiation (Applicants Jeltsch, Albert ;  Michalakis, Stylianos ;  Traube, Franziska )
• Metabolism-epigenetics crosstalk during direct neuronal reprogramming (Applicant Masserdotti, Ph.D., Giacomo )
• Sex-specific dynamics of epigenetic gene regulation in the developing brain (Applicants Müller, Fabian ;  Schulze-Hentrich, Ph.D., Julia M. )
• The role of histone-methyltransferase Setd1b in brain development (Applicant Fischer, André )
• The role of liker histone H1 in epigenome adaptation (Applicant Schneider, Robert )
• Timed nucleolar shutdown restructures the developing brain genome (Applicants Kraushar, Ph.D., Matthew ;  Kretzmer, Helene ;  Robson, Michael )
• Untangling site-specific histone methylation underlying microcephaly in humans (Applicant Vogel, Tanja )

• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Tanja Vogel