SFB 590:  Inherent and Adaptive Differentiation Processes

• Subject Area: Biology ; Medicine
• Term: from 2001 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5484824

The aim of the program is to unravel complex inherent and adaptive differentiation processes, i.e. processes that depend on the integration of multiple components. Studies of the different groups is directed to analyse both the components themselves, but in particular their temporal and spatial regulation and their interrelationships.
Inherent differentiation processes are analysed in different contexts - as single cells, tissues or organs. Single cell analysis covers studies on cell polarity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the transition from a yeast to a hypha form in Candida albicans. Differentiation processes of single cells within an organism include investigations on cell polarity in neuroblasts and the reorganisation of the cytoskeleton during the transition from a stationary to a migratory cell in Drosophila. Differentiation processes of cells within a tissue are studied in epithelia of Drosophila and C. elegans. Cell type specification and pattern formation within organs is analysed in the limb and the telencephalon of the mouse and in the photosynthetic active tissues of plant leaves. Adaptive differentiation processes are activated as response to external stimuli. Those can be naturally occurring influences, such as changes in light quality or intensity during growth of Arabidopsis. External influences can also be noxious for the organism, e. g. those that lead to injuries or when parasitea enter a cell, such as Plasmodium or Chlamydia. In all these cases, the organism responds by modifying the genetic program in order to adapt to the different environment or to escape damages induced by the parasite.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• International Connection: United Kingdom

Completed projects

• A01 - Molecular determinants of polarized growth in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Project Head Fleig, Ursula-Nicole )
• A02 - Genetische Kontrolle asymmetrischer Zellteilungen im Zentralnervensystem von Drosophila melanogaster (Project Head Wodarz, Andreas )
• A04 - Morphogenesis and hypoxic adaptation in Candida albicans (Project Head Ernst, Joachim F. )
• A05 - Regulationsmechanismen der Schwannzelldifferenzierung (Project Head Küry, Ph.D., Patrick )
• A06 - Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis of the structure, transport and interactions of proteins relevant for cellular differentiation (Project Head Seidel, Claus )
• B01 - Genetische Kontrolle der mesodermalen Zellwanderung in der Embryogenese von Drosophila (Project Head Müller, Arno H.J. )
• B02 - Kontrolle der Epitheldifferenzierung von Drosophila melanogaster (Project Head Knust, Elisabeth )
• B03 - Etablierung und Erhalt der Zellpolarität im Darmepithel von C.elegans (Project Head Bossinger, Olaf )
• B04 - Limb development: Functional analysis of Ftm (Project Head Rüther, Ulrich )
• B5 - Differenzierungsprozesse in Telenzephalon (Project Head Theil, Thomas )
• B06 - Molecular determinants of mesophyll and bundle sheath differentiation in C4 plants (Project Head Westhoff, Peter )
• B07 - Control of Arabidopsis cell fate by CORYNE (Project Head Simon, Rüdiger )
• B08 - Pathway of complementary sex determination (Project Head Beye, Martin )
• B09 - The role of bundle sheath cell-generated metabolic signals in controlling the differentiation of mesophyll cells (Project Head Weber, Andreas P.M. )
• B10 - The function of the tumour suppressor gene lethal (2) giant discs (lgd) during the development of Drosophila and Mouse (Project Head Klein, Thomas )
• B11 - Investigation of Ephrin-A reverse signalling in pancreatic islets (Project Head Lammert, Eckhard )
• C01 - Charakterisierung der Phytochrom-Signaltransduktion bei Arabidopsis thaliana (Project Head Höcker, Ute )
• C02 - Genetic control of neuronal regeneration following axotomy - the role of GIP and SDF-1 (Project Head Müller, Hans Werner )
• C4 - Differenzierung der Milz zum anti-Malaria-Effektor: Rolle von Malaria-induzierbaren Genen der neuen imap-Familie (Project Head Wunderlich, Frank )
• C05 - Interaction of Chlamydia pneumoniae with the host cell: adhesion, internalisation and the intracellular differentiation (Project Head Hegemann, Johannes H. )
• C06 - Activation and differentiation of macrophages mediated by proinflammatory cytokines (Project Head Pfeffer, Klaus )
• C09 - Molecular characterisation of EIN2, a central element in plant hormone signalling (Project Head Groth, Georg )
• N1 - Inhärente und adaptive Differenzierungsprozesse (Project Head Schubert, Daniel )
• N01 - Control of cell fate in plants (Project Head Schubert, Daniel )
• Z01 - Bioanalytical Core Facility (Project Heads Köhrer, Karl ;  Metzger, Sabine )
• Z02 - Administration and Financial Management, SFB Secretary (Project Head Westhoff, Peter )

• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Peter Westhoff