Katrin Neumann
Research Topics
The role of histone demethylases in reprogramming efficiency
Reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by exogenous factors was first reported by Takahashi K. and Yamanaka S. in 20061. Since then various cell types from different species including human have been successfully reprogrammed. However achieved efficiencies are very low necessitating improvements for future therapeutic use of iPS cells. Despite various studies describing the process of reprogramming and its requirements little is known about the importance of accompanying changes in chromatin methylation. My research project focuses on the role of histone demethylases during the generation of iPS cells. It is reasonable that repressing histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) and lysine 27 (H3K27) methylations on pluripotency associated genes have to be removed and histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methylations need to be established to activate their expression in order to stabilize the pluripotent cell state. Thus, overexpression of H3K9 and H3K27 demethylases during reprogramming might improve the efficiency of iPS cell generation. I generate tetracyclin inducible expression constructs for various histone demethylases that are transfected into neural stem cells isolated from fetal mouse brain. Cells are then reprogrammed by exogenous factors Oct4, Klf4 and c-Myc while inducing demethylase overexpression. The efficiency of iPS cell generation is evaluated in order to understand the importance of histone demethylation in this process.
Figure 1. Reprogramming of Oct4-GFP reporter neural stem cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. A. Neural stem cells isolated from fetal mouse brain before reprogramming (400x). B. Alkaline Phosphatase stained iPS cell colony (200x). C. Green fluorescent Oct4-GFP iPS cells (400x).
See also: http://www.spp1356.de/project-area-a/anastassiadis/
1 Takahashi K. and Yamanaka S. (2006) Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors. Cell. 126(4):663-76.
Education
| since 10/2008 | Graduate student, Engineering Stem Cells Group, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technical University of Dresden, Germany |
| 10/2006-09/2008 | Studies of Molecular Bioengineering, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technical University of Dresden, Germany, degree: Master of Science |
| 10/2003-08/2006 | Studies of Molecular Biotechnology, Technical University of Dresden, Germany, degree: Bachelor of Science |
Research Experience
| since 10/2008 | Graduate student, supervisor: Dr. Konstantinos Anastassiadis, Engineering Stem Cells Group, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technical University of Dresden, Germany |
| 03-09/2008 | Master?s Thesis, Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells into the Neural Lineage after Conditional Inactivation of Histone Methyltransferase Mll2. supervisor: Dr. Konstantinos Anastassiadis, Engineering Stem Cells Group, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Germany |
| 03-09/2007 | Student Assistant Job, Institute of Anatomy, Medical Theoretical Center, Dresden, Germany |
| 04-09/2006 | Bachelor?s Thesis, Untersuchungen zur Rolle von Cabeolin-1 und Caveolin-2 im Alveolarepithel vor und nach Bleomycinbehandlung (Studies on the role of Caveolin-1 and Caveolin-2 in alveolar epithelium before and after treatment with Bleomycin). supervisor: Prof. Michael Kasper, Institute of Anatomy, Medical Theoretical Center, Dresden, Germany |
