Chromatin Structure and Gene Expression

Our group is interested in chromatin modifications and their role in gene expression, differentiation and development. One project deals with histone acetylation, a chromatin modification that is linked to opening of chromatin structures and associated with important biological processes such as transcription, replication and DNA repair. Reversible acetylation of core histones is controlled by histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases. We focus in our research on histone deacetylases, enzymes that usually act as transcriptional repressors. We have chosen the mouse as model system and have established an HDAC1 knockout system to analyze in detail the function of this enzyme in different biological processes. In a second project, we examine the cross-talk between histone acetylation and phosphorylation during the activation of mammalian genes. 
 

Epigenetics: Allis, Jenuwein, Reinberg

The Seiser Lab is also a member of:

International PhD Program "Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Signaling"
 
Doctoral Program IK-Cellnucleus