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Chair of Bioinformatics

Projects

The regulation of the RNA life cycle is crucial for the healthy functioning of all cells. Conversely, the misregulation of RNAs can lead to a variety of diseases. Understanding the mechanisms of RNA regulation therefore helps to understand how these diseases develop and can also be used to develop new therapeutic approaches.


Our research on the life cycle of RNAs can be divided into the following key areas:

 

RNA Splicing in Health and Disease

[Translate to Englisch:] Schema des RNA Splicing Prozesses

Splicing is a crucial process in RNA processing. We are interested in how splicing is regulated in the cell and consider the effects on various diseases.

 

Cytoplasmic RNA-Regulation

[Translate to Englisch:] Schema eine RNA-Transport-Maschinerie zeigt.

The translation of mRNAs and their degradation is regulated in the cytoplasm. In addition, the localisation of mRNAs can influence whether the mRNAs are translated and where the locally translated proteins exert their effect.

 

RNA-Modifications

[Translate to Englisch:] Schema in dem eine m6A Modifikation auf eine DRACH Position geschrieben wird und von anderen Proteinen ausgelesen wird.

Here we investigate how RNA modifications influence the life cycle of the modified RNA. m6A, the most common internal RNA modification in mRNAs, can influence the stability, translation and degradation of RNAs, among other things.

 

DNA Damage and Genome Integrity

[Translate to Englisch:] Schema mit Nucleosomen links und Cohesin?Condensin Loops rechts.

DNA damage can be caused by various factors such as UV radiation, chemical mutagens and reactive oxygen species, but also by the natural ageing process. We are particularly interested in mechanisms such as DNA repair systems that recognise and repair DNA damage in order to maintain the integrity of the genome.

Software Toolbox

We develop software packages for the scientific community. These establish new analysis methods for special sequencing data or simplify their analyses.