Epigenomics, Epigenome evolution

in Saarbrücken

The research group is specialised on comparative analyses of imprinted genes in different mammalian species. Especially in the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome region and in the imprinted Dlk1-Gtl2 region on mouse chromosome 12 new imprinted genes have been identified and their allele-specific and tissue-specific expression patterns have been investigated. Especially the imprinted domain on chromosome 12 is characterised by numerous, maternally expressed snoRNAs and miRNAs that show prominent expression in the brain.
Comparing the DNA sequences of orthologous regions in human and mouse has resulted in the identification of potential regulatory elements that might interact with major imprinting centres and imprinted promoters in their neighbourhood.
In addition, imprinted regions and epigenetic regulatory elements have been investigated in a genome-wide style. These studies have highlighted common sequence features of imprinted genes, such as intronic CpG islands and complex patterns of tandem repeats.
http://www.uni-saarland.de//fak8/genetik/

Technologies

- Work with "exotic" mouse strains - Allele-specific expresssion analyses - Computational investigations on DNA sequences

Publications

Tierling, S., G. Gasparoni, N. Youngson, and M. Paulsen. 2009. The Begain gene marks the centromeric boundary of the imprinted region on mouse chromosome 12. Mamm Genome.
Hutter, B., M. Paulsen, and V. Helms. 2009. Identifying CpG Islands by Different Computational Techniques. Omics.
Steinhoff, C., M. Paulsen, S. Kielbasa, J. Walter, and M. Vingron. 2009. Expression profile and transcription factor binding site exploration of imprinted genes in human and mouse. BMC Genomics 10: 144.

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Contact

Dr. Martina Paulsen
Universität des Saarlandes
FR 8.2 Genetik
Postfach 151150
66041 Saarbrücken, Germany

Phone: +49 681 302 2795

Email: