WG Structure and stability of the (epi)genome
The Structure and Stability of the (Epi)Genome research group, headed by Dr. Robert Hänsel-Hertsch, investigates the existence and significance of age-related structural changes in the epigenome and their effects on the development of disease. It is therefore possible that the structure of the genome changes significantly with age and predisposes mammals to the development of diseases such as cancer or degenerative diseases. In addition, the group is investigating whether defined age- or cancer-related structural changes in the epigenome are of diagnostic and therapeutic value.
The working group addresses the following conceptual questions:
- Are epigenome alterations "passengers" or "drivers" of mammalian aging?
- Are there certain structural states of the epigenome that promote genome instability and disease development?
- Can age-related epigenome changes be suppressed and extend the lifespan of mammals?
- Are defined states of the epigenome of diagnostic and therapeutic value?
We are developing and using genomic technologies to answer these questions.
R. Hänsel-Hertsch, J. Spiegel, G. Marsico, D. Tannahill, S. Balasubramanian.
Genome-wide mapping of endogenous G-quadruplex DNA structures by chromatin immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing.
Nature Protocols (2018), 13: 551-564, 5-year IF 2018: 15.1.
PubMed PMID: 29470465
R. Hänsel-Hertsch, Simeone A, Shea A, Hui WWI, Zyner KG, Marsico G, Rueda OM, Bruna A, Martin A, Zhang X, Adhikari S, Tannahill D, Caldas C, Balasubramanian S.
Landscape of G-quadruplex DNA structural regions in breast cancer.
Nat Genet. 2020 Sep;52(9):878-883
PubMed PMID: 32747825
A. Parry, M. Hoare, D. Bihary, R. Hänsel-Hertsch, S. Smith, K. Tomimatsu, S. Balasubramanian, H. Kimura, S. Samarajiwa, M. Narita.
NOTCH-mediated non-cell autonomous regulation of chromatin structure during senescence.
Nature Communications (2018), 9: 1840, 5-year IF 2018: 13.8.
PubMed PMID: 30275516
R. Hänsel-Hertsch, M. Di Antonio, S. Balasubramanian.
DNA G-quadruplexes in the human genome: detection, functions and therapeutic potential.
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology(2017), 18: 279-284, 5-year IF 2018: 49.6.
PubMed PMID: 28225080
R. Hänsel-Hertsch, D. Beraldi, S.V. Lensing, G. Marsico, K. Zyner, A. Parry, M. Di Antonio, J. Pike, H. Kimura, M. Narita, D. Tannahill, S. Balasubramanian.
G-quadruplex structures mark human regulatory chromatin.
Nature Genetics (2016), 10: 1267-72, 5-year IF 2018: 31.1.
PubMed PMID: 27618450
R. Hänsel, F. Löhr, L. Trantirek, V. Dötsch.
High-resolution insight into G-overhang architecture.
Journal of the American Chemical Society (2013), 135: 2816-24, 5-year IF 2018: 14.7.
PubMed PMID: 23339582
L.M. Luh, R. Hänsel, F. Löhr, D.K. Kirchner, K. Krauskopf, S. Pitzius, B. Schäfer, P. Tufar, I. Corbeski, P. Güntert, V. Dötsch.
Molecular crowding drives active Pin1 into nonspecific complexes with endogenous proteins prior to substrate recognition.
Journal of the American Chemical Society (2013), 135: 13796-803, 5-year IF 2018: 14.7.
PubMed PMID: 23968199
I. Krstić, R. Hänsel, O. Romainczyk, J.W. Engels, V. Dötsch, T.F. Prisner.
Long Range Distance Measurements on Nucleic Acids in cells by Pulsed EPR Spectroscopy.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2011), 50: 5070-4, 5-year IF 2018: 12.3.
PubMed PMID: 21506223
R. Hänsel, F. Löhr, S. Foldynova-Trantirkova, E. Bamberg, L. Trantirek, V. Dötsch.
The parallel G-quadruplex structure of vertebrate telomeric repeat sequences is not the preferred folding topology under physiological conditions.
Nucleic Acids Research (2011), 39: 5768-75, 5-year IF 2018: 11.2.
PubMed PMID: 21450807
R. Hänsel, S. Foldynova-Trantirkova, F. Löhr, J. Buck, E. Bamberg, H. Schwalbe, V. Dötsch, L. Trantirek.
Evaluation of parameters critical for observing nucleic acids inside living Xenopus laevis oocytes by in-cell NMR spectroscopy.
Journal of the American Chemical Society (2009), 131: 15761-8, 5-year IF 2018: 14.7.
PubMed PMID: 19824671
