Architektur der Kernperipherie meiotischer Zellen

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ricardo Benavente
• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2000 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5245948

The molecular mechanisms that enable homologous chromosomes to find each other during meiosis are not known. Circumstantial evidence indicates that the nuclear envelope (NE) plays an essential role since the chromosomes interact via their telomeres dynamically with the NE. Better understanding of the dynamic interactions between NE and telomeres would provide a significant progress in our knowledge on the mechanisms of meiosis. Recently, we have characterized a meiosis-specific structural protein of the mammalian NE (lamin C2) as the first protein which is enriched at the attachment sites of meiotic chromosomes. Within the frame of the present project we propose to continue with the characterization of the molecular architecture of the nuclear periphery of mammalian meiotic cells. The role of lamin C2 will be investigated in already available knock out mice in which the gene coding for this lamin is disrupted. Furthermore, proteins interacting with lamin C2 will be identified and characterized by using a yeast two-hybrid system. The properties of a second meiosis-specific lamin isoform (lamin B3) will be further analyzed.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1050: Funktionelle Architektur des Zellkerns