Molecular characterization of novel genes maintaining ES cells pluripotency

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Frank Buchholz
• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 66372883

During the last few years we have witnessed a tremendous increase in knowledge about ES cell pluripotency and reprogramming, with many novel factors discovered that are implicated in these processes. However, our understanding of how pluripotency is maintained or regained is far from being complete. Therefore, further insights into the molecular mechanisms operating during ES cell self-renewal and an integrative assessment of the pathways involved will be needed to harvest the full potential of these cells. During the last funding period we have molecularly dissected the function of two protein complexes that we had discovered in a genome-wide RNAi screen and demonstrated their link to chromatin modifications to maintain ES cell identity. For the second funding period we propose to molecularly characterize two additional protein complexes that were identified in the RNAi screen, employing the successful pipeline that we have set up. Furthermore, we propose to develop a novel method that will allow a systematic investigation of protein-level dependencies in ES cells. We expect that this development will contribute significantly to our understanding how ES cells maintain the balance between pluripotency and the capacity for rapid differentiation.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1356: Pluripotency and Cellular Reprogramming