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MPIMG RESEARCH REPORT 2018 Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Impairment of cerebral organoid development induced by microRNA overexpression Shown are day 30 organoids following microRNA overexpression (left), and their matched day 30 untreated organoids (right), stained for the neural stem/progenitor cell marker SOX2 (red) and the neuronal differentiation marker DCX (green). The development of cerebral organoid cytoarchitecture can be clearly seen in control organoids, while it appears stalled following microRNA overexpression. The Elkabetz group is studying the mechanisms by which microRNAs govern cerebral development. Picture: Elkabetz Lab / Human Brain and Neural Stem Cell Studies MPIMG RESEARCH REPORT 2018 Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin, at a visit at the MPIMG during the Long Night of Sciences 2017 (from left to right: Hans Lehrach, Martin Vingron, Michael Müller, Bernhard Herrmann, Alexander Meissner) 4 The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics – Research Report 2018 Editorial We are very pleased to present the 2018 Research Report of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPIMG), covering the time period from 2015 to mid-2018. The Insti- tute looks back on three challenging and productive years. The first important step in the transition and scientific reorientation following the retire- ment of H.-Hilger Ropers and Hans Lehrach in 2014 has been completed successfully by the appointment of Alexander Meissner to director of the new department “Genome Regulation”. This recruitment marks the beginning of a new important track of research at the MPIMG with a strong emphasis on gene regulatory mechanisms in stem cell differen- tiation, embryogenesis and human disease. In addition, the refurbishment of tower 2 has been finalized successfully, providing two departments and a large research group with state-of-the art laboratories. We are also looking forward to the refurbishment of tower 1, which after a long preparation phase is finally scheduled to start this year. We would like to take the occasion to express our gratitude to the Max Planck Society and the many funding agencies that support our work, for providing scientific freedom and independence to pursue the research we burn for and to tackle the most interesting sci- entific questions. We are confident that the scientific results presented in this report have made a significant contribution to science. Compared to earlier reports, this year we have strived to produce a shorter, more concise report. Compact information on our research projects and research results can be found in the reports of the individual departments and groups. In addition, the introduction sum- marizes the main development of the MPIMG and gives a broader outline of the Institute. We hope that the Research Report 2018 will provide a clear impression of the Institute and the work we are doing. Berlin, October 2018 Bernhard G. Herrmann, Alexander Meissner, Martin Vingron 5 The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics – Research Report 2018 Table of contents The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics ..................................................................................7 Structure and organization of the Institute ...............................................................................................7 Research concept of the Institute ..............................................................................................................9 Scientific highlights ......................................................................................................................................9 Scientific awards.........................................................................................................................................12 Appointments of former members of the MPIMG ..................................................................................13 Recruitment of new group leaders ...........................................................................................................13 Support of junior scientists at the MPIMG ..............................................................................................14 Equal opportunities .....................................................................................................................................15 Material resources, equipment and spatial arrangements ...................................................................16 Public relations work ..................................................................................................................................18 Department of Developmental Genetics .................................................................................................20 Department of Genome Regulation ..........................................................................................................28 Meissner Lab – Genome Regulation Group .............................................................................................30 Elkabetz Lab – Lab for Human Brain & Neural Stem Cell Studies ........................................................36 Department of Computational Molecular Biology .................................................................................40 Vingron Lab – Transcriptional Regulation Group ....................................................................................42 Meijsing Lab – Mechanisms of Transcriptional Regulation Group .......................................................50 Herwig Lab – Bioinformatics Group .........................................................................................................55 Hoehe Lab – Diploid Genomics Group ......................................................................................................60 Arndt Lab – Research Group Evolutionary Genomics ............................................................................63 Research Group Development & Disease ...............................................................................................68 Mundlos Lab – Research Group Development & Disease .....................................................................68 Kalscheuer Lab – Chromosome Rearrangements and Disease Group ................................................76 6 The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics – Research Report 2018 Table of contents Otto Warburg Laboratories .......................................................................................................................82 Chung Lab – Max Planck Research Group Epigenomics .......................................................................82 Marsico Lab – Research Group RNA Bioinformatics .............................................................................86 Mayer Lab – Max Planck Research Group Nascent Transcription & Cell Differentiation ................92 Ørom Lab – Research Group Non-coding RNA .......................................................................................97 Schulz Lab – Max Planck Research Group Regulatory Networks in Stem Cells .............................101 Yaspo Lab – Research Group Gene Regulation & Systems Biology of Cancer ................................106 Zi Lab – Research Group Cell Signaling Dynamics ............................................................................... 111 Lehrach Lab – Emeritus Group Vertebrate Genomics .........................................................................116 Reinert Lab – Max Planck Fellow Group Efficient Algorithms for Omics Data ..............................120 Scientific services ....................................................................................................................................124 Animal facility ...........................................................................................................................................124 Transgenic Unit ..........................................................................................................................................127 Sequencing Core Facility..........................................................................................................................130 Mass Spectrometry Facility .....................................................................................................................134 Service Group Microscopy and Cryo-Electron Microscopy ...............................................................140 IT Group ......................................................................................................................................................146 Library & Scientific Information ..............................................................................................................149 Research Support .....................................................................................................................................151 Administration ...........................................................................................................................................151 Technical Management & Workshops ...................................................................................................154 7 Scientific Advisory Board Board of Directors Board of Trustees 8 Bernhard G. Herrmann, Alexander Meissner, Martin Vingron, N.N. Administration, Research Support Scientific Coordination, Public Relations Managing Director Christoph Krukenkamp
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