Basic Science Imaging Platform
Center for Anatomy and Cell BiologySchöfer Laboratory
Scientific focus
We are interested in the dynamics and three-dimensional chromatin architecture during differentiation processes which we study at the cellular as well as at the embryonic level. Currently, we work epigenetic determinants involved in differentiation. We study histone H3 variant H3.3 and its distribution in normal and malignant cells and we study the roles of histone deacetylases (HDACs) for developmental regulation.
For details and literature see http://www.meduniwien.ac.at/celldev/
Employed techniques
On the imaging side, we employ IHC, IF, ISH (DNA and RNA) on various formats (LM, EM, sections, monolayers, whole-mount). Developmental studies are predominately performed using the chicken model system where we apply micromanipulation and in-ovo electroporation to introduce constructs expressing fluorescently tagged proteins. Microscopic evaluation is done using fluorescence microscopy including fluorescence stereo, life-time and confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy.