The epigenomic landscape of four genes which are important in the context of development and disease

After working in a laboratory for DNA nanotechnology (Prof. Dr. Dietz, TUM) during my Bachelor’s program `Engineering Sciences´ (TUM), I wanted to focus more on Biomedicine. Therefore, I proceeded my studies with the Master’s program `Nutrition and Biomedicine´ (TUM). For my Master’s thesis I joined the group `Epigenetic Engineering´ of Dr. Stricker (Helmholtz Zentrum München and BMC) and stayed to do my PhD there. My PhD project is about gene regulation; genes are specific regions of DNA encoding the building plans for our bodies’ proteins. The proteins will then fulfill different tasks, e.g. digesting glucose. The amount of protein produced has to be regulated in order to ensure the body’s and cells’ functioning. This regulation is implemented via so called epigenomic marks – chemical modifications of the DNA itself or of the histones around which DNA is wrapped for storage reasons. Many diseases can be associated with a change of the epigenomic landscape. However, how the epigenomic marks work and where they have to be to influence gene regulation is still largely unknown. I want to investigate the epigenomic landscape of four genes which are important in the context of development and disease.