Formerly Research Group Hemleben
| Prof. Dr. Vera Hemleben Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Genetik Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen (ZMBP) Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen Auf der Morgenstelle 32 72076 Tübingen Germany Tel.: |  |
Research Interests
The main research interest of our group can be summarized under the topics "Genome organization, evolution and function", especially in cultivated plants (Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Gramineae) and „Molecular Evolution“ of higher plants. The respective subgroups are closely interacting.
Detailed research projects are:
1) Molecular evolution of higher plants; relationship between wild progenitors species and cultivated plants (Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Aveneae) and Foraminifera using different regions of the nuclear encoded ribosomal RNA genes (ETS, ITS 1 and ITS 2, 25S rDNA and 5S rDNA) as molecular marker.
2) Transcriptional regulation and structural organisation of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA). Nucleolar dominance; DNA/protein interaction at the intergenic spacer (IGS) region; transient expression and transgenic expression studies, organisation of rDNA repepats in Solanaceae.
3) Characterization of somatic fusion hybrids between protoplasts of Solanum wild species and Solanum tuberosum breeding lines and DNA-marker based selection of agronomically important characters. Search for species-specific DNA-marker (satellite DNA, ribosomal DNA), RAPD- and RFLP analysis. Characterization of pathogen resistance genes in Solanum species.
4) Structure, function and evolution of highly repeated satellite DNA and dispersed distributed repetitive DNA (retroposons) components in Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae and Aveneae.
5) Microbial degradation and risk assessment, transgenic plants.
Group members
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Research projects
1) Molecular Evolution
a) Molecular evolution of Cucurbitaceae
Coworkers: former: Dr. Jürgen Jobst, present: Angela Dressel
Selected Publications:
King, K., Torres, R.A., Zentgraf, U., and Hemleben, V.: Molecular evolution of the intergenic spacer in the nuclear ribosomal RNA genes of Cucurbitaceae. J. Mol. Evol. 36, 144 - 152 (1993)
Jobst, J., King, K. and Hemleben, V.: Molecular evolution of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and phylogenetic relationships among species of Cucurbitaceae. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 9:204-219 (1998)
b) Molecular evolution of Aveneae species.
Coworker: Dr. Bärbel Grebenstein. Cooperation with Dr. Martin Röser, Universität Halle
Financial support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Selected Publications:
Grebenstein, B., Grebenstein, O., Sauer, W., Hemleben, V.: Distribution and complex organisation of satellite DNA sequences in Aveneae species. Genome 39, 1045-1050 (1996)
Grebenstein, B., Röser, M., Sauer, W., Hemleben, V.: Molecular phylogenetic relationships in Aveneae (Poaceae) species and other grasses as inferred from ITS1 and ITS2 sequences. Plant Syst. Evol. 213:233-250 (1999)
Grebenstein, B., Winterfeld, G., Röser, M., Hemleben, V.: Molecular diversity and physical mapping of 5S rDNA in wild and cultivated oat grasses ( Poaceae: Aveneae). Mol. Phyl. Evo. 21:198-217 (2001)
c) Molecular evolution and climate influence
Coworkers: Dr. Guido Grimm; Dipl. Biol. Matthias Schlee, Karin Stögerer
cooperation with Prof. Dr. Volker Mosbrugger, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Tübingen
Financial support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG
d) Molecular species concept in Foraminifera
Coworkers: Dr. Topac Ertan (email: topac.ertan@uni-tuebingen.de), Karin Stögerer; cooperation with Prof. Dr. Christoph Hemleben, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Tübingen.
Former coworkers: Dr. Martin Langer
Selected Publications:
Langer, M. R., Straub, M., Hemleben, Ch., Hemleben, V.,and Mosbrugger, V., 1998. Origin and Molecular Biogeography of Foraminifera. Revista de la Sociedad Mexicana de Paleontología, Abstract FORAMS '98.
Langer, M.R., 1997. Evolutionary, environmental and economical significance of foraminifera. Kumulative Habilitationsschrift, Geowissenschaftliche Fakultät, Universität Tübingen, pp. 1-40
2) Transcriptional regulation of plant nuclear ribsosomal RNA genes.
Coworkers: Dipl. Biol. Nataliya Komarova, Tim Overkamp; Coworkers: former: Dr. Riccardo Velasco, present: Angela Dressel;
Cooperation: Dr. Roman Volkov, ZMBP, University of Tübingen; Dr. Nikolai Borisjuk, Rutgers University, U.S.A.
Financial support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Selected Publications:
Hemleben, V. and Zentgraf, U.: Structural organization and regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase I of plant nuclear ribosomal RNA genes. In: Plant Promoters and Transcription Factors. Nover, L. (Ed), Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation. pp. 3 - 24, Vol. 20, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, 1994
Torres-Ruiz, R.A. and Hemleben: Pattern and degree of methylation in ribosomal RNA genes of Cucurbita pepo L. Plant Mol. Biol. 26, 1167 - 1179 (1994)
Zentgraf, U., Velasco, R., Hemleben, V.: Molecular Cell Biology: Different Transcriptional Activities in the Nucleus. In: Progr. Botany (Behnke et al., eds.) pp. 131-168, Vol. 59, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1998
Volkov, R.A., Borisjuk, N.V., Panchuk, I.I., Schweizer, D., Hemleben, V.: Elimination and rearrangement of parental rDNA in the allotetraploid Nicotiana tabacum. Mol. Biol. Evo. 16(3):311-320 (1999)
Volkov, R.A., Medina F.J., Zentgraf, U., Hemleben, V.: Molecular Cell Biology: Organization and molecular evolution of rDNA, nucleolar dominance and nucleolus structure. In: Progr. Botany (Esser et al., eds.) Vol. 65, pp. 106-146, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2004
3) DNA marker based selection of agronomically useful traits in protoplast fusion hybrids of Solanum species.
Coworkers: Dipl. Biol. Nataliya Komarova, Dipl. Biol. Thomas Grabe
Former coworkers: Dr. Christine Zanke, Dr. Irina Panchuk.
Cooperation: Dr. Roman Volkov, University of Tübingen, Dr. L. Schilde-Rentschler, University of Tübingen,
Financial support: DFG, BMBF
Selected Publications:
Schweizer, G., Borisjuk, N., Borisjuk, L., Stadler, M., Stelzer, T., Schilde, L., and Hemleben, V.: Molecular analysis of highly repeated genome fractions in Solanum and their use as markers for the characterization of species and cultivars. Theor. Appl. Genet. 85, 801 - 808 (1993)
Stadler, M., Stelzer, T., Borisjuk, N., Zanke, C., Schilde-Rentschler, L., Hemleben, V.: Distribution of novel and known repeated elements of Solanum and application for the identification of somatic hybrids among Solanum species. Theor. Appl. Genet. 91, 1271-1278 (1995)
Menke, U., Schilde-Rentschler, L., Ruoss, B., Zanke, C., Hemleben, V., Ninnemann, H.: Somatic hybrids between the cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum L. and the 1EBN wild species Solanum pinnatisectum Dun.: Morphological and molecular characterization. Theor. Appl. Genet. 92: 617-626 (1996)
Hemleben, V., Zanke, C., Panchuk, I., Volkov, R.: Repetitive elements as molecular markers in potato breeding. Beiträge zur Züchtgsforschg. 4:61-66 (1998)
4) Structure, function and evolution of highly repeated satellite DNA in higher plants.
Coworkers: Dr. Mariana Helm, Angela Dressel.
Cooperation with Prof. Dr. Tenghiz Beridze, Georgia; Dr. Ales Kovarik, Brünn
Selected Publications:
Hemleben, V., Zentgraf, U., King, K., Borisjuk, N., and Schweizer, G.: Middle repetitive and highly repetitive sequences detect polymorphisms in plants. In: DNA-polymorphisms in Eukaryotic Genomes. Kahl, G., Appelhans, H., Kömpf, J., Driesel, A.J. (Eds.). BioTechForum (BTF), Advances in Molecular Genetics, Vol. 5, pp. 157 - 170, Huethig Verlag, Heidelberg, 1992
Hemleben, V.: Repetitive and highly repetitive DNA components as molecular markers for evolutionary studies and in plant breeding. In: Current Topics in Mol. Genet. (Life Sci. Adv.) 1, 173 - 185 (1993)
King, K., Jobst, J., and Hemleben, V.: Differential homogenization and amplification of two satellite DNAs in the genus Cucurbita. J. Mol. Evol. 41, 996-1005 (1995)
Helm, M. and Hemleben, V.: Characterization of a new prominent satellite of Cucumis metuliferus and differential distribution of satellite DNA in cultivated and wild species of Cucumis and in related genera of Cucurbitaceae. Euphytica 94, 219-226 (1997)
Hemleben, V., Schmidt, T., Torres-Ruiz, R. A. and Zentgraf, U.: Molecular Cell Biology: Role of Repetitive DNA in Nuclear Architecture and Chromosome Structure. In: Progr. Botany (Esser et al., eds.) pp. 91-117, Vol. 61, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1999
Fann, J.Y., Kovarik, A. Hemleben, V, Tsirekidze, N., Beridze, T.G.: Molecular and structural evolution of Citrus satellite DNA. Theor. Appl. Genet. 103:1068-1073
5) Gene technology and risk assessment.
Cooperation: Dr. Silke Kleihauer, Frankfurt, Dipl.-Biol. Christa Knorr; Fraunhofer Institut für Systemtechnik und Innovationsforschoung (ISI), Dr. Thomas von Schell, Akademie für Technikfolgenabschätzung, Stuttgart, Prof. Dr. Eve-Marie Engels, Lehrstuhl für Ethik in den Biowissenschaften, Universität Tübingen, Prof. Dr. D. Mieth, Zentrum für Ethik in den Wissenschaften (IZEW), Universität Tübingen
Selected Publications:
Knorr, C. und T. v. Schell (Hrsg.): Mikrobieller Schadstoffabbau: Ein interdisziplinärer Ansatz, Verlag Vieweg, Stuttgart, 1997
Kleihauer, S.: Umweltfolgenabschätzung bei der Freisetzung gentechnisch veränderter Pflanzen. Dissertation, Tübingen, 1999.