Englert Forschungsgruppe

Molecular basis of urogenital development

Many "disease" genes in humans play essential roles in the development of specific organs. Examples are the Wilms' tumor suppressor gene wt1 that, in its mutated form, causes a pediatric kidney cancer and is indispensable for gonad and kidney development in humans and mice. Kidney diseases are also caused by members of the Eya ("Eyes absent") and Six ("Sine oculis") gene families (branchio-oto-renal syndrome). In order to understand how mutations of those genes cause malformations in humans, we are trying to explore the molecular mechanisms by which the respective gene products exert their function. For this we are employing biochemistry, cell biology as well as animal models (mouse, zebrafish).

Pathways regulating aging and lifespan in a short-lived vertebrate