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Faculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesRTG2550 reloc

Niessen lab - CECAD

SPATIOTEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF THE SPINDLE ORIENTATION MACHINERY IN MITOSIS

In this project  we address how polarity cues control the organization of the mitotic cell cortex to regulate the spatial and temporal dynamics of the molecular spindle orientation machinery  essential to position spindles. We will use the mammalian polarity aPKCs as a paradigm for phosphorylation-dependent events that drive mitosis, spindle orientation and cell fate, as we showed previously that this kinase controls mammalian spindle orientation and cell fate in vivo under homeostatic and pathogenic conditions.

Carien Niessen

Sena Ezgin

PhD Student since January 2024

EMail: sezgin[at]uni-koeln.de

"I completed both my Bachelor`s and Master`s degrees in Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. After gaining neurobiology insides of diseases, I got more curious about the factors influencing cell fate. Currently, I am working in the Niessen Lab, where I aim to enlighten how cell fate and positioning are regulated by cell division during my PhD journey."

Skyler Perot

PhD student since September 2020

EMail: skyler.perot[at]uk-koeln.de

"I am a PhD student interested in mechanisms of ageing and cell fate. Prior to my research at CECAD I completed a Bachelors and Masters at Dartmouth College in the field of Biophysical Chemistry."

Publications

  • How to Build and Regenerate a Functional Skin Barrier: The Adhesive and Cell Shaping Travels of a Keratinocyte. Peskoller M, Bhosale A, Göbel K, Löhr J, Miceli S, Perot S, Persa O, Rübsam M, Shah J, Zhang H, Niessen CM. J Invest Dermatol. 2022 Apr;142(4):1020-1025. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.12.034. Epub 2022 Jan 17. PMID: 35051379 (Perspective)

Aishwarya Bhosale

Graduated in December 2023

EMail: aishwarya.bhosale[at]uk-koeln.de

"In my Ph.D. studies, I study how the skin forms and maintains its epidermal barrier. Before joining Niessen lab, I completed my BS-MS degree from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune -India in the field of Biology and worked in a research laboratory conducting preclinical research studies on various skin diseases."

Publications

  • How to Build and Regenerate a Functional Skin Barrier: The Adhesive and Cell Shaping Travels of a Keratinocyte. Peskoller M, Bhosale A, Göbel K, Löhr J, Miceli S, Perot S, Persa O, Rübsam M, Shah J, Zhang H, Niessen CM. J Invest Dermatol. 2022 Apr;142(4):1020-1025. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.12.034. Epub 2022 Jan 17. PMID: 35051379 (Perspective)

Selected Publications Niessen lab

  • Persa, OD, and C.M. Niessen (2019). Epithelial Polarity limits EMT Nat Cell Biol. 21 :299300

  • Vorhagen, S#., D#. Kleefisch, O.D. Persa, A. Graband, M. Schwickert, M. Saynisch, M. Leitges, C.M. Niessen* , and S*, Iden (2018), Shared and independent functions of aPKClambda and Par3 in skin tumorigenesis. Oncogene. 37(37): p. 5136-5146. #shared first authors, *shared corresponding last authors. 

  • Miroshnikova YA, H.Q. Le, D. Schneider, T. Thalheim, M. Rübsam, N. Bremicker, J. Polleux, N. Kamprad, M. Tarantola, I. Wang, M. Balland, C.M. Niessen, J. Galle, S.A. Wickström (2018), A biomechanical network of adhesion forces and cell mechanics couples proliferation and differentiation to drive epidermal stratification. Nature Cell Biology, 20:69-80.