Prof. Dr. Julia Schulze-Hentrich

Research

The DNA of every cell in our body contains the genes inherited from our parents and plays a crucial role in health and disease. While changes in the DNA itself are linked to monogenic diseases, they often fail to explain complex disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases. This can potentially be explained by additional layers of gene regulation known to be stored "above" the DNA, at the epigenetic level. This relatively young field of research has shown over the last years that the molecular structures that package the DNA in the cell nucleus influence gene activity. The DNA itself as well as its packaging structure, the so-called chromatin, can be chemically modified in many ways and is highly dynamic. With these findings, chromatin appears to be a central interface between genes and the environment, and the development and progression of diseases could be decisively influenced by epigenetic changes. Our working group investigates which epigenetic modifications are associated with complex neurological diseases - in particular Parkinson's and Huntington's - and how environmental factors and aging have a modulating effect on them. In addition, we are interested in understanding the molecular basis of rare diseases on an epigenetic level. You can find more about current research projects here.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested to work with us. We are always looking for talented students (bachelor's, master's and doctoral theses) who would like to join our group. Our contact details and further information can be found here.

Most Recent Publications

• Schaffner SL, Casazza W, Artaud F, Konwar C, Merrill SM, Domenighetti C, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Lesage S, Brice A, Corvol JC, Mostafavi S, Dennis JK, Elbaz A, Kobor MS; DIGPD Study Group.
  Genetic variation and pesticide exposure influence blood DNA methylation signatures in females with early-stage Parkinson's disease.
  NPJ Parkinsons Dis, 2024, 10(1):98.doi: 10.1038/s41531-024-00704-3.

• Schaffner SL, Wassouf Z, Hentrich T, Nuesch-Germano M, Kobor MS, Schulze-Hentrich JM.
  Distinct impacts of alpha-synuclein overexpression on the hippocampal epigenome of mice in standard and enriched environments.
  Neurobiol Dis, 2023, 186:106274.doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106274.

• Yaldiz B, Kucuk E, Hampstead J, Hofste T, Pfundt R, Corominas Galbany J, Rinne T, Yntema HG, Hoischen A, Nelen M, Gilissen C; Solve-RD consortium.
  Twist exome capture allows for lower average sequence coverage in clinical exome sequencing.
  Hum Genomics, 2023, 17(1):39.doi: 10.1186/s40246-023-00485-5.

• Fitzel R, Secker-Grob KA, Keppeler H, Korkmaz F, Schairer R, Erkner E, Schneidawind D, Lengerke C, Hentrich T, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Schneidawind C.
  Targeting MYC in combination with epigenetic regulators induces synergistic anti-leukemic effects in MLLr leukemia and simultaneously improves immunity.
  Neoplasia, 2023, 41:100902.doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100902.

• Edelmann S, Wiegand A, Hentrich T, Pasche S, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Munk MHJ, Fallgatter AJ, Kreifelts B, Nieratschker V.
  Blood transcriptome analysis suggests an indirect molecular association of early life adversities and adult social anxiety disorder by immune-related signal transduction.
  Front Psychiatry, 2023, 14:1125553.doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1125553.

• Kilzheimer A, Hentrich T, Rotermund C, Kahle PJ, Schulze-Hentrich JM.
  Failure of diet-induced transcriptional adaptations in alpha-synuclein transgenic mice.
  Hum Mol Genet, 2023, 13;32(3):450-461. doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddac205.

Please find all our publications of the last six years here.