This cover-story in Nucleic Acids Research received extensive world-wide feedback and was one of the most downloaded NAR papers in 2006.
Schumacher lab on the road:
Read about our study on epigenetics of late-onset Alzheimer's disease:
Have a look at our study of epigenetic changes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder:
This study provides evidence of silencing of genes responsible for communication with the brain, brain development and other processes linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
This report was covered in several news stories around the world.
Jan 9th, 2009, 11 am (11.00h),
OICR SCIENTIFIC SEMINAR, MaRS Centre Toronto
Title:
Age-specific epigenetic drift and complex diseases.
Speaker:
Dr. Axel Schumacher; Technical University Munich/Germany
Abstract:
Current theories about the development of complex human diseases such as cancer, asthma, diabetes, lupus or neurobehavioral disorders hinge on the premise that these diseases arises mainly from genetic causes. Yet, beyond genetic determinism, the complex, non-Mendelian disease etiology suggests that epigenetic components could be involved. Epigenetics refers to the heritable, but reversible, regulation of various genetic functions, including gene expression, mediated through modifications of histones and DNA (e.g. DNA methylation). Consistent with the epigenetic theory of complex diseases, it is demonstrated that epigenetic phenomena and environmental influences are widespread in aging and in complex diseases such as pancreatic cancer.
MaRS Centre East, Toronto Medical Discoveries Tower, 101 College St., Fourth Floor, Seminar Room 4-204, M5G 0A3 Toronto/Canada
Jan 8th, 2009 4 pm (16:00h),
McMaster Univ., Hamilton/Canada Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology (MCDB) Seminar Series
Title:
Complex diseases, environment and the emerging epigenetic paradigm:
Lessons from neurobehavioral disorders.
Speaker:
Dr. Axel Schumacher; Technical University Munich/Germany
Abstract:
Current theories about the development of complex human diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer , asthma, diabetes, lupus or neurobehavioral disorders hinge on the premise that these diseases arises mainly from genetic causes. Yet, beyond genetic determinism, the complex, non-Mendelian disease etiology suggests that epigenetic components could be involved. Epigenetics refers to the heritable, but reversible, regulation of various genetic functions, including gene expression, mediated through modifications of histones and DNA (e.g. DNA methylation). Consistent with the epigenetic theory of complex diseases, it is demonstrated that epigenetic phenomena and environmental influences are widespread in complex diseases such as late-onset Alzheimer's disease, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
McMaster University, Department of Biology, Health Sciences room HSC-1A04, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton ON Canada L8S 4K1
Jan 7th, 2009 12 am (12:00h),
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Canada
Title:
Complex diseases, environment and the emerging epigenetic paradigm:
Lessons from neurobehavioral disorders.
Speaker:
Dr. Axel Schumacher; Technical University Munich/Germany
Abstract:
Current theories about the development of complex human diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer , asthma, diabetes, lupus or neurobehavioral disorders hinge on the premise that these diseases arises mainly from genetic causes. Yet, beyond genetic determinism, the complex, non-Mendelian disease etiology suggests that epigenetic components could be involved. Epigenetics refers to the heritable, but reversible, regulation of various genetic functions, including gene expression, mediated through modifications of histones and DNA (e.g. DNA methylation). Consistent with the epigenetic theory of complex diseases, it is demonstrated that epigenetic phenomena and environmental influences are widespread in complex diseases such as late-onset Alzheimer's disease, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Sidney Smith Hall, Room to be announced, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G3
Jan 5th, 2009, 1 pm (13:00h),
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
Title:
Complex diseases, environment and the emerging epigenetic paradigm:
Lessons from neurobehavioral disorders.
Speaker:
Dr. Axel Schumacher; Technical University Munich/Germany
Abstract:
Current theories about the development of complex human diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer , asthma, diabetes, lupus or neurobehavioral disorders hinge on the premise that these diseases arises mainly from genetic causes. Yet, beyond genetic determinism, the complex, non-Mendelian disease etiology suggests that epigenetic components could be involved. Epigenetics refers to the heritable, but reversible, regulation of various genetic functions, including gene expression, mediated through modifications of histones and DNA (e.g. DNA methylation). Consistent with the epigenetic theory of complex diseases, it is demonstrated that epigenetic phenomena and environmental influences are widespread in complex diseases such as late-onset Alzheimer's disease, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry; Kraepelinstr. 2-10; 80804 Munich/Germany, Main Lecture Hall
27th to 30th of September, 2008
HUGO Meeting, Hyderabad/India
Title:
A Reproducible High-throughput Methylome Analysis of a Single Cell
Speaker:
Martin Kantlehner, Petra Hartmann, Emre Anbarci, Marianna Alunni-Fabbroni, Axel Schumacher
Abstract:
Within the last years the field of DNA methylation has grown dramatically and became one of the most dynamic and fast growing branches of molecular biology. The amount of diseases suspected of being influenced by DNA methylation is rising steadily and includes common diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, major psychosis, lupus or Parkinson's disease. Due to cellular heterogeneity of methylation patterns, epigenetic analysis of single cells (one-cell Methylome) becomes a necessity. One rationale is that DNA methylation profiles are highly variable across individual cells, even in the same organ, dependent on the function of the gene, disease state, exposure to environmental factors (e.g. radiation, drugs or nutrition), stochastic fluctuations, and various other causes. Some of the standard methods for methylation analysis of DNA are the biochemical, highly selective cleavage of methylated or unmethylated DNA fragments with specific restriction enzymes (e.g. HpaII, Hin6I and McrBC) and the chemical transformation of unmethylated cytosines into uracile with sodium bisulfite. Using the AmpliGrid microreaction system, we present here the application of these technologies in the analysis of very small amounts of DNA, cells or, ultimatively, even a single cell.
