Detail

Keywords

Apoptosis; Autophagy; Caspases; Endonucleases; Epidermis; Evolution, Molecular; Genomics; Keratinocytes; Keratins; Melanocytes; Neurons; Skin; Skin Diseases

Research group(s)

• Research Division of Biology and Pathobiology of the Skin
  Members:
  Leopold Eckhart
  Florian Gruber

Research interests

• Barrier function of the skin,
• Evolution of the skin,
• Programmed cell death,
• Autophagy,
• Genomics

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

• Comparative genomics
• Targeted gene deletions in animal models
• In vitro models of human skin
• Molecular biological, biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques

Grants

• Characterization of age-related protein accumulation in autophagy-deficient neurons. (2015)
  Source of Funding: Herzfelder'sche Familienstiftung,
  Principal Investigator
• European Network of Multidisciplinary Research and Translation of Autophagy knowledge (TRANSAUTOPHAGY) (2015)
  Source of Funding: EU, COST
  Principal Investigator
• Evolution of epidermal cornification proteins (2015)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-Alone Projects
  Principal Investigator
• Molecular evolution of the epidermis in amniotes (2011)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-Alone Projects
  Principal Investigator
• The role of DNase1L2 in epidermal DNA degradation (2008)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-Alone Projects
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Strasser, B. et al., 2014. Evolutionary Origin and Diversification of Epidermal Barrier Proteins in Amniotes. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 31(12), pp.3194-3205. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msu251.
2. Fischer, H. et al., 2014. Loss of Keratin K2 Expression Causes Aberrant Aggregation of K10, Hyperkeratosis, and Inflammation. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 134(10), pp.2579-2588. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jid.2014.197.
3. Mlitz, V. et al., 2014. Trichohyalin-Like Proteins Have Evolutionarily Conserved Roles in the Morphogenesis of Skin Appendages. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 134(11), pp.2685-2692. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jid.2014.204.
4. Fischer, H. et al., 2011. Essential Role of the Keratinocyte-Specific Endonuclease DNase1L2 in the Removal of Nuclear DNA from Hair and Nails. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 131(6), pp.1208-1215. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jid.2011.13.
5. Eckhart, L. et al., 2008. Identification of reptilian genes encoding hair keratin-like proteins suggests a new scenario for the evolutionary origin of hair. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(47), pp.18419-18423. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0805154105.