Welcome to the Epigenetics Lab
Why do cells that inherit the same genetic information can adopt different developmental fates? This fundamental biological question is the central research focus of our group. Our research addresses mechanisms leading to the establishment of different transcriptional expression states and how these states are stably transmitted over several cell divisions.
We apply forward genetic screens, reverse genetic approaches, as well as transcriptional and epigenome profiling using the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana to identify the underlying mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance.
Our research is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the SLU, the ERC, the VR and the Carl Tryggers Stiftelse.
Members of the group
Selected Publications
Hehenberger E, Kradolfer D, Köhler C (2012) Endosperm cellularization defines an important developmental transition for embryo development. Development, 139: 2031-203 (Medline)
Roszak P, Köhler C (2011) Polycomb group proteins are required to couple seed coat initiation to fertilization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 108:20826-31 (Medline)
Wolff P, Weinhofer I, Seguin J, Roszak P, Beisel C, Donoghue MT, Spillane C, Nordborg M, Rehmsmeier M, Köhler C. (2011) High-Resolution Analysis of Parent-of-Origin Allelic Expression in the Arabidopsis Endosperm. PLoS Genet. 6:e1002126. (Medline)
Aichinger, E., Villar, C.B., Di Mambro, R., Sabatini, S., Köhler, C. (2011) The CHD3 Chromatin Remodeler PICKLE and Polycomb Group Proteins Antagonistically Regulate Meristem Activity in the Arabidopsis Root. Plant Cell, 23:1047-1060. (Medline)
Weinhofer, I., Hehenberger, E., Roszak, P., Hennig, L., Köhler, C. (2010) H3K27me3 Profiling of the Endosperm Implies Exclusion of Polycomb group Protein Targeting by DNA Methylation. PLoS Genet 6: e1001152. (Medline)
Erilova, E., Brownfield, L., Exner, V., Rosa, M., Twell, D., Mittelsten Scheid, O., Hennig, L., Köhler, C. (2009) Imprinting of the Polycomb Group Gene MEDEA Serves as a Ploidy Sensor in Arabidopsis. PLoS Genet. 5:e1000663. (Medline)
Aichinger, E., Villar, C.B.R., Farrona, S., Reyes, J.C., Hennig, L., Köhler, C. (2009) CHD3 proteins and Polycomb group proteins antagonistically determine cell identity in Arabidopsis. PLoS Genet. (8):e1000605. (Medline)
Köhler, C., Villar, C.B.R. (2008) Programming of gene expression by Polycomb group proteins. Trends Cell Biol. 18:236-243. (Medline)
Köhler, C, Makarevich, G. (2006) Epigenetic mechanisms governing seed development in plants. EMBO Rep. 7:1223-1227. (Medline)
Köhler C, Page DR, Gagliardini V, Grossniklaus U. (2005) The Arabidopsis thaliana MEDEA Polycomb group protein controls expression of PHERES1 by parental imprinting. Nat Genet. 37:28-30. (Medline)
Köhler C, Hennig L, Bouveret R, Gheyselinck J, Grossniklaus U, Gruissem W. (2003) Arabidopsis MSI1 is a component of the MEA/FIE Polycomb group complex and required for seed development. EMBO J. 22:4804-14. (Medline)
Köhler C, Hennig L, Spillane C, Pien S, Gruissem W, Grossniklaus U. (2003) The Polycomb group protein MEDEA regulates seed development by controlling expression of the MADS-box gene PHERES1. Genes & Dev. 17:1540-53. (Medline)