Kooter Lab Profile

Research Focus: Non-coding RNAs and RNA directed epigenetics in plants. Epigenetic regulation of telomerase expression in human cells and cancer cells.

We are using RNA directed DNA methylation (RdDM) to epigenetically modulate the function of promoter sequences in plants. Genes required for the pigmentation of petals of petunia are targeted by RdDM since they provide a very sensitive read-out.

Another project is about the regulation of the human hTERT gene. In many somatic cells, hTERT is not expressed whereas in many cancer cells hTERT is expressed. Methylation of particular CpG island appears to play an essential role in the