DFG

All projects jointly focus on the systematic functional and molecular analysis of the USSC.

First priority:
Exact definition of halmark properties of USSC. The ability to balance self renewal and differentiation in all three germ layers as well as germline tissue. This issue need solid functional assesment of in vitro, in vivo and microenvironmental influence, if possible at the clonal level.

This is the task of projects Z, A1, A2 and A3.

Second priority:
How are halmark properties of stem cells geneticaly regulated in the USSC.
Molecular dissection of cell fate regulation at multiple levels as they occur in time.
This is addressed in project A3, A4 and A5 with project Z providing cells and readout systems.

Resolving the biological potential of this multi- / pluri-potent human model stem cell uniquely integrates all six projects of FOR 717.

	Project A1 Analysis of the developmental potential of USSC
Project A2 USSC differentiation into neuronal / glial cell types		Project A3 Reprogramming and dedifferentiation of USSC to germ cells

Project A4 Cell fate regulations, transcription factor and microRNA profiles of USSC		Project A5 Epigenetic changes in differentiation of USSC
	Project Z Delivery of USSC and feedback on differences in differentiation potential

Z	G. Kögler Inst. for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, HHU Düsseldorf
A1	J. Schrader Inst. for Cardiovascular Physiology, HHU Düsseldorf
A2	H.W. Müller Dept. of Neurology, HHU Düsseldorf K. Gottmann Inst. for Neuro- und Sensory Physiology, HHU Düsseldorf C. Rose Inst. for Neurobiology, HHU Düsseldorf
A3	H. Schöler T. Cantz Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster
A4	P. Wernet B. Giebel I. Trompeter Inst. for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, HHU Düsseldorf M. Müschen Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, USC, L.A. (USA)
A5	M. Uhrberg S. Santourlidis Inst. for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, HHU Düsseldorf