Research Topic
We are investigating the mechanisms controlling germ cell fate and migration using zebrafish as an in vivo model. We study the control over the acquisition and maintenance of the germ cell fate and determine the precise roles specific molecules play in this critical developmental event. In addition, we are studying the process of germ cell motility and directed migration. A specific aspect of the second research direction relates to the formation of the gonad in the vertebrate organism. This topic is investigated in the context of the CRC where we focus on the identification of tissues and structures important for the positioning of the migratory germ cells. We conduct functional analysis of specific molecules expressed in cells located within the region where the gonad develops. In this way we define the molecular mechanisms controlling cell-cell interactions that regulate the 3-dimensional organisation of the organ.
Selected Publications
- Gross-Thebing, T., Raz, E. (2020). Dead end and Detour: The function of the RNA-binding protein Dnd in posttranscriptional regulation in the germline. Current Topics in Developmental Biology 140, 181-208.
- Westerich, K.J.*, Chandrasekaran, K.S.*, Gross-Thebing, T., Kück, N., Raz, E. +, Rentmeister, A. + (2020). Bioorthogonal mRNA labeling at the poly(A) tail for imaging localization and dynamics in live zebrafish embryos. Chemical Science 11, 3089, * Equal contribution , + co-corresponding authors.
- Grimaldi, C., Raz E. (2020). Germ cell migration-Evolutionary issues and current understanding. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology 100, 152-159.
- Olguin-Olguin, A., Aalto, A., Maugis, B., Reichman-Fried, M., Raz, E. (2019) Chemokine-biased robust self-organizing polarization of migrating cells in vivo.
- Malhotra, D, Shin, J, Solnica-Krezel, J., Raz, E. (2018) Spatio-temporal regulation of concurrent developmental processes by generic signaling downstream of chemokine receptors. eLife 2018;7:e37888.
- Pfeiffer, J.*, Tarbashevich, K.*, Bandemer, J., Palm, T., Raz, E. (2018) Rapid progression through the cell cycle ensures efficient migration of primordial germ cells - the role of Hsp90. Developmental Biology. pii: S0012-1606(17)30563-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.02.014. *Equal contribution.
- Goudarzi, M., Tarbashevich, K., Mildner, K., Begemann, I., Garcia, J., Paksa, A., Reichman-Fried, M., Mahabaleshwar, H., Blaser, H., Hartwig, J., Zeuschner, D., Galic, M., Bagnat, M., Betz, T., Raz E. (2017) Bleb expansion in migrating cells depends on supply of membrane from cell surface invaginations. Developmental Cell 43 (5):577–587.
- Gross-Thebing, T., Yigit, S., Pfeiffer, Reichman-Fried, M., Bandemer, J., Ruckert, C, Rathmer, C., Goudarzi, M., Stehling, M., Tarbashevich, K., Seggewiss, J., Raz, E. (2017) The vertebrate protein Dead end maintains primordial germ cell fate by inhibiting somatic differentiation. Developmental cell 43 (6):704-715
- Hörner F., Meissner R., Polali S., Pfeiffer J., Betz T., Denz C., Raz E. (2017) Holographic optical tweezers-based in vivo manipulations in zebrafish embryos.Journal of Biophotonics. DOI 10.1002/jbio.201600226.
- Paksa, A., Bandemer, J., Hoeckendorf, B., Razin N., Tarbashevich, K., Minina, S., Meyen, D., Biundo, A., Leidel, S.A., Peyrieras, N., Gov, N.S., Keller, P.J., Raz, E. (2016) Repulsive cues combined with physical barriers and cell–cell adhesion determine progenitor cell positioning during organogenesis. Nature Communications 7:11288. doi:10.1038/ncomms11288.