Peter Hausen

Last updated
Peter Hausen
Died(2012-05-28)May 28, 2012
Nationality German
Scientific career
Fields Developmental biology
Institutions Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology

Peter Hausen was a German developmental biologist who spent most of his career at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, where he was appointed Director of the Department of Cell Biology in 1973. Hausen died in 2012. [1] [2]

Contents

Education and academic career

Hausen received his Ph.D. in 1961, supervised by Werner Scäfer at what was then the Max Planck Institute for Virology. After a brief stay as a visiting scientist at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, he returned to Germany to join the Max Planck Institute for Biology. He then moved back to MPI for Virology (which later changed its name and research focus to Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology) and became the Director of the Department of Cell Biology in 1973. He was also active in the establishment of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. [2]

Research

Hausen's research focused on developmental biology. [2] In the course of his work on cellular differentiation and the regulation of transcription in eukaryotes, his research group discovered ribonuclease H, a family of enzymes that selectively degrades the RNA component of mixed RNA/DNA duplexes. [3] [4] He is especially well recognized for studies of the development of the model organism Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog). With Metta Riebesell, he coauthored a widely used and well-reviewed reference work on the topic, The early development of Xenopus laevis. An atlas of the histology. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nucleolus</span> Largest structure in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells

The nucleolus is the largest structure in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. It is best known as the site of ribosome biogenesis, which is the synthesis of ribosomes. The nucleolus also participates in the formation of signal recognition particles and plays a role in the cell's response to stress. Nucleoli are made of proteins, DNA and RNA, and form around specific chromosomal regions called nucleolar organizing regions. Malfunction of nucleoli can be the cause of several human conditions called "nucleolopathies" and the nucleolus is being investigated as a target for cancer chemotherapy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reverse transcriptase</span> Enzyme which generates DNA

A reverse transcriptase (RT) is an enzyme used to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template, a process termed reverse transcription. Reverse transcriptases are used by viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B to replicate their genomes, by retrotransposon mobile genetic elements to proliferate within the host genome, and by eukaryotic cells to extend the telomeres at the ends of their linear chromosomes. Contrary to a widely held belief, the process does not violate the flows of genetic information as described by the classical central dogma, as transfers of information from RNA to DNA are explicitly held possible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African clawed frog</span> Species of amphibian

The African clawed frog, also known as simply Xenopus, African clawed toad, African claw-toed frog or the Platanna) is a species of African aquatic frog of the family Pipidae. Its name is derived from the short black claws on its feet. The word Xenopus means 'strange foot' and laevis means 'smooth'.

<i>Xenopus</i> Genus of amphibians

Xenopus is a genus of highly aquatic frogs native to sub-Saharan Africa. Twenty species are currently described within it. The two best-known species of this genus are Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis, which are commonly studied as model organisms for developmental biology, cell biology, toxicology, neuroscience and for modelling human disease and birth defects.

Oligonucleotides are short DNA or RNA molecules, oligomers, that have a wide range of applications in genetic testing, research, and forensics. Commonly made in the laboratory by solid-phase chemical synthesis, these small bits of nucleic acids can be manufactured as single-stranded molecules with any user-specified sequence, and so are vital for artificial gene synthesis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, molecular cloning and as molecular probes. In nature, oligonucleotides are usually found as small RNA molecules that function in the regulation of gene expression, or are degradation intermediates derived from the breakdown of larger nucleic acid molecules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blastulation</span> Sphere of cells formed during early embryonic development in animals

Blastulation is the stage in early animal embryonic development that produces the blastula. In mammalian development the blastula develops into the blastocyst with a differentiated inner cell mass and an outer trophectoderm. The blastula is a hollow sphere of cells known as blastomeres surrounding an inner fluid-filled cavity called the blastocoel. Embryonic development begins with a sperm fertilizing an egg cell to become a zygote, which undergoes many cleavages to develop into a ball of cells called a morula. Only when the blastocoel is formed does the early embryo become a blastula. The blastula precedes the formation of the gastrula in which the germ layers of the embryo form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ribonuclease</span> Class of enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of RNA

Ribonuclease is a type of nuclease that catalyzes the degradation of RNA into smaller components. Ribonucleases can be divided into endoribonucleases and exoribonucleases, and comprise several sub-classes within the EC 2.7 and 3.1 classes of enzymes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ribonuclease H</span> Enzyme family

Ribonuclease H is a family of non-sequence-specific endonuclease enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of RNA in an RNA/DNA substrate via a hydrolytic mechanism. Members of the RNase H family can be found in nearly all organisms, from bacteria to archaea to eukaryotes.

An oocyte, oöcyte, or ovocyte is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in a female fetus in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female germ cells produce a primordial germ cell (PGC), which then undergoes mitosis, forming oogonia. During oogenesis, the oogonia become primary oocytes. An oocyte is a form of genetic material that can be collected for cryoconservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gurdon</span> English developmental biologist (born 1933)

Sir John Bertrand Gurdon is a British developmental biologist, best known for his pioneering research in nuclear transplantation and cloning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry</span>

The Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) is a research institute of the Max Planck Society located in Martinsried, a suburb of Munich. The institute was founded in 1973 by the merger of three formerly independent institutes: the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, the Max Planck Institute of Protein and Leather Research, and the Max Planck Institute of Cell Chemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ribonuclease III</span> Class of enzymes

Ribonuclease III (RNase III or RNase C)(BRENDA 3.1.26.3) is a type of ribonuclease that recognizes dsRNA and cleaves it at specific targeted locations to transform them into mature RNAs. These enzymes are a group of endoribonucleases that are characterized by their ribonuclease domain, which is labelled the RNase III domain. They are ubiquitous compounds in the cell and play a major role in pathways such as RNA precursor synthesis, RNA Silencing, and the pnp autoregulatory mechanism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polarity in embryogenesis</span> Division of an embryo into two hemispheres (animal and vegetal poles)

In developmental biology, an embryo is divided into two hemispheres: the animal pole and the vegetal pole within a blastula. The animal pole consists of small cells that divide rapidly, in contrast with the vegetal pole below it. In some cases, the animal pole is thought to differentiate into the later embryo itself, forming the three primary germ layers and participating in gastrulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN), also known as polyadenylate-specific ribonuclease or deadenylating nuclease (DAN), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PARN gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase</span>

Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase is a hepatitis B viral protein. It is a DNA polymerase that can use either DNA or RNA templates and a ribonuclease H that cuts RNA in the duplex. Both functions are supplied by the reverse transcriptase (RT) domain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RNASEH2B</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Ribonuclease H2, subunit B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RNASEH2B gene. RNase H2 is composed of a single catalytic subunit (A) and two non-catalytic subunits, and degrades the RNA of RNA:DNA hybrids. The non-catalytic B subunit of RNase H2 is thought to play a role in DNA replication.

Ribonuclease E is a bacterial ribonuclease that participates in the processing of ribosomal RNA and the chemical degradation of bulk cellular RNA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retroviral ribonuclease H</span>

The retroviral ribonuclease H is a catalytic domain of the retroviral reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme. The RT enzyme is used to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) from the retroviral RNA genome. This process is called reverse transcription. To complete this complex process, the retroviral RT enzymes need to adopt a multifunctional nature. They therefore possess 3 of the following biochemical activities: RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, ribonuclease H, and DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activities. Like all RNase H enzymes, the retroviral RNase H domain cleaves DNA/RNA duplexes and will not degrade DNA or unhybridized RNA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R-loop</span> Three-stranded nucleic acid structure

An R-loop is a three-stranded nucleic acid structure, composed of a DNA:RNA hybrid and the associated non-template single-stranded DNA. R-loops may be formed in a variety of circumstances, and may be tolerated or cleared by cellular components. The term "R-loop" was given to reflect the similarity of these structures to D-loops; the "R" in this case represents the involvement of an RNA moiety.

Karin Mölling is a German virologist whose research focused on retroviruses, particularly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). She was a full professor and director of the Institute of Medical Virology at the University of Zurich from 1993 to 2008. She is retired but retains affiliations with the University of Zurich and with the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin.

References

  1. Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental. "History". www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Winklbauer, Rudi (July 2012). "Obituary - In Memoriam: Prof. Peter Hausen". Mechanisms of Development. 129 (5–8): 192. doi:10.1016/j.mod.2012.06.003.
  3. Stein, H.; Hausen, P. (17 October 1969). "Enzyme from Calf Thymus Degrading the RNA Moiety of DNA-RNA Hybrids: Effect on DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase". Science. 166 (3903): 393–395. doi:10.1126/science.166.3903.393. PMID   5812039.
  4. Hausen, Peter; Stein, Hans (June 1970). "Ribonuclease H. An Enzyme Degrading the RNA Moiety of DNA-RNA Hybrids". European Journal of Biochemistry. 14 (2): 278–283. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1970.tb00287.x . PMID   5506170.
  5. Yost, H.Joseph (May 1992). "The early development of Xenopus laevis: An Atlas of the histology". Trends in Genetics. 8 (5): 186. doi:10.1016/0168-9525(92)90222-P.