Daniel Martin Messerschmidt

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Our laboratory investigates the role of epigenetic and transcriptional regulators creating and maintaining a conducive environment for mammalian germ cell formation, oocyte-to-embryo transition and early embryogenesis.

Primary fields of research

Mammalian Developmental Epigenetics

The inheritance of epigenetic features across generations and their impact on development and health is an enigmatic aspect in mammalian epigenetic research. In lay man’s terms, development and well-being of humans is not only defined by the information encoded in our DNA, but also by how this information is used. This is driven by chemical (epigenetic) modifications allowing or restricting access to the genetic information without altering the DNA code itself. Defects in this epigenome can be equally damaging to health and development as mutations to the DNA itself. The genome of newly formed embryo is stripped of most epigenetic information, yet, an unknown portion of the parental epigenome is transmitted with the genetic material at fertilization and fulfils important roles in the embryonic development and health of the progeny. Revealing the heritable epigenetic information, its functional relevance and the machineries involved in the transmission in humans and mice is the essence of our work.

Our laboratory investigates the role of epigenetic and transcriptional regulators creating and maintaining a conducive environment for mammalian germ cell formation, oocyte-to-embryo transition and early embryogenesis. Our main focus is on maternal factors conveying functional epigenetic inheritance from germline to soma or even across multiple generations. It’s our aim to expose molecular components, mechanisms and targets, which when defective, contribute to reproductive or developmental disease or disrupted homeostasis. We employ in vitro and in vivo models ranging from pluripotent stem cells to powerful genetic mouse models and human models in combination with state of the art next-generation sequencing approaches to shed light into the complex epigenetic and transcriptional dynamics at this crucial aspect of mammalian development.