Matthias Schaefer

Biography

Dr. Matthias Schaefer is currently working as a Associate Professor in the Department of Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology (Division of Cell and Developmental Biology), Medical University of Vienna ,  Austria. His research interests includes Anatomy and Cell Biology. He /she is serving as an editorial member and reviewer of several international reputed journals. Dr. Matthias Schaefer is the member of many international affiliations. He/ She has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities. He /she has authored of many research articles/books related to Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Research Interest

RNA Modifications: Their Impact on Stress Responses, Gene Expression And Innate Immunity It is well established that DNA and protein modifications influence gene expression. Importantly, studies on DNA modifications (i.e. cytosine-methylation and its derivatives) and particular protein modifications (i.e. histone modifications) contributed greatly to the concept of epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Recent findings point towards a role for RNA modifiations in gene expression regulation. This has set the stage for proposing a new and exciting concept: RNA epigenetics. RNA molecules carry more than 130 distinct post-transcriptional modifications. Although some of these modifications influence RNA maturation and stability, the biological function of most RNA modifications remains completely unclear. My group applies genetic and biochemical tools to understand the biological systems that place, interprete, and erase a particular RNA modification (5-methylcytosine, m5C). In particular, we are interested as to how m5C Impacts on RNA stability and function Controls stress-induced RNA processing Contributes to the regulation of gene expression during stress responses Affects innate immunity processes Our long-term goal is to characterize how m5C and other RNA modifications contribute to genome regulation and, importantly, how they could influence the re-programming of gene expression between generations in response to environmental changes.