Chalepakis George

Biography

Education - Positions Education : 1978-1984 Technical University Darmstadt, Germany, study of Chemistry 1983 Diploma (final examination) 1983-1984 Preparation of diploma thesis “Identification of α -chains of collagen I in gelatine” (supervisor: Prof. E. Heidemann) Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Protein Chemistry, Darmstadt 1985-1988 Preparation of doctoral thesis “Interaction of Progesterone- and Glucocorticoid-Receptor with the regulatory elements of the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV)” (supervisor: Prof. M. Beato) Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research, Marburg, Germany 1988 Doctorate, Marburg University 1988-1990 Postdoctoral assistant at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research, Marburg, Germany Research field: Gene regulation by steroid hormone receptors 1990-1991 Postdoctoral fellow (Stipend of Boehringer-Ingelheim), Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goettingen, Germany Department of Molecular Cell biology in the group of Prof. P. Gruss 1991-1996 Senior scientist in Max-Planck-I nstitute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goettingen Research topics: Functional analysis of Pax-gene products and identification of neuronal specific genes using the gene-trap method in mouse Positions : 1996-2008 Associate Prof. of Cell Biology at the Department of Biology, University of Crete 2009 Professor of Cell Biology at the Department of Biology, University of Crete.

Research Interest

Research interests: His major interest over the time between 1990 and 1996 was to elucidate the molecular and cellular function of proteins (Pax-proteins) which have been associated with mouse mutants and human syndromes (mouse mutants: undulated, splotch, small eye; Human syndromes: Waardenburg, Aniridia). His group has isolated and characterized the Fras1 gene in mouse and in collaboration with Dr. P. Scambler (UK) have shown that mutations in the human counterpart FRAS1, are responsible for the Fraser syndrome. In addition to Fras1, the family of Fras1/Frem proteins comprises three additional members, Frem1, Frem2 and Frem3 which interact with each other to form an interdependent macromolecular protein complex within the basement membrane surrounding the embryonic epithelia. The major focus of the research group is to identify the proteins which interact with Fras1/Frem, aiming to explore the composition, the assembly and the protein-protein interactions of the extracellular matrix components that underlie epithelia and confer the structural cohesiveness as well as the functional interaction between epithelia and mesenchyme in mammals.