C. Birchmeier Lab | MDC Berlin

Our lab focuses on functional analysis of genes important in development and stem cells, concentrating on muscle, the nervous system and endocrine organs.

We observe that many genes control both, developmental and regenerative processes in the adult. For our work, we use mouse genetics and stem cells culture, and define molecular mechanisms by genomic and proteomic technologies.

Group Leader

Prof. Dr. Carmen Birchmeier-Kohler

Prof. Dr. Carmen Birchmeier-Kohler

31.1: Max-Delbrück-Haus

cbirch@mdc-berlin.de

+49 30 9406-2403

	tel: +49 30 9406 - extension	email (append @mdc-berlin.de)
Group Leader
Prof. Dr. Carmen Birchmeier	-3313	cbirch
Assistant

Senior Scientist
Dr. Thomas Müller	-2842	thomu
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Minchul Kim	-2864, -3701	minchul.kim
Dr. Ines Lahmann	-2864, -3701	ines.lahmann
Dr. Pierre-Louis Ruffault	-2864, -3359	pierre-louis.ruffault
PhD Students
Elias Lowenstein	-3772, -3701	elijahdavid.lowenstein
Yao Zhang	-3848, -3701	yao.zhang
Undergraduate Students and Interns

Technicians
Bettina Brandt	-2257	bettina.brandt
Sven Buchert	-3359	sbuchert
Animal Caretakers
Claudia Päseler	-4886	claudia.paeseler
Petra Stallerow	-4886	petra.stallerow

The lab is focused on the functional analysis of genes important in embryonic development and adult stem cells, concentrating on muscle, the nervous system and endocrine cells.

For our work, we use mouse genetics and cell culture analysis of stem cells, and define molecular mechanisms using genome and proteome technologies.

Nervous System Development

Specification of Neuronal Cell Types

Muscle Development

The genetic hierarchy that controls muscle development and repair

October 09, 2020 in Development

SIX1 and SIX4 homeoproteins regulate PAX7+ progenitor cell properties during fetal epaxial myogenesis

M. Wurmser
N. Chaverot
R. Madani
H. Sakai
E. Negroni
J. Demignon
B. Saint-Pierre
V. Mouly
H. Amthor
S. Tapscott
C. Birchmeier
S. Tajbakhsh
F. Le Grand
A. Sotiropoulos
P. Maire

March 31, 2020 in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

EHD2-mediated restriction of caveolar dynamics regulates cellular fatty acid uptake

C. Matthaeus
I. Lahmann
S. Kunz
W. Jonas
A.A. Melo
M. Lehmann
E. Larsson
R. Lundmark
M. Kern
M. Blüher
H. Olschowski
J. Kompa
B. Brügger
D.N. Müller
V. Haucke
A. Schürmann
C. Birchmeier
O. Daumke

February 06, 2020 in Cell Stem Cell

Self-organizing 3D human trunk neuromuscular organoids

J.M. Faustino Martins
C. Fischer
A. Urzi
R. Vidal
S. Kunz
P.L. Ruffault
L. Kabuss
I. Hube
E. Gazzerro
C. Birchmeier
S. Spuler
S. Sauer
M. Gouti

February 01, 2020 in Drug Discov Today

Nonclinical data supporting orphan medicinal product designations in the area of rare infectious diseases

M.E. Sheean
E. Malikova
D. Duarte
G. Capovilla
L. Fregonese
M. Hofer
A. Magrelli
S. Mariz
F. Mendez-Hermida
R. Nistico
T. Leest
N.V. Sipsas
S. Tsigkos
D. Vitezic
K. Larsson
B. Sepodes
V. Stoyanova-Beninska

December 18, 2019 in Nat Commun

Human muscle-derived CLEC14A-positive cells regenerate muscle independent of PAX7

A. Marg
H. Escobar Fernandez
N. Karaiskos
S.A. Grunwald
E. Metzler
J. Kieshauer
S. Sauer
D. Pasemann
E. Malfatti
D. Mompoint
S. Quijano-Roy
A. Boltengagen
J. Schneider
M. Schülke
S. Kunz
R. Carlier
C. Birchmeier
H. Amthor
A. Spuler
C. Kocks
N. Rajewsky
S. Spuler

November 07, 2019 in Genes Dev

Context-specific regulation of cell survival by a miRNA-controlled BIM rheostat

V. Labi
S. Peng
F. Klironomos
M. Munschauer
N. Kastelic
T. Chakraborty
K. Schoeler
E. Derudder
M. Martella
G. Mastrobuoni
L.R. Hernandez-Miranda
I. Lahmann
C. Kocks
C. Birchmeier
S. Kempa
L. Quintanilla-Martinez de Fend
M. Landthaler
N. Rajewsky
K. Rajewsky

November 06, 2019 in J Neurosci

β-secretase BACE1 is required for normal cochlear function

M. Dierich
S. Hartmann
N. Dietrich
P. Moeser
F. Brede
L. Johnson Chacko
K. Tziridis
A. Schilling
P. Krauss
S. Hessler
S. Karch
A. Schrott-Fischer
M. Blumer
C. Birchmeier
D. Oliver
T. Moser
H. Schulze
C. Alzheimer
M.G. Leitner
T. Huth

October 10, 2019 in PLoS ONE

eNOS-NO-induced small blood vessel relaxation requires EHD2-dependent caveolae stabilization

C. Matthaeus
X. Lian
S. Kunz
M. Lehmann
C. Zhong
C. Bernert
I. Lahmann
D.N. Müller
M. Gollasch
O. Daumke

September 27, 2019 in J Biol Chem

Ribosome profiling of selenoproteins in vivo reveals consequences of pathogenic Secisbp2 missense mutations

W. Zhao
S. Bohleber
H. Schmidt
S. Seeher
M.T. Howard
D. Braun
S. Arndt
U. Reuter
H. Wende
C. Birchmeier
N. Fradejas-Villar
U. Schweizer

September 06, 2019 in Development

Teashirt 1 (Tshz1) is essential for the development, survival and function of hypoglossal and phrenic motor neurons in mouse

C. Chaimowicz
P.L. Ruffault
C. Chéret
A. Woehler
N. Zampieri
G. Fortin
A.N. Garratt
C. Birchmeier

Skelettmuskulatur

Press Release No. 9 March 13, 2019 Berlin

Oscillation in muscle tissue

When a muscle grows or a muscle injury heals, some of the stem cells develop into new muscle cells. A research team at the MDC led by Carmen Birchmeier has now described in the journal “Genes and Development” how this process is regulated by two proteins produced in an oscillatory manner.

Spheroid

Science February 19, 2019

“It’s important that we explain our research”

The MINT400 Forum in Berlin brings together teachers and schoolchildren from all over Germany. Two researchers from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) are offering workshops at the networking meeting – partly because one of them was once a teacher himself.

Green sponge-like network of mouse skeletal muscle

Science June 07, 2018

Muscle research moves from the Petri dish to gene therapy

The conference “Muscle Development, Regeneration and Disease 2018” took place at the MDC in late April. This event has in recent years become an increasingly important international platform for muscle research.

Press Release No. 17 August 10, 2017 Berlin

Circular RNA linked to brain function

While hundreds of circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in mammalian brains, one big question has...

Science July 26, 2017 By Jana Schlütter

“Mummy, I'm here!”

The calls of new-born mice draw the attention of their mother and enhance their chances of survival. A group of neuronal cells in the brain stem is essential for this innate process, reports a research team at the Max Delbrück Center in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Without these cells, the mice are mute.

Press Release No. 16 July 26, 2017 Berlin

How mice babies ensure mother’s protection

Almost immediately after birth, mouse pups that are separated from their mother are able to make...

Science July 16, 2015 By Russell Hodge

Oh what a birthday! Frontiers in developmental neuroscience

“Round birthdays” aren’t always a cause for personal celebration, but when taken as an opportunity...

Stock Photo newspapers

Press Release No. 13 July 10, 2015 Berlin

MDC Symposium in Honor of Professor Carmen Birchmeier-Kohler on the Occasion of her 60th Birthday

Professor Birchmeier-Kohler’s main research interests center on mechanisms of mammalian embryo and...

Science January 30, 2015 By Russell Hodge

A cool new method for growing better muscle

Striated muscle, which allows us to consciously move our bodies and makes up tissues such as the...

Science September 09, 2014

Tough ones – Human muscle stem cells

4 degrees Celsius and not a lot of oxygen: under adverse environmental conditions human muscle stem cells – the so-called satellite cells – revert back to their survival mode.

Berlin Muscle Club Seminar Series in July/August 2020

Zoom, Thursday 15.00 o’clock

July 9^th: Giulio Cossu (BIH Visiting Professor)

Cell-mediated Exon Skipping for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

July 16^th: Mina Petkova (Group Markus Schülke, Charite)

Title TBA

July 23^th: Minchul Kim (Group Birchmeier, MDC)

Single nuclear RNAseq of myofibers demonstrates novel nuclear comparments that are altered in disease

July 30^th: Helena Escobar Fernandez (Group Spuler, Charite)

Adenine base editing of a human SGCA muscular dystrophy-causing mutation in patient myoblasts and a humanized mouse model

August 6^th: Sarah Hoffmann (Klinik für Neurologie, Charite)

Seronegative myasthenia patients

August 13^th: Xiaoyan Wei (Group Stricker, Free University)

Neurofibromin is required for postnatal muscle growth and metabolic homeostasis

Research Topics