Overview

Apoptosis is a fundamental process to regulate homeostasis of all tissues and to eliminate unwanted cells specifically in the immune system. Various parts of apoptosis signaling pathways have recently been characterized. Specifically in apoptosis pathways initiated by members of the death receptor family such as CD95 (APO-1/Fas) proteins that either contain a death domain (DD) or a death effector domain (DED) have been found to be essential. In addition it has become clear in recent years that death receptors such as CD95 and all of its signaling components have nonapoptotic activities that in the context of cancer can cause tumor promotion ad progression. The group of Marcus Peter studies the activities of death receptors and their signaling components in apoptosis and the relevance of their nonapoptotic activities in cancer development. Most recently the group became interested in the regulation of cancer progression by microRNAs.

Current Research Areas

• 1. The mechanism of apoptosis induction through CD95.
• 2. The function of CD95 as a tumor promotor.
• 3. The CD95 two pathway model.
• 4. The role of the let-7 family of microRNAs and its targets in tumor progression.
5. The role of the miR-200 family of microRNAs and its targets in epithelial-mesenchymal
     transition (EMT) and tumor progression.

Past Research Areas (1995 - 2005)