Dr. Astrid Haase received an MD degree from the University of Vienna (Austria) and a PhD from the University of Basel (Switzerland). As a graduate student in Dr. Witek Filipowicz’ group, Dr. Haase studied microRNA(miRNA)-mediated gene silencing, and identified TRBP as a protein partner of human Dicer. As a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Greg Hannon at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), Dr. Haase implicated Zucchini/PLD6 as a novel nuclease in the biogenesis of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Dr. Haase joined the NIDDK/NIH-IRP as a Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator in 2015 to continue exploring the universe of small RNA-based genome surveillance with a multidisciplinary team of enthusiastic young scientist.
The Haase group investigates the ongoing conflict between mobile genetic parasites and their host genome by understanding how piRNAs are generated and specifically silence transposons. The intrinsic ability of transposons to amplify and reinsert into novel genomic locations resulted in their colonization of half of our genome. Their activity threatens genome integrity and must be restrained. PiRNAs and their PIWI protein partners, establish transposon silencing in germ cells, thus securing the survival of a species. While recent advances have deciphered the framework of piRNA-mediated transposon control, molecular events that ensure specificity and efficiency of the pathway remain largely unknown. Our current projects focus on three distinct aspect of piRNA biology through an integrative approach combining biochemistry, fly genetics, and genomics:
- Identify mechanisms that designate transcripts for processing into piRNAs.
- Determine rules that govern robustness and adaptability of piRNA-mediated transposon control.
- Establish a robust system to study human piRNA biology and its potential impact on genome stability in disease.
