Dr. Roland Piekorz

Cellular signaling and mitosis group Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Universitätsstrasse 1, Geb. 22.03.03 40225 Düsseldorf Germany +49(0)211-81-12739 +49(0)211-81-12726  website

Curriculum Vitae & Publications

Special Methodical Expertise

• Analysis of protein localization by confocal laser scanning microscopy
• Analysis of protein function by RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knock down of gene expression

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Main areas of research interest

• Biological role of centrosomal TACC proteins
• Centrosomal proteins as novel mitotic cancer targets
• Role of the mitotic spindle apparatus in cellular aging
• Function of pertussistoxin-sensitive, heterotrimeric G proteins in cell division
• Function of pertussistoxin-sensitive, heterotrimeric G proteins in cardiovascular homeostasis

Research Group and Equipment

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BioStruct Research Project

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Important references

• Piekorz RP, Hoffmeyer A, Duntsch CD, McKay C, Nakajima H, Sexl V, Snyder L, Rehg J, Ihle JN (2002). The centrosomal protein TACC3 is essential for hematopoietic stem cell function and genetically interfaces with p53 regulated apoptosis. EMBO J. 21, 653-664.
• Schündeln M*, Piekorz RP*, Wichmann C, Lee Y, Takahashi Y, McKinnon P, Ihle JN (2004). The centrosomal, putative tumor suppressor protein TACC2 is dispensable for normal development and deficiency does not lead to cancer. Mol. Cell. Biol., 24, 6403-6409 (*shared first authors).
• Cully MJ, Shiu J, Piekorz RP, Muller WJ, Done SJ, Mak TW (2005). Transforming acidic coiled coil 1 promotes transformation and mammary tumorigenesis. Cancer Res., 65, 10363-10370.
• Schneider L., Essmann F, Kletke A, Rio P, Hanenberg H, Wetzel W, Schulze-Osthoff K, Nürnberg B, Piekorz RP (2007). The Transforming Acidic Coiled Coil 3 protein is essential for spindle-dependent chromosome alignment and mitotic survival. J. Biol. Chem., 282, 29273-29283.
• Schneider L, Essmann F, Kletke A, Rio P, Hanenberg H, Schulze-Osthoff K, Nürnberg B, Piekorz RP (2008). TACC3 depletion sensitizes to paclitaxel-induced cell death and overrides p21WAF -mediated cell cycle arrest. Oncogene, 27, 116-125.