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The
GMI – Gregor Mendel Instituteof Molecular Plant Biology GmbHDr. Bohr-Gasse 3
1030 Vienna, Austria
T: +43 1 79044-9000
F: +43 1 79044-9001
http://www.gmi.oeaw.ac.at
Concept: Maria Siomos & Dieter Schweizer
Editor: Maria Siomos
Graphic design: Atelier Blazejovsky
GMI logo: Lo Breier
Printing house: Bösmüller
© Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 2007
MG I
The GMI is a basic research institute of the
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Contents
2 A note from the Founding Director3 Structure of the GMI4 Introducing the GMI6 Research Groups at the GMI8 Why Plant Research?9 Our Model Organism Arabidopsis thaliana
10 Research at the GMI1 8 Serving Research at the GMI20 The CEE Plant Sciences Program2 1 Vienna Biocenter International PhD Program22 The Vienna Biocenter Campus24 The GMI’s Premises at the Vienna Biocenter Campus26 Gregor Mendel: His Vienna Connection27 The Mendel Museum Museum of Genetics in Brno28 The Austrian Academy of Sciences
gmimagines
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A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR
his image brochure, the first produced by the Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular
Plant Biology (GMI), aims at relating the institute’s research and other activities to
a broader audience than is possible through our regular scientific reports.
The GMI came into being in 2000. An international scientific advisory committee,
set up by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, recommended that a basic plant research
institute, the first of its kind in Austria, be established at the Vienna Biocenter
Campus. The first GMI research groups began their work in 2003/04 at several temporary
locations throughout Vienna before moving, at the beginning of 2006, into new purpose-
built premises with state-of-the-art facilities in the Austrian Academy of Sciences Life
Sciences Center Vienna designed by the illustrious architect Boris Podrecca. To mark
this occasion, we held an immensely successful international Opening Symposium in
September 2006.
The GMI is still a young institute, which has been growing steadily as our budget
increases. Full capacity should be reached by 2010, with additional research groups being
established. Our short history has been one of success, with research at the GMI moving
from strength to strength. The results of our curiosity-driven basic research are published
in peer-reviewed, international journals, and where appropriate patent applications are
submitted. GMI scientists are also involved in national (e.g. the Austrian government’s
genome research initiative GEN-AU) and international collaborative projects (e.g. the EU
Epigenome Network of Excellence) with other academic institutions.
Research at the GMI relies to a great extent on public funding, our major funding
sources being primarily the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Austrian Science Fund
(FWF) and the European Union. The City of Vienna provided start-up funds. In the future,
the GMI aims to gain additional income by undertaking contract research for industrial
partners and through licensing agreements. To this end, the publication of this image
brochure represents a first step to increasing the public awareness of our work and also to
attracting non-academic cooperation partners.
I trust that you will find this image brochure both interesting and informative, and
hope that your curiosity will be evoked to follow the exciting development of this new
plant research institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in the years ahead.
Dieter Schweizer
Vienna, September 2007
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he Gregor Mendel Institute, which is owned by the Austrian Academy of Sciences,
has three levels of independent research units: (1) major research groups headed by
a Senior Scientist, (2) smaller research groups headed by a Junior Principal Investigator and
(3) groups headed by a Young Investigator. Senior Scientists have long-term contracts, while
Junior Principal Investigators and Young Investigators have contracts of eight (5+3) and
five years, respectively. This career structure guarantees both continuity as well as change
and renewal. Research groups are evaluated annually by an international Scientific Advisory
Board. The GMI’s research activities are supported by the GMI's Administration
& Services, which include a Science Support Unit as well as services shared with the
neighbouring institutes, Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) and Institute of
Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA).
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STRUCTURE OF THE GMI
Austrian Academy of Sciences
General Assembly
Scientific Advisory Board
Administrative Director Scientific Director
Independent Research Groups
OutsourcedServices
Accountingand
Controlling
LabManagement& Services
ScienceSupport Unit
Administration & Services
Economic Supervisory Board
SeniorGroups
Junior PrincipalInvestigator
Groups
YoungInvestigator
Groups
Director's Group Group Asince 2006
Group Asince 2005
Group Asince 2004
Group Bsince 2006
Group Bsince 2005
Group Bsince 2004
Group Cplanned 2008
Group Csince 2005
tenure 5+3 years 5 years
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he Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI) was founded by the
Austrian Academy of Sciences in 2000 in the form of a limited company (GmbH) to
promote research excellence within the field of plant molecular biology. It is the only
international centre for basic plant research in Austria. The GMI is located at the Vienna
Biocenter Campus within purpose-built premises in the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Life Sciences Center Vienna, completed in January 2006. The Vienna Biocenter Campus,
which encompasses both independent and academic research institutes as well as
biotechnology companies, provides an ideal environment for the GMI. Neighbouring
institutes include the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), the Institute of
Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, as well as the Max
F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna and of the Medical University of Vienna.
Research at the GMI is curiosity driven and currently focuses on the genetic and
epigenetic plasticity of the plant genome in the contexts of gene regulation, chromosome
biology and development. GMI scientists also study the nature and crosstalk of plant
signal transduction pathways in response to intrinsic and environmental stimuli at both
the genetic and epigenetic levels. Arabidopsis thaliana is used as the primary model
organism. All discoveries made are screened for patentability before publication. Research
groups are evaluated annually by an international Scientific Advisory Board.
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The Gregor Mendel Institute is housed in purpose-builtpremises in the Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences CenterVienna that opened in January 2006
GMI Opening Symposium,29th-30th September 2006
INTRODUCING THE GMI
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GMI running budget including external funding
Mill
ion
€
Year
Year
Year
No.
of
rese
arch
gro
ups
No.
of
empl
oyee
s
GMI research groups
GMI employees
Figures from 2007 onwards are predictions
FACTS & FIGURES
Year established: 2000Location: Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences
Center Vienna, Vienna Biocenter CampusLegal status: Limited Company (GmbH)Owner: Austrian Academy of SciencesOfficial language: EnglishNo. of employees: 60 (from 13 countries)No. of research groups: 8Scientific services: Experimental plant growth facilities, Biooptics,
Media kitchen, Max Perutz Library, IT ServicesSources of external funds: European Union, Austrian Science Fund (FWF),
Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF),Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Research(BMWF), City of Vienna
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2
0
4
6
8
10
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2
0
4
6
8
10
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
20
0
40
60
80
100
"The Gregor Mendel Institute is an important new voice that strengthensour continuous efforts to give plant science the credit it deserves within thebroader field of biological sciences"
Prof. Ulrich WobusDirector of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)
Gatersleben, Germany
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RESEARCH GROUPS AT THE GMI
Werner AufsatzOur research focuses on the function of Arabidopsis Rpd3-type histone deacetylases
(HDACs). Using genetic, biochemical and molecular approaches, we study the role of
HDACs in homology-dependent gene silencing initiated by double-stranded RNA and
in regulatory processes resulting in stress adaptation.
Thomas GrebOur group uses vascular tissue development in Arabidopsis as an example for cell
specification and tissue formation in higher organisms. We seek to understand the
molecular mechanisms regulating the establishment and maintenance of a specific
gene expression profile in this particular cell type.
Claudia JonakPlants are exposed to changing intrinsic and environmental stimuli that modulate
their growth and development. Environmental cues are mediated by integrated signal
transduction systems to coordinate physiological responses. We study the connectivity
between stress signal transduction and physiological responses.
Marjori Matzke & Antonius MatzkeEpigenetic regulation affects numerous processes in plants and other eukaryotic
organisms. Work in our lab focuses on the molecular machinery of RNA-mediated
transcriptional gene silencing, endogenous pararetroviruses in the context of genome
evolution, and interphase chromosome organisation in Arabidopsis.
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Ortrun Mittelsten ScheidPolyploidisation, the multiplication of whole chromosome complements, is associated
with epigenetic changes, that is heritable alterations in gene expression levels. Our lab
studies the molecular mechanism underlying polyploidy-associated gene silencing in
the model plant Arabidopsis.
Karel RihaWe use Arabidopsis to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in various
aspects of chromosome metabolism. Our two main interests are the function of DNA
repair proteins in telomere maintenance, especially the Ku70/Ku80 heterodimer, and
secondly progression through meiosis.
Dieter SchweizerMeiosis in higher plants occurs in the diploid sporophyte resulting in the formation
of haploid spores. Our group studies the early prophase of meiosis I, especially the
role of DNA repair proteins in conjunction with homologous recombination. We are
also interested in various aspects of chromosome evolution.
Hisashi TamaruOur research aims at exploring the chromatin reshaping that occurs during the
asymmetric mitotic division in maturing pollen, which results in somatic- and
germ-line nuclear development. We use genetic and cytological approaches in
Arabidopsis to identify components controlling this process.
"What is true for peas isalso true for people"
Prof. David BaulcombeThe Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre
Norwich, UK
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WHY PLANT RESEARCH?
Plants are the basis of our life on earthPlants, unlike animals and fungi, are able to harness the sun's energy through the process
of photosynthesis, are the primary producers of biomass and are the ultimate source of
all our food. Maintaining a sustainable food supply with sufficient nutritional value for
an ever increasing world population will be a major challenge of the 21st century. Plant
research could also lead to the development of plant-based renewable energy sources,
the production of biomolecules such as vaccines and antibodies in plants, and to new
diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to human disease. Basic curiosity-driven research
such as that undertaken at the Gregor Mendel Institute in combination with technology
transfer lies at the base of all these applications. All discoveries at the GMI are screened
for patentability and patent applications have already been successfully submitted.
The importance of plants in the history of basic researchPlants have played a pioneering role throughout the history of biological research. Plant
breeding experiments conducted by the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel (1822-1884)
unravelled the basic mechanisms of inheritance. In the 1940s, cytogenetic work with
maize by Barbara McClintock (1902-1992) resulted in the discovery of ‘mobile genetic
elements’, now known as transposons for which she was awarded the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine in 1983. More recently, molecular plant biology has played a crucial
role in the study of epigenetic phenomena and led to the discovery of the epigenetic
mechanisms transgene-mediated gene silencing and RNA interference (RNAi). The 2006
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the discovery of RNAi in animals.
The advent of RNAi has had far-reaching implications including opening new therapeutic
avenues for the treatment of human disease.
increases our knowledgeand understanding of the
natural world
sustainable food supply/biofortified food
translational research
tools for diagnosis andtherapy of diseases
renewableenergy sources
basic curiosity-drivenplant research
molecular farminge.g. production of vaccines
or antibodies in plants
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OUR MODEL ORGANISM
Arabidopsis thaliana
rabidopsis thaliana is the major plant model organism used at the Gregor Mendel
Institute. It is commonly known as wall cress or mouse-ear cress and was
discovered by Johannes Thal (hence, thaliana) in the Harz mountains in Germany in
the 16th century. It is a small flowering plant that is a member of the mustard
(Brassicaceae) family, which includes cultivated species such as cabbage and radish.
Although Arabidopsis is not of agronomic or economic significance, its properties make
it ideally suited for basic research in genetics and molecular biology, and it therefore serves
internationally as the primary model plant system. The properties of Arabidopsis that make
it an attractive model plant system include its small genome size, short life cycle,
prolific seed production, easy cultivation in a restricted space, efficient transformation
methods, the existence of a large number of mutant lines available from stock centres
and genomic resources. The Arabidopsis genome was the first plant genome to be sequenced
and its sequence was completed in the year 2000.
A
Development of Arabidopsis from seedto flowering plant
A running experiment withArabidopsis plants
Category: flowering plant, inbreeding, annualLife cycle: 6 weeksNo. of chromosomes: 10 (diploid number), genetically & physically mappedGenome size: ~150 MbNo. of genes: ~25500Genome sequence: completed in 2000 (first plant genome sequence)
ARABIDOPSIS FACT SHEET
"You're working on a cellular processin plant cells and it turns out that there'sa connection to human disease"
Prof. Steven HenikoffFred Hutchison Cancer Research Center
Seattle, USA
What is epigenetics?Epigenetics is a vibrant and exciting field in which heritable changes in organisms and
cells that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence are studied. It is now known that
it is not only the sequence of the DNA that determines the heritable traits of organisms
and cells but also epigenetic changes, which include chemical modifications of both
DNA and of histone proteins around which DNA is wound. Epigenetic gene silencing, for
example, ensures that only those genes that are needed in a particular cell at a particular
developmental stage are active, and is thus essential for plant and animal development.
It is also necessary for packaging chromosomes in the cell nucleus and as a defence
mechanism against genome invaders such as viruses. Arabidopsis thaliana is ideally
suited to epigenetic research as it is highly amenable to both genetic and genomics
approaches. Because plants and mammals share many features of epigenetic control, the
results obtained with Arabidopsis are relevant for humans and may eventually be adapted
for therapeutic applications. At the Gregor Mendel Institute, the research groups of
Werner Aufsatz, Marjori & Antonius Matzke, Ortrun Mittelsten Scheid and Hisashi Tamaru
study various epigenetic phenomena. Several other groups at the Vienna Biocenter Campus
also study epigenetic phenomena and there are a number of ongoing collaborations.
Epigenetic gene silencing in Arabidopsis:lessons for human cancerOver the past few years, it has become clear that epigenetic effects are involved in cancer
initiation and progression. In human cancers, tumour suppressor genes that protect cells
from becoming cancerous are inappropriately switched off by epigenetic gene silencing.
This silencing is due to methylation of DNA as well as to chemical modifications of histone
proteins such as acetylation, methylation and phosphorylation. While the sequence of
events that leads to epigenetic gene silencing in human cancer cells is poorly understood,
insight into this process has been and continues to be gained from research on epigenetic
gene silencing in Arabidopsis. The Matzke lab studies a particular type of epigenetic gene
silencing known as RNA-directed DNA methylation. The Aufsatz lab studies the role of
an Arabidopsis histone deacetylase protein called AtHDA6 in epigenetic gene silencing.
The Mittelsten Scheid lab studies how the activity of genes is controlled in plants with
more than the normal complement of chromosomes.
A
B
(A) An Arabidopsis seedlingshowing green fluorescence in thehypocotyl and root tip meristemdue to the expression of the greenfluorescent protein gene.(B) Epigenetic silencing of thegreen fluorescent protein geneby small complementary RNAmolecules abolishes greenfluorescence. The cotyledons(seedling leaves) appear red fromautofluorescence.
RESEARCH AT THE GMI
EPIGENETICS
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Epigenome Network of ExcellenceTwo group leaders from the Gregor Mendel Institute (Marjori Matzke and Ortrun
Mittelsten Scheid) are members of the Epigenome Network of Excellence (2004-2009),
a European Union Network of Excellence awarded €12.5 million in the 6th framework
programme. The goals of the network, which includes 82 members from 10 different
European countries, include advancing scientific discoveries in the field of epigenetics
via a joint research programme and maintaining European epigenetic research as a
world-leading force.
"Plant biologists are at the forefrontof epigenetics research"
Dr. Werner AufsatzGMI Group leader
from Salzburg, Austria
Transporting nutrients and other molecules around plantsLarge multicellular organisms such as animals and plants require long-range transport
systems for transporting nutrients and other molecules around the organism. In animals,
it is the veins, arteries and capillaries of the vascular system that fulfil this function. Plants
have two types of vascular tissues, namely xylem for the transport of water and nutrients,
and phloem for the transport of sugars, proteins, RNA and other signalling molecules.
These vascular tissues pervade every organ of the plant and pass through the stem, the
main 'highway' of the plant, that connects the roots to the leaves. The stem also provides
physical support to the plant, and the formation of secondary vascular tissue at the periphery
of the stem is the basis of wood formation in many plant species. The Greb lab is studying
how the vascular tissue develops in plants using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system.
As the cells of the plant vascular system are highly specialised, they provide an ideal
system for studying cellular differentiation. Furthermore, understanding the molecular
processes that regulate vascular development could, in the future, allow the physical
properties of wood to be modified for particular purposes, thus optimising the use of
natural resources
The vascular pattern in an Arabidopsisleaf visualised by expressing theluminescent protein luciferase fromthe fire-fly in the vascular system.The photo was taken under lowlight conditions.
The plant vascular systempervades every organ of anArabidopsis seedling
RESEARCH AT THE GMI
CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
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"Basic developmental principles are sharedbetween plants and animals"
Dr. Hisashi TamaruGMI Group leader
from Kitami, Japan
Meiosis in plants is the specialisedform of cell division that occurs in thediploid sporophyte resulting in theformation of haploid spores (sporogenesis).During pollen maturation, each haploidspore (microspore) undergoes two mitoticcell divisions, the first of which isasymmetric, to form two sperm cells(gametogenesis) and a vegetative cellthat serves for pollen tube elongation.
Meiosis: the path to sperm and egg cellsIn sexually-reproducing organisms, including animals and many plant species, sperm and
egg cells containing half the number of chromosomes of all other cells must be
generated so that when the gametes fuse at fertilisation a new organism with the correct
number of chromosomes can develop. A specialised form of cell division called meiosis is
responsible for halving the chromosome number in gametes. Errors in meiosis can lead
to genetic diseases such as Down Syndrome, are a major cause of spontaneous
miscarriage and could lead to infertility. The Riha lab is studying the function of proteins
whose absence causes errors in chromosome segregation and cell cycle progression in
meiosis in Arabidopsis. As these proteins also exist in humans, this research is of relevance
to the study of meiosis in humans. The Tamaru lab studies the epigenetic control of
asymmetric cell division in pollen and has discovered that sperm and vegetative nuclei
in pollen have different chromatin states.
Sporogenesis
haploid spores
spermnuclei
vegetativenucleus
microspore
Asymmetriccell division
Meiosis
Gametogenesis
Plants are exposed to stressPlants are constantly exposed to environmental stresses, such as extreme temperature,
high soil salinity and drought that threaten their growth and development, and as a
consequence sustainable agricultural production. Due to climatic changes, such as global
warming, it is a challenge to understand how plants, having a sessile lifestyle, cope with
and adapt to a changing environment. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to
respond to abiotic stress factors. They are able to perceive environmental cues and to
react accordingly by delicately coordinating diverse physiological responses. Signalling
systems called integrated signal transduction systems mediate the perception of such
environmental cues. To gain insight into the fine tuning of this coordination web,
the research group of Claudia Jonak studies the relationship between stress signal
transduction and physiological responses.OzoneExtreme
temperatures
Flooding
Drought
Salt
Heavymetals
Stressrecognition
Signaltransduction
DNAmRNA
Protein
Altered cellularmetabolism
Physiologicalresponses
RESEARCH AT THE GMI
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAYSAND STRESS RESPONSE
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"Plants must respond to local and global climatic changes"Dr. Claudia JonakGMI Group leader
from Vienna, Austria
Coping with salt stressAccording to the FAO and UNESCO, 20% of cultivated land worldwide is impaired by high
soil salinity, and due to global environmental changes and the irrigation techniques currently
used, the area of endangered land is steadily increasing. Salinity is detrimental to plant growth.
Plants have, however, developed different strategies to cope with salinity. Research in the
Jonak lab has led to the discovery that a plant protein called MsK4 is involved in protecting
plants from salt stress. Plants that produce a larger amount of MsK4 than normal are more
tolerant of salt stress. MsK4 seems to work by adjusting carbohydrate metabolism in response
to environmental stress.
Arabidopsis plants with normallevels of MsK4
Plant growth under conditions of high soil salinity
Arabidopsis plants with increasedlevels of MsK4
Prestigious GEN-AU funding for plant stress researchFour research groups at the Gregor Mendel Institute (Aufsatz, Jonak, Mittelsten Scheid, Riha)
are involved in a collaborative project with partners at the University of Vienna and the
University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna entitled ‘Lasting effects
of abiotic stress in plant genomes and their potential for breeding strategies’. This project,
which began in 2006 and will run until 2009, is one of eight projects to be funded Austria-wide
by the Austrian government’s research initiative GENome Research in AUstria (GEN-AU).
Together, this internationally renowned group of scientists will examine how plants react
to environmental stress conditions at both genetic and epigenetic levels. The results of this
research could in the future be exploited for plant breeding programmes.
High salinity and dry conditions in the Desert of Namib, Sossusvlei, Namibia
Telomeres: a link between ageing and cancerEvery time a cell divides to form daughter cells, all of the cell’s chromosomes are
replicated and equally distributed to the daughter cells. Due to the cell’s mechanism of
replicating chromosomes, it is not possible to replicate the very ends of chromosomes,
which means that at each cell division chromosomes become shorter (50-100 base pairs
in human cells). In order that essential genetic information is not lost every time a cell
divides, chromosome ends do not contain genes but consist of long repeats of short DNA
sequences called telomeres (TTTAGGG in Arabidopsis, TTAGGG in humans). Once telomeres
reach a certain minimum length (after on average 60-70 cell divisions in humans), cells
undergo replicative senescence meaning that they can no longer divide to form new cells.
Telomere shortening is, therefore, thought to be involved in the ageing process. In cancer
cells, which divide inappropriately and are immortal, an enzyme called telomerase that
can lengthen telomeres becomes active. Telomeres also have a second function, which is
to protect the ends of chromosomes from being recognised as DNA damage. As the ends
of chromosomes have a similar structure to broken chromosomes, without telomeres,
chromosome ends could be ‘repaired’ by fusing them to other chromosome ends which
would be deleterious for the cell. The Riha lab studies telomere structure and
mechanisms of chromosome end protection. They have found that Arabidopsis cells with
aberrant telomere structures can excise large regions of telomeric repeats in a single step,
forming extrachromosomal circular DNA molecules, and have developed a technique for
detecting such extrachromosomal t-circles in Arabidopsis that could be used as a
potential diagnostic tool for human cancer. The Schweizer lab studies the evolution of
telomere sequences in plants as compared to vertebrates.
telomeraseenzyme inactiveand telomeresbecome shorter
at every celldivision
senescent cells(ageing)
telomeraseenzyme activeand telomeresare maintained
immortal cells(cancer)
telomere telomere
The telomeres (pink) ofchromosomes (blue) protectchromosome ends
The telomere hypothesis of ageing and cancer
RESEARCH AT THE GMI
CHROMOSOME BIOLOGY
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"Our Arabidopsis telomere research at the GMI has led toa potential diagnostic tool for human cancer"
Dr. Karel RihaGMI Group leader
from Brno, Czech Republic
Chromosome organisation and dynamics in the nucleusThe organisation of chromosomes in the cell nucleus is believed to be important for
regulating gene expression and nuclear function. Advances in fluorescence microscopy
and live cell imaging are revolutionising our ability to monitor 3D chromosome disposition
and movement in living plants. To do this in Arabidopsis, the Matzke lab has developed
16 plant lines in which distinct chromosomal sites are labelled with fluorescent tags,
which can be viewed in the nuclei of living plants. They have investigated a number of
features such as the distance between genes both on the same and different chromosomes.
These plant lines can be used to study chromosome organisation and dynamics in
different cell types, developmental stages and environmental conditions.
Fluorescently-tagged chromosomesin living Arabidopsis root cells.(A) and (B) show top and side views,respectively.
A
B
A telomerebiology experimentwith Arabidopsis
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SERVING RESEARCH AT THE GMI
Experimental Plant Growth FacilitiesThe experimental plant growth facilities encompass plant growth chambers in which
temperature, humidity and day length can be controlled, as well as experimental glasshouse
facilities, both tended to by a specially trained gardener.
Plants growingin the experimentalglasshouse facilities
Arabidopsis plantsgrowing in astate-of-the-artgrowth chamber
Arabidopsis plantsgrowing in astate-of-the-artgrowth chamber
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"Cutting edge research requires state-of-the-art services"Dr. Vera Schoft
GMI Postdoctoral fellowfrom Bamberg, Germany
BioopticsThe GMI has a wide range of state-of-the-art microscopes for cytology.
Media KitchenThe media kitchen supplies media for experiments in the GMI.
Max Perutz LibraryThe Max Perutz Library provides access to scientific journals and books
(both print and online) as well as to online databases. It has subscriptions
to over 2000 journals.
IT ServicesThe IT Services maintain all central computer services and provide support
for both Macintosh and PC computers.
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THE CEE PLANT SCIENCES PROGRAM
o complement the Gregor Mendel Institute’s numerous collaborations in Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore,
Switzerland, the UK and the USA, the institute has set up a new initiative called the
CEE Plant Sciences Program to establish close collaborations between countries of
Central and Eastern Europe in the field of Plant Sciences. This program involves
student exchanges and regular meetings between members of participating institutions.
Collaborations have already been established with research groups in the cities marked.
U K R A I N E
C Z E C HR E P U B L I C
S L O V A K I A
C R O A T I A
B O S N I Aa n d
H E R Z E G O V I N AS E R B I A
A L B A N I A
M O N T E N E G R O
R E P U B L I Co f
M O L D O V A
R O M A N I A
B U L G A R I A
FORMERYUGOSLAV REPUBLIC
of MACEDONIA
S L O V E N I A
H U N G A R YA U S T R I A
P O L A N D
L I T H U A N I A
L A T V I A
E S T O N I A
Kiev
Krakow
Poznan Warsaw
PragueBrno
Vienna
Zagreb
Bratislava
Katowice
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Jan Vrbsky, a visitingPhD student from MasarykUniversity in Brno,Czech Republic
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”A unique opportunity to workat a prestigious institute”
Branislava RakicGMI PhD student
from Belgrade, Serbia
VIENNA BIOCENTER
INTERNATIONAL PHD PROGRAM
he Gregor Mendel Institute offers PhD positions within the framework of the
prestigious Vienna Biocenter International PhD Program. PhD students are enrolled
at the University of Vienna and receive their PhD degree from the university. Students
are selected twice yearly among highly qualified applicants from all over the world and
are given the opportunity to undertake research at the cutting edge of modern biology.
Emphasis is placed on academic and technical excellence. PhD salaries are offered at
an internationally competitive level for up to 4 years. The official language of the PhD
Program is English. The Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian
Academy of Sciences, the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), and the Max
F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) also participate in the PhD Program. For detailed information
about the PhD Program and application procedure, please consult the PhD Program's
website: http://www.univie.ac.at/vbc/PhD/
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THE VIENNA BIOCENTER CAMPUS
he Gregor Mendel Institute is located in purpose-built premises within the Austrian
Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Center Vienna at the Vienna Biocenter Campus,
a few minutes tram ride away from Vienna’s city centre. Built on the former site of the
Vienna slaughterhouse, the Vienna Biocenter Campus is rapidly expanding and aims to
become an international centre of excellence in the biosciences. Besides the Gregor Mendel
Institute, the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy
of Sciences, the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) funded by Boehringer
Ingelheim, and the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) of the University of Vienna and the
Medical University of Vienna are located at the campus. In addition, there are a number
of biotechnology companies (Intercell, Affiris, Bender MedSystems, Biovertis, Genosense,
Axon) and an advanced technical college for biotechnology (FH Campus Vienna). A new
Intercell building (VBC3) designed by Boris Podrecca is already under construction by
Prisma Vienna and an additional building (VBC4) is planned.
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Institutes at theVienna Biocenter Campus.Top right: Austrian Academy ofSciences Life Sciences CenterVienna (GMI, IMBA);Top left: Research Institute ofMolecular Pathology (IMP);Middle left: VBC2;Bottom left: Max F. PerutzLaboratories (MFPL).
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A: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)
B: Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) (VBC1)
C: University Car Park
D: MFPL, Affiris, Bender MedSystems, FH Campus Vienna, Intercell (VBC2)
E: Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Center Vienna (GMI, IMBA)
F: Intercell, Biovertis, Genosense, Axon (VBC6)
G: Intercell (under construction) (VBC3)
H: Reserved for campus extension (VBC4)
I: Reserved for future biotech companies
J: BIG Square
Impression of the Vienna Biocenter Campus by Boris Podrecca
MFPL IMP VBC2
VBC4
VBC3
lecture hall
JD
E
A B
CF
GH
I
GMI and IMBA
campus court
”The GMI is a rare example of an institute devoted to plant research that shares acommon interest in basic epigenetic mechanisms with IMBA and IMP, and is located onthe same campus. This arrangement is found in very few other institutes around the worldand will lead to innovative research in both plant and biomedical sciences.“
Prof. Rob MartienssenCold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, USA
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THE GMI’S PREMISES AT THE VIENNA BIOCENTER CAMPUS
he Gregor Mendel Institute is housed in purpose-built premises within the Austrian
Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Center Vienna, designed by the internationally
renowned architect Boris Podrecca. The Life Sciences Center also houses the Institute
of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, some service
units of the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), the Christian Doppler
Laboratory for Proteomics Research, the Center for Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna of
the Max F. Perutz Laboratories, the Vienna Open Lab and the public science organisation
dialog<>gentechnik.
"I soon noticed that thetrue artists today are thescientists. Everyone I metwas interested in the artsand had a bohemianlifestyle. One day theywould stay up all nightsitting in front of theircomputer and the nextthey would be off toSingapore. In contrast,artists nowadays live amuch more conventionallife…"
T
Views of the Austrian Academyof Sciences Life Sciences Center
Vienna
Boris Podrecca - architect
of the Austrian Academy of
Sciences Life Sciences Center
Vienna - on his experiences
with scientists:
The GMI has invested €15 million in its premises in the Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Center Vienna
25
”…the true artists today are the scientists”Architect Prof. Boris Podrecca
Stuttgart Technical University & Vienna
2000
planning phase
construction phase
furbishment
pilot phase
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Building timeline: Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Center Vienna
From left to right: Prof. Dieter Schweizer (Founding Director of the Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology), Prof. Boris Podrecca(Architect of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Center Vienna), Hubert Gorbach (then Federal Minister of Transport, Innovationand Technology, Austria), Dr. Sepp Rieder (then Vice-Mayor of Vienna), Prof. Josef Penninger (Director of the Institute of MolecularBiotechnology, Vienna), Dr. Andreas Barner (Member of the Board of Managing Directors and Head of Research, Development and Medicineof Boehringer Ingelheim), Prof. Werner Welzig (then President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences).
Official ground-breaking ceremony – June 2003
26
GREGOR MENDEL: HIS VIENNA CONNECTION
he Gregor Mendel Institute is named after
Gregor Mendel, heralded as the ‘father of
genetics’, who in 1866 published the seminal work
‘Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden’ (Experiments
on Plant Hybridisation), in which he formulated the
basic laws of inheritance through experiments with
the garden pea Pisum sativum. Between 1851
and 1853, Mendel studied at the University of
Vienna during which time he attended lectures and
courses held by members of the newly-founded
Imperial Academy of Sciences in Vienna (today the
Austrian Academy of Sciences), including Doppler
(Mathematics & Physics), von Littrow (Astronomy),
Redtenbacher (Chemistry), Fenzl (Botany), Unger
(Botany), von Ettingshausen (Physics) and von
Baumgartner (Physics). Mendel's instruction in
physics, especially from Christian Doppler, greatly
influenced the design of his future experiments
that would lead to the discovery of the laws of
inheritance.
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Mendel’s registration(3rd semester) at the University
of Vienna in 1853
Members of the Mathematics & Natural Sciences Class of the Austrian Academy of Sciencesin 1853 including Mendel’s professors Doppler, von Littrow, Redtenbacher, Fenzl, Unger, vonEttingshausen and von Baumgartner amongst others
Gregor Mendel(1822-1884)
27
THE MENDEL MUSEUM
MUSEUM OF GENETICS IN BRNO
he Gregor Mendel Institute is an active supporter of the Brno Initiative, which led
to the establishment of the Mendel Center and Mendel Museum at the Augustinian
Abbey in Old Brno, where Gregor Mendel was abbot. This initiative to commemorate Gregor
Mendel’s groundbreaking work on inheritance at the site of his research was started in Vienna
by Kim Nasmyth from the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (now at the
University of Oxford), his wife Anna Nasmyth, Gustav Ammerer from the University of
Vienna and Dieter Schweizer from the Gregor Mendel Institute/University of Vienna. Both
the Mendel Center and Mendel Museum opened their doors in May 2002 with an inaugural
EMBO conference entitled ‘Genetics after the Genome’ organised by Kim Nasmyth and
Dieter Schweizer. The speakers included the two Nobel prize winners Christiane
Nüsslein-Volhard and Eric Wieschaus, and the leader of the international Human Genome
Project, Eric Lander. The conference was accompanied by the exhibition ‘The Genius of
Genetics’ designed by the London-based agency Artakt, which combined historical items
with works of contemporary artists. Part of this exhibition is currently touring the USA
in the exhibition ‘Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics’. Since its establishment,
the Mendel Museum has hosted several exhibitions and the Mendel Center has become
a popular international conference destination. An internationally renowned lecture series
called the ‘Mendel Lectures’ is held each year at the Abbey.
T
28
THE AUSTRIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
he Austrian Academy of Sciences (originally the Imperial Academy of Sciences in
Vienna) was founded in 1847 to promote scientific research and freedom. Its
headquarters are located in Vienna’s city centre in the former assembly hall of the
University of Vienna built between 1753 and 1755 by the French architect Jean Nicolas
Jadot. The Austrian Academy of Sciences has two sections, the Section for Mathematics
and Natural Sciences, and the Section for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Today, the
Academy fulfils two main functions. On the one hand, its 90 elected full members and
250 appointed corresponding members form a scholarly society and on the other, it is
Austria’s major supporter of research outwith the university system, funding some 70
research institutions both in the natural sciences and the humanities. The Academy also
organises various events and lecture series, and supports established and young talented
scientists alike through its awards and scholarships programmes.
Funding modern cutting edge researchThe Academy aims to support excellence in cutting edge modern research in all fields
through the establishment of new institutes. The Academy recently set up three life sciences
research institutes in the form of limited companies, namely the Gregor Mendel Institute
of Molecular Plant Biology (GMI), the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) and
the Research Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM), and invested €65 million to build
the Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Center Vienna, which houses both the
GMI and IMBA. Recently established natural sciences institutes include the Institute for
Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) and the Johann Radon Institute for
Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM). In 2000, the Austrian Academy of
Sciences’ newly built Research Centre Graz was opened and houses the Space Research
Institute (IWF) and the Institute of Biophysics and Nanosystems Research (IBN).
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"An organisation that fundsmodern cutting edge researchand young scientists"
Top: Austrian Academy of SciencesLife Sciences Center ViennaBottom: Research Centre Graz
Headquarters of theAustrian Academy of Sciences
31
GMI – Gregor Mendel Instituteof Molecular Plant Biology GmbH
Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3
1030 Vienna, Austria
T: +43 1 79044-9000
F: +43 1 79044-9001
http://www.gmi.oeaw.ac.at
Photos: Stepan Bartos (p. 27, right),
Brigitte Goederle (p. 22, middle left),
Georg Lemburgh (p. 22, top left),
Anna Nasmyth, Claudia Schweizer,
Klemens Wolf, Gerald Zugmann (p. 22, top right)
and from GMI: Marc Berlinger, Claudia Jonak,
Ortrun Mittelsten Scheid, Jan Vrbsky
The GMI is a basic research institute of the
MG I