em. Prof. Dr. Gunter Reuter
Brief vita
Diploma in Biology/Genetics (1974), Dr. rer. nat. (1978) and Habilitation in Genetics (1984) at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Docent for Genetics (1985-1996), Guest Professor, Institute of Zoology, University British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (10/1990 - 3/1991)
C3 Professor for Developmental Genetics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (1996-2017)
Since 01.04.2017 Emeritus
Guest Professor at the MPI for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg.
Research
The group studied the molecular basis of epigenetic processes controlling heterochromatic gene silencing in the Drosophila and Arabidopsis model systems. In addition the role of epigenetic processes in pathogenicity control of the maize pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum graminicola was studied in collaboration with Prof. Dr. H. Deising.
Forward genetic screens in Drosophila and Arabidopsis allowed systematic identification and functional analysis of novel and evolutionary conserved epigenetic control factors. Their role in epigenetic programming was studied in somatic and germ line cells of Drosophila, in Drosophila female meiosis at synaptonemal complexes, in repeat dependent silencing and heterochromatin formation in Arabidopsis as well as in C. graminicola pathogenicity control.
We identified the gene encoding the evolutionary conserved histone methyltransferase SU(VAR)3-9 and resolved its function in heterochromatin formation. (List of publications)
List of publications
List of publications.pdf
(71.2 KB) vom 23.07.2024
Research collaborations
- Prof. T. Jenuwein (MPI for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg),
- Prof. P. Spierer (University Geneva, Switzerland),
- Prof. J. Szabad, Dr. J. Gausz and Dr. J. Szidonya (Biological Research Center and University Szeged, Hungary),
- Prof. I. Zhimulev (Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia),
- Prof. R. Aalen (University Oslo, Norway)
- Prof. A. Imhof (University Munich).
Teaching activities
Basic Genetics for Biology and Biochemistry students (1991-1997), Basic Genetics for biology teachers (2014-2019), Developmental Genetics, Genetic Model Systems, Molecular Biology, Mutation Research, Epigenetics and Behavioral Genetics.
Introduction and use of the central Drosophila and Arabidopsis model systems in practical education of Biology and Biochemistry students in genetics and molecular biology.
Graduation of a total of 34 PhD students (G. Schotta, H. Morawietz and H. Taubert are appointed to Professors at the Universities of Munich, Dresden and Erlangen, respectively).
Academic and organizational assignments
2004-2012: Elected reviewer and member of the DFG Panel “Molecular Biology”
2002-2009: Member of the Editorial Board of MGG „Molecular and General Genomics“
2008-2020: Member of the Editorial Board of „Epigenetics and Chromatin“
2009-2012: Vice speaker of SFB648 “Molecular Mechanisms of Information Processing in Plants”
2011-2014: Vice speaker/speaker of the BMBF “Protein-Kompetenznetzwerk” Pro-Net-T3, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
1995-2000: Planning and construction supervision of the new Biologicum building of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Awards and Memberships
- Research Award of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in 1989 and 1994
- Since 2004 full Member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences