معرفی
Julius Brennecke is a Professor at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) at the Vienna BioCenter, where he leads a research group focused on understanding the molecular principles and evolutionary implications of genetic conflicts. His lab investigates how small RNA-guided genome immune systems silence transposons and how transposons evolve to escape suppression, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.
Brennecke's research spans multiple areas of molecular biology, with particular focus on the PIWI/piRNA pathway, which acts as a genome immune system in animals. His work examines both the host defense mechanisms and the evolutionary strategies of transposable elements, integrating genetics, comparative genomics, computational biology, imaging, biochemistry, and structural biology. The lab has identified nearly forty core proteins of the piRNA pathway, laying the foundation for understanding this defense system. Recent publications show a strong emphasis on the architecture of silencing complexes, transposon transmission mechanisms, and the co-evolutionary dynamics between hosts and transposable elements.
- ERC Starting Grant (2010-2015)
- ERC Consolidator Grant (2016-2021)
- ERC Advanced Grant (2024-2029)
- FWF Doctoral Program RNA@CORE (recurring)
- Austrian Academy of Sciences Affiliation
Brennecke actively mentors PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, welcoming applications from motivated individuals interested in RNA biology, biochemistry, computational biology, or genetics. His lab collaborates extensively within the Vienna BioCenter ecosystem, including with Clemens Plaschka's group for biochemical and structural biology, Stefan Ameres' group for quantitative RNA biology, Sven Klumpe's group for cryo-electron tomography, and Alejandro Burga's group for studies on genetic conflicts. The Brennecke lab has developed sophisticated genetic systems enabling precise manipulation of both host and transposon biology, allowing dissection of the molecular and evolutionary dynamics of the arms race between genome defense systems and transposable elements.
