P. Tessarz

P. Tessarz leads the Max Planck Research Group on Chromatin and Aging at the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen since late 2023. The research group investigates how chromatin structure and gene activity change during the aging process, with particular focus on epigenetic mechanisms and their relationship to cellular metabolism.

Research interests center on chromatin structure, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, aging processes, metabolism-chromatin interactions, and cell fate decisions. The lab combines mechanistic approaches in baker's yeast S. cerevisiae with established cell culture systems and analysis of primary cells and tissues using biochemistry, cell biology, and advanced deep sequencing technologies.

Recent publications reveal a strong focus on the intersection of chromatin biology, metabolism, and aging, with particular emphasis on mitochondrial-nuclear communication, histone modifications, and their roles in stem cell differentiation and age-related functional decline. The work spans multiple model systems from yeast to mammalian cells and tissues.

Scientific Funding and Recognition:

• Marga and Walter Boll Foundation (2022-2024)
• BMBF Research Consortium IDEpiCo (2021-2024)
• Max Planck Society BOOST! program (2019-2025)
• DFG Research Grant on H2AQ105 methylation (2017-2020)
• Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016-2017)

The Tessarz Lab maintains active collaborations across molecular biology, genomics, and aging research fields, with particular emphasis on developing and applying cutting-edge technologies for multi-omic analysis at single-cell and spatial resolution. Current work focuses on understanding how metabolic changes during aging impact chromatin structure and gene expression patterns in various tissues.