Melina Schuh

Until a mammalian embryo implants in the uterus, the egg cell has to supply it with everything it needs to survive, including essential proteins. Researchers have now elucidated how egg cells store these proteins. Their experiments also provide important insights into how errors in protein storage can lead to infertility. Structures of the egg cell that have puzzled scientists for over 60 years play a crucial role in this. more

Human eggs are missing an important motor protein, which helps to separate the chromosomes correctly during cell division. Introducing this protein into eggs opens up new avenues for therapeutic approaches that could reduce chromosome segregation errors.
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Researchers at the institute in collaboration with the Institute of Farm Animal Genetics in Mariensee and other international colleagues, developed a new model system for studying early embryonic development. With the help of this system, they discovered that the process when genetic material from each parent combines immediately after fertilization is remarkably inefficient. more

For women, the biological clock starts ticking by their mid-30s at the latest: Fertility decreases, the risk of miscarriages increases. One of the main reasons behind both are eggs with altered chromosome numbers. It has remained largely unclear, however, why eggs from older women more frequently possess too many or too few chromosomes. A German-English research team has now discovered that certain structures on the egg’s chromosomes age and fall apart, possibly promoting incorrect chromosome distribution. 
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For women to give birth to a healthy child, their eggs have to halve their set of chromosomes before fertilization in a sensitive process. Melina Schuh and her team have now discovered a previously unknown structure in mammalian eggs that is indispensable for the error-free distribution of chromosomes. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how mammalian eggs are prepared for fertilization. more