Martin Voss

Home Institution
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Host Institution
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Research Mentor: R.A. Weinberg, PhD.

E-Mail: martinvoss76@web.de

Research Topic
see Abstract
Personal Reactions to the U.S. Experience
Great!
Greatest Difficulties Encountered
Trying not to get caught when taking off my long underwear at work.

Helpful Hints for Future Students
- When in Boston, for a great view, have a drink in the "Top of the Hub", 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower.
- Should you move into an unfurnished apartment, don't buy anything new. Pots, forks, pillows, chainsaws: it's all there for very little money. Just look for moving-sale notes in your building or your institute.
- For cheap wine, go to "Trader Joe's" (go there anyway, it's great for food, too).
- Should you need a used bike, there's a shop on Mass. Avenue in Cambridge (close to Vassar Street). Prices are still high, but you can try to bargain.
- For Halloween Costumes, check out "Boston Costumes" in Chinatown.

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Abstract on Research Topic
Inhibition of p16-induced senescence by stable RNAi expression using a lenti-viral delivery system
Authors
Martin Voss, Ittai Ben-Porrath, PhD, Sheila S.Stewart, PhD, Jing Yang, PhD
Institution
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT, Cambridge
Purpose
To further investigate the role of the p53- and Rb-pathway in p16-induced as well as telomere-induced senescence

Materials and Methods
Three different hairpin-DNA-oligos were designed to serve as templates for siRNA expression. Each construct was cloned into a lenti-viral vector carrying a U6 promotor and a puromycin selection marker. Human BJ-fibroblasts in different stages of senescence were then infected with the lenti-virus by use of a three vector packaging system. Cellular senescence was assessed by morphology and beta-gal-staining. Protein expression was quantified by Western Blotting and Immunofluorescence.

Results
At this point there are only preliminary data: it is safe to say that the lenti-viral vector carrying the p16-siRNA construct is capable of a complete knock down of p16-expression in a transient transfection setting. Also, we were able to induce senescence in primary human fibroblasts by viral infection with a Moloney-based p16-expression vector.