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Eberhardt-Karls-Universität, Tübingen
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Research: Yale University, Department of Pediatrics-GI, New Haven
Mentor: Saul Karpen M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical: none
Cholestasis is a major problem in many liver related diseases. This leads to a reduced turnover of cholesterol, bilirubin and bile acids in hepatocytes. A few years ago the first bile acid transporter called ntcp (sodium/thaurochlorate cotransporting polypeptide) has been cloned. Ntcp is located in the sinusoidal membrane of liver cells and transports bile acids against sodium ATP-dependent into the cells. This cotransporting system was found to be reduced in liver cholestasis. In the meantime several other transport proteins have been identified located on the sinusoidal as well as on the canalicular membrane. I am working on the identification of transcription factors interacting with the promotor sequence of ntcp involving in vitro tests as well as functional tests in liver cells. Several sites of promotor interactions with nuclear binding proteins have been identified in the last two years. Yet little is known about possible binding proteins and their regulatory offects on the gene expression. My project involves trying to find the responsive transcription factor(s) to one specific element inside the minimal promotor of ntcp called Footprint B, furthermore to investigate the functional effects on the ntcp expression on the liver membrane according to limited bile flow and to test the influence of protein specific ligends.
It is a stereotype that Americans are very friendly, but also very superficial. This is true and yet not true. The people here in New England are friendly, very polite, but a little bit cool. Privacy is very important. But with some effort and a little patience you can meet very nice people and become actually closer. I also think that small talk is very important here and it is a way of talking I first had to get used to. The way of life is actually not very different. All in all I enjoy my time in the US very much, the possibility to learn a lot about molecular biology and to get to know this country.
American bureaucracy!!! Problems start with getting the visa at the right time. In Yale it was difficult to get the right ID, in New Haven to get the right social security number, and in the Department not to pay too much tax. The people are normally quite nice, but it can take ages and nerves until you speak to the right person.
See Joerg Daehn's account of our hub cab problem!
The same old story: Start early on your visa!! Also see our additional website about Yale.