Insights into evolution - Christa Schleper

Short CV - Christa Schleper 1993 PhD with Wolfram Zillig, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany 1993 – 1994 postdoc with Wolfram Zillig, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany 1995 postdoc with Melvin Simon, Californian Institute for Technology, Pasadena, USA 1996 –1997 postdoc with Edward DeLong, UC Santa Barbara, USA 1998-2004 Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany April 2002 ‘venia legendi’ qualification in microbiology and genetics 2004 - Present Professor of Microbiology. University of Bergen, Norway Contact University of Bergen Institutt for biologi, Jahnebk. Jahnebk. 5 5007 Bergen http://www.im.uib.no/

research interest

I have a broad interest in the ecology and molecular biology of Archaea.
One focus of our research involves the study of gene regulation in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. We have recently developed a genetic system for this crenarchaeote that allows the study of gene regulation with a reporter gene system in vivo. We also use this system for high-level expression of proteins in Sulfolobus. The vector is build on the complete gene sequence of the virus SSV1 whose expression patterns and regulation we currently analyze with the help of microarrays.
A second focus involves the study of uncultivated archaea from terrestrial and freshwater habitats. We use metagenomic techniques to analyze genome fragments of non-thermophilic crenarchaeota from soil. From these studies we deduce hypotheses on the metablism of as yet uncultivated archaea that are tested with biochemical analyses, expression studies under various changing parameters (reverse transcription PCR from soil samples) and by enrichment cultures. Our environmental (= metagenomic) libraries comprise several Gbp of soil and are also used as a ressource for the identification of novel enzymes and bioactive compounds for biotechnological applications.

What attracted you to this kind of work?
The Study of Life, specifically the third domain of life.

What's the best/worst thing about your work?
The best aspect of research is the worldwide connection with people interested in the topic. The worst aspect is the planning and administration involved.

What are the aims of your research?
The primary aim is to understand the ecological impact on the planet and overall evolution. Where we all come from and how life evolved.

Would you recommend this area of research to others?
Yes ! Follow your heart.

What do you find exciting about your research?
The research allows us to follow certain questions. The field is always changing and moving generating new ideas and hypotheses, we are always learning and opening many more questions than we can find answers.

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