Faculty
Martin W. Hetzer
Hearst Endowment Associate Professor
Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Biogenesis of the cell nucleus
During eukaryotic cell division the complex architecture of the cell nucleus breaks down to allow chromosomes to be captured by the mitotic spindle, which then accurately partitions them to daughter cells. Once segregation is accomplished, the interphase architecture is re-established by unknown mechanisms to enable perpetuation of genomic information.
The most dramatic events during nuclear assembly is the reformation of the nuclear envelope, a highly structured barrier that separates the nuclear interior from the rest of the cell. It is composed of a concentric double membrane that is penetrated by nuclear pores, which serve as channels for transport between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
The Hetzer Laboratory is focusing on understanding the molecular basis of nuclear assembly and its regulation during cell division. Currently Hetzer's lab uses live cell imaging and biochemistry as well as genetic and computational approaches to study various aspects of nuclear formation.
Dynamic changes of the nuclear envelope during cell differentiation
The nuclear envelope undergoes dramatic structural changes during cell differentiation. Mutations in nuclear envelope proteins cause a variety of different human diseases, highlighting the importance of the nuclear envelope for cell function. Mammalian nuclei are complex organelles, whose functions depend largely on a spatial, higher order organization of chromatin. Anchorage of chromatin at the nuclear periphery and its three-dimensional organization within the nuclear interior may regulate cell type- and differentiation-specific gene expression.
We are studying the dynamic reorganization of the nuclear envelope during muscle- and neuronal differentiation. Additionally, we are using Drosophila and C. elegans as model systems to identify functional interactions between the nuclear periphery and chromatin.
Education
- Undergraduate degree, University of Vienna, Austria
- PhD, Biochemistry and Genetics, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
- Postdoctoral work at EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
Awards and Honors
- 2009 ASCINA Award (Austrian Scientists and Scholars in North America)
- Early Career Life Science Award, American Society of Cell Biology 2009
- Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar in Aging (2009-2013)
- American Cancer Society Research Scholar (2009-2013)
- Pew Scholar 2005
- APART fellow 2000-2003
- EMBO long term fellowship 1998-2003
- Austrian science award in Genetics 1997
- Erwin Schroedinger fellowship 1997
Recent Publications
- Capelson, M., Liang, Y., Schulate, R., Mair, W, Wagner, U. and Hetzer, M.W. (2010) Chromatin-bound nuclear pore components regulate gene expression in higher eukaryotes. Cell [in press].
- Hetzer, M.W (2010) The biogenesis of the nuclear envelope. In The Nucleus, Cold Spring Harbor Press [in press].
- Hetzer, M.W and Wente. S.R. (2009) Border control at the nucleus: biogenesis and organization of the nuclear membrane and pore complexes. Dev Cell 17, 606-616.
- Anderson, D.J., Vargas, J., Hisao, J. and Hetzer, M.W. (2009) Recruitment of functionally distinct membrane proteins to chromatin mediates nuclear envelope formation in vivo. J Cell Biol 186: 183-191.
- Capelson, M. and Hetzer, M.W. (2009) The role of nuclear pores in gene regulation, development and disease. EMBO Rep 10, 697-705.
- Dawson, R.T., Lazarus, M.D., Hetzer, M.W. and Wente. S.R. (2009) ER membrane-bending proteins are necessary for de novo nuclear pore complex assembly. J Cell Biol 184: 659-675.
- D'Angelo, M.A., Raices, M., Panowski, S.H. and Hetzer, M.W. (2009) Age-dependent deterioration of nuclear pore complexes causes a loss of nuclear integrity in post-mitotic cells. Cell 136: 284-295.
- Kutay, U. and Hetzer, M.W. (2008) Reorganization of the nuclear envelope during open mitosis. Curr Opin Cell Biol 20: 456-466.
- Anderson, D.J. and Hetzer, M.W. (2008) Reshaping of the endoplasmic reticulum limits the rate for nuclear envelope formation. J Cell Biol 182: 911-924.
- D'Angelo, M.A. and Hetzer, M.W. (2008) Structure, dynamics and function of nuclear pore complexes. Trends in Cell Biol 18: 456-466.
- Anderson, D.J. and Hetzer, M.W. (2008) The life cycle of the metazoan nuclear envelope. Curr Opin Cell Biol 20:1-7.
- Anderson, D.J. and Hetzer, M.W. (2008) Reshaping the endoplasmic reticulum into the nuclear envelope. J Cell Sci 121:137-142.
- Schulte, R., Talamas, J., Doucet, C. and Hetzer, M.W. (2008) Single bead affinity chromatography (SINBAD) for the detection of protein-protein interactions. Plos One 3:e2061.
Links
Salk News Releases
- Nuclear pore complexes harbor new class of gene regulators, offer clues to gene expression and cancer, February 4, 2010
- Salk Scientist wins 2009 Aging Research Award from the Ellison Medical Foundation, October 7, 2009
- The breakdown of barriers in old cells may hold clues to aging process, January 22, 2009
- Salk scientists solve mystery behind how nuclear membrane forms during mitosis, September 12, 2007
- Researchers solve mystery of how nuclear pores duplicate before cell division, April 20, 2006

