iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Yesterday, we welcomed our former postdoc Chun So (Nick) for a talk on oocyte & embryo development @mpi-nat.bsky.social, followed by a roundtable discussion with the lab. Nick, it was great to have you back with us! Thank you, for visiting and sharing your latest work with us! 🧬🙏

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A few days away from the lab, time together, plenty of opportunities to learn from each other – that was our #labretreat at Harnack Haus in Berlin. We shared knowledge during our “Teach Us Something” talks, deepended our statistics skills and explored science history in Dahlem.💡

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Great news from our lab: Congratulations to Marios & @debojitsaha.bsky.social on receiving the 2025/26 Campus Seminar Awards at @mpi-nat.bsky.social! Marios was recognised in the PhD category, Debojit in the Postdoc category. Delighted to see their excellent research acknowledged — well deserved!👏

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Last week, I had the great honour of being formally admitted as a Fellow of the @royalsociety.org & signing its historic Charter Book. Deeply grateful for this recognition of our work. None of this would've been possible without many wonderful lab members, colleagues & collaborators. ✨

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Congratulations to our Postdoc @palmrinmoy.bsky.social on receiving the Helmholtz Munich Doctoral Researcher Award 2026 for his outstanding PhD research. We are proud to now have you in our Schuh lab. A well-deserved recognition! 🎉🌟 📷credits: @helmholtzmunich.bsky.social

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

A very special evening at the Rathaus in Schweinfurt, where I officially received the Carus Medal from the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. @leopoldina.org

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Many congratulations to our PostDoc @palmrinmoy.bsky.social on receiving the Best Poster Award at the @events.embl.org Practical Course “Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy: From Cells to Tissue” last month! 🎉👏 A great achievement — very well deserved!

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

For #FutureDay2026, we welcomed 5th & 6th graders for a hands-on day exploring science up close. They got a first look at lab work, from observing #egg cells under the microscope to pipetting and liquid nitrogen experiments 🔬🥼. A small step into the world of research!

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

A warm welcome to Roni, who joined the Schuh lab in December 2025 as a new Postdoc! She completed her PhD in Genetics focusing on the development and aging of #oocytes in C. elegans. Now she‘ll investigate the role of actin in #meiosis. Great to have you with us, Roni 🎉

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

What does it take to translate fertility research into a biotech company? Agata and Melina joined “Holding on to Unicorns and Rainbows” podcast to tell the story of Ovo Labs. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: (Apple Podcasts) podcasts.apple.com/mx/podcast/f...

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

The Schuh lab just got a new postdoc—welcome Venus! 🎉 Venus studied telomere regulation in cancer during her PhD and will now explore telomeres in meiosis. Excited to have you on the team, Venus! ✨

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

🚀 Our research on human egg quality and #fertility is making headlines worldwide! 🌍 Thanks to @debojitsaha.bsky.social, our co-authors, clinical collaborators, and the patients who made this study possible - and to Ovo Labs for advancing this work. #IVF #womenshealth

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Our findings identify centromeric cohesion protection as a modifiable determinant of egg quality. This is, to our knowledge, the first molecular intervention shown to improve chromosome cohesion in human eggs. (9/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Remarkably, SGO1 supplementation in human eggs significantly reduces premature chromatid separation and the number of single chromatids per egg. This effect is consistent across donors. (8/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Human eggs show the same pattern. Eggs from women ≥35 years have significantly reduced SGO1 and increased PSSC compared to younger donors. Can this be rescued by supplementing SGO1? (7/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Crucially, restoring SGO1 levels in aged mouse eggs rescues centromeric cohesion and reduces chromosome errors to youthful levels. But what about human oocytes, do they also lose SGO1 with age? (6/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

But how do cohesins and their protective factors change with age? In aged mouse oocytes, we observe a decline in pericentromeric transcription, SGO1, PP2A, and centromeric cohesion. This mirrors the dramatic rise in PSSC with age. (5/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

We find that ongoing transcription at pericentromeres is essential to maintain SGO1 (and PP2A) on meiotic chromosomes. Blocking transcription reduces SGO1 on chromosomes and triggers cohesion loss. (4/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

We identify Shugoshin 1 (SGO1) as a critical protector of centromeric cohesion in mammalian eggs. In mouse oocytes, depletion of SGO1 with siRNAs causes cohesion failure (PSSC) and alignment defects. But how is SGO1 maintained at meiotic centromeres? (3/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Sister chromatids must stay tightly connected until fertilization. When cohesion fails, chromatids separate prematurely — a defect called PSSC (premature separation of sister chromatids) — leading to mis-segregation and aneuploidy. (2/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Human eggs must segregate their chromosomes with exquisite precision — yet errors rise with maternal age, causing miscarriage & infertility. Our new article on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social shows why chromosome cohesion fails in aging eggs & how to improve it. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... (1/10)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

The Schuh lab wishes you & your families a #MerryChristmas and a wonderful start to a happy & successful #NewYear2026 🎄✨ This year’s department Christmas card features a microscope image by our PostDoc @kosti-sofroni.bsky.social showing a fetal ovary containing prophase oocytes.

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

We’re excited to have Qiuyan join the Schuh lab as a postdoctoral researcher 🎉 She earned her PhD in Biological Sciences, with a research focus on understanding early embryonic development. In her new role, she’ll explore germ cell development. Welcome to the team, Qiuyan!

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Last week, we enjoyed wonderful days on our #labretreat at Ringberg Castle by Lake Tegernsee, together with the Rink Lab and Lenart Lab from @mpi-nat.bsky.social. We explored science, hiked, did yoga, played games, and shared lots of laughter. A perfect setting to exchange ideas and connect. 🧠🧘‍♀️🎲

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Across species, diverse strategies have evolved to store proteins, from large filamentous assemblies to membrane bound compartments. These systems prevent premature degradation and ensure key proteins are available when needed after fertilization. (3/5)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Feeling excited & grateful 🌟 Honored to receive the Falling Walls Science Breakthrough 2025 (Life Sciences) — for our team’s live ovulation imaging. Thanks to Tabea Lilian Marx, Christopher Thomas & our lab! www.mpinat.mpg.de/5118437/pr_2... #FallingWalls #ScienceSummit25 #ScienceBreakthroughs

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Our fantastic technician Kevin marked his 30th birthday 🎉 and of course, the traditional German „fegen“ (sweeping) ritual was part of the celebration. Cheered on by colleagues, he handled it with humor and a great attitude. Welcome to your thirties, Kevin! 🧹🎂🥳

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

This week, Melina gave the Theodor Boveri Award Lecture at the University of Würzburg - the university’s highest honor in #lifesciences. This lecture recognizes outstanding scientists whose work continues Theodor Boveri’s pioneering legacy. Congratulations to Melina for this well-deserved honor! 🎉

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Our PostDoc @debojitsaha.bsky.social recently attended a @cshlcourses.bsky.social & came back with new techniques and stunning images. This mouse E9.5 embryo, labeled with Raldh2 (red), Fgf8 (green), Msx1 (magenta), DAPI (blue) is just one example. #Fluorescence revealing the magic of development!✨

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

What an inspiring #NachtdesWissens @ndw-goe.bsky.social in Göttingen! Thanks to our amazing team, who made our research on oocytes 🥚 fun and accessible for everyone. Great to see so many #curiousminds exploring our science up close and joining in creative activities! 🖍️🧑‍🔬

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

It was great having Mariia @schuhlab for her lab rotation within the IMPRS Molecular Biology Master Program. She presented her project, supervised by @ninaschweizer.bsky.social, in our large seminar room. Congratulations on sucessfully finishing - well done! 🎉 #researchtogether #posterpresentation

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

We had the pleasure of welcoming RTG2756 PhD students from @unigoettingen.bsky.social to our lab for a hands-on methods course. Great vibes, curious minds, and lots of good science – we truly enjoyed having you with us! 🧪🔬 #PhDLife #ScienceTogether www.uni-goettingen.de/rtg2756

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

New face in the lab! 😊 We're excited to welcome @palmrinmoy.bsky.social as a new postdoc in the Schuh Lab 🎉He completed his PhD in the Torres-Padilla lab @www.helmholtz-munich.de, studying early embryonic development. Now, he'll investigate long-lived proteins in oocytes. Great to have you here!

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Looking back at #Zukunftstag2025, we’re still inspired by the curiosity & enthusiasm of the students! 🔬✨ From pipetting skills to microscopy & liquid nitrogen fun, it was an unforgettable day in the world of science. Thanks to all participants!🌟 #FutureScientists

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Many congratulations to Jurgita on receiving the prestigious HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowship for her groundbreaking project on protein storage in mammalian #oocytes. Jurgita, we are so proud of you for this well-deserved recognition! Stay tuned to follow her exciting research journey! 🏆🌟

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Fascination with science on #Zukunftstag2025! 🧬👩‍🔬 Today, we explored the world of #science with students in our demo lab – examining oocytes under the microscope, extracting DNA, practicing pipetting, and even dipping gummybears in liquid nitrogen! 🧪 A day full of discoveries!

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Vanessa Hindmarsh as our new #ScientificManager! With a PhD in Molecular Medicine and experience in digital marketing & e-commerce, she will support Melina and manage our social media presence to share more about our work. Stay tuned for lab updates! 🔬🧬

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Our findings explain why shorter acrocentric chromosomes, like #21 in Down syndrome, often mis-segregate. Their unique shape and reduced cohesion create challenges during oocyte division, increasing error rates. (8/9)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Acrocentric chromosomes also have lower levels of cohesion proteins (Smc3 and Rec8) compared to metacentric ones. This reduced cohesion likely makes them more vulnerable to age-related aneuploidy. (7/9)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

We extended our analysis to human oocytes and found similar telomere-masked kinetochores. This confirms that chromosome shape influences mis-segregation across species, including humans. (6/9)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Using STED microscopy, we found that acrocentric kinetochores struggle more to orient towards the spindle pole compared to metacentric ones. This highlights the structural challenges these chromosomes face during division. (5/9)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Acrocentric chromosomes form incorrect attachments to spindle fibers more often in meiosis I. This difference vanishes in meiosis II. The small arm of acrocentric chromosomes partially covers the kinetochore in meiosis I, making correct attachments harder. (4/9)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Live imaging showed acrocentric chromosomes frequently misaligned and lagged during division. They're 7 times more likely to mis-segregate than metacentric ones in pig eggs. Turns out shape matters! But how? (3/9)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

We labeled acrocentric (centromere near one end) and metacentric (centromere in middle) chromosomes in live pig oocytes to compare their behavior during meiosis. Using sequence-specific tags, we tracked these chromosomes to understand how their shape influences segregation. (2/9)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Why are some chromosomes like #21 in Down syndrome more error-prone in mammalian eggs? 🤔 Our new study in @naturecomms.bsky.social reveals why acrocentric chromosomes often mis-segregate, causing aneuploidy and miscarriages. (1/9) www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

We found two mechanisms repressing cyclin B1 translation to sustain prophase arrest: 1) A DDX6-containing complex directly blocks cyclin B1 translation. 2) PABPCs sequester translation machinery on long-tailed mRNAs, indirectly repressing short-tailed mRNAs like cyclin B1. (6/6)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

By expressing mRNAs with different poly(A) tail lengths, we found that PABPC Trim-Away caused a shift of translation from long-tailed to tailless and short-tailed mRNAs. This explains why PABPC Trim-Away increased the translation of cyclin B1 which has a short poly(A) tail. (5/6)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

The stored dormant cyclin B1 mRNA contains a short poly(A) tail. Poly(A) tail usually promotes translation by recruiting cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPC). Surprisingly, PABPC Trim-Away also caused premature cyclin B1 translation and meiotic resumption. (4/6)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Using a modified RIBOmap assay, we found that DDX6 Trim-Away resulted in premature translation of cyclin B1 mRNAs that are normally stored in a dormant state, which is the cause of premature meiotic resumption. (3/6)

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Schuh Lab @schuhlab.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

To study the translational regulation of prophase arrest, we used Trim-Away to screen highly expressed RNA-binding proteins in oocytes. Notably, DDX6 depletion triggered premature meiotic resumption. (2/6)

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