Objective The centromere is a unique specialized chromatin domain responsible for the nucleation of the kinetochore, a large proteinaceous complex that, during mitosis, powers and controls chromosome movement on spindle microtubules ensuring accurate chromosome segregation, thereby preventing aneuploidy, a major hallmark of human cancers. Although directly embedded in chromatin no specific DNA sequence is either necessary or sufficient to propagate the centromere which is specified largely in an epigenetic manner. The primary candidate for centromere identification is CENP-A, a histone H3 variant that assembles specifically into centromeric nucleosomes and nucleates the assembly of the entire centromere complex. How this epigenetic “mark” is initiated and stably maintained while the underlying genome is continuously duplicated as cells divide remains a mystery. This is due, in part, to the inability to track proteins long term. I have adopted a novel fluorescent pulse labeling technique to specifically tackle this problem and established the basic long term dynamics of centromeric CENP-A chromatin. Here, I propose to build on these initial results and further develop this state-of-the-art fluorescent labeling technology combined with high-end imaging to determine how epigenetic factors are maintained and replenished across cell divisions using the centromere as a model while also expanding the analysis to include other epigenetic components. Through these new cell-biological tools in conjunction with molecular genetic and biochemical assays, I have devised a multifaceted approach to identify factors mediating CENP-A assembly as well as to determine the role of centromeric DNA in the initiation of the epigenetic mark. Collectively, these efforts are aimed at elucidating the general principles of epigenetic inheritance that are fundamental to transcription regulation, developmental programs and genome organization. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticschromosomesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsepigenetics Keywords CENP-A biological sciences cell biology centromere chromatin chromosome biology epigenetics histone H3 variant histone variant kinetochore mitosis Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-4-3.IRG - Marie Curie Action: "International Reintegration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IRG - International Re-integration Grants (IRG) Coordinator FUNDACAO CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN EU contribution € 100 000,00 Address AVENIDA BERNA 45A 1067-001 LISBOA Portugal See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact António Coutinho (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data