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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Sperm chromatin and the evolution of chromatin architecture at regulatory regions in animal genomes

Objective

The genome of eukaryotic cells is packaged into chromatin. Recent technological advances have allowed the profiling of chromatin on a genome-wide scale in a diversity of living species. We are now faced with an excellent opportunity to study chromatin function and evolution in a way that was not possible before. Here, I propose to study the mechanisms of nucleosome retention in human sperm and the role and evolution of chromatin architecture at regulatory elements of animal genomes. In human sperm, most of the genome is packaged by protamines and not by histones. The 4% of the human genome that remains packaged in nucleosomes tends to contain gene promoters and developmental regulatory genes. However, there is no mechanism to explain why nucleosomes are retained at these locations. To this end, I will test three possible mechanisms of nucleosome retention in human sperm. This information will help us understand the mechanisms that may affect epigenetic inheritance. As a second aspect of this project, I propose to study the interplay between chromatin structure and regulatory evolution in animal genomes. Nucleosome positions have been mapped throughout five entire animal genomes; human, mouse, Japanese killifish (Oryzias latipes), Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. I propose to use this data and the intrinsic affinity for nucleosomes predicted from in vitro nucleosome reconstitution experiments to study the role of nucleosome positioning in the evolution of promoters and distal enhancers in metazoans. The grant will be used for the transition from a post-doctoral to an independent research position and will contribute to my integration in a major scientific hub in Europe.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG)

Coordinator

FUNDACION PRIVADA INSTITUT DE MEDICINA PREDICTIVA I PERSONALITZADA DEL CANCER
EU contribution
€ 45 000,00
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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