Project description
Chromosome DNA folding via extrusion by the cohesin complex
DNA was discovered 150 years ago, yet DNA folding in chromosomes remains a mystery. One proposal is that this is achieved by a process called loop extrusion, whereby multisubunit ATPases reel genomic DNA into loops, bringing distant loci into proximity. A recent discovery provided the first direct evidence that the chromosome-associated multisubunit protein complex cohesin indeed rapidly extrudes DNA into loops. The EU-funded LoopMechRegFun project aims to use a single-molecule loop extrusion assay to elucidate the mechanisms of loop extrusion by cohesin and how this process occurs in live cells. Project results will provide an understanding of genome architecture and of gene regulation and recombination mechanisms.
Objective
Since its discovery 150 years ago, DNA has been intensely studied. As a result, it is understood in some detail how genomic DNA is replicated, repaired and segregated, and entire genomes can be sequenced. However, how DNA is folded in chromosomes has remained a mystery. It has been proposed that this is achieved by a process called loop extrusion. This hypothesis proposes that SMC complexes, multi-subunit ATPases present in all kingdoms of life, reel genomic DNA into loops, thus bringing distant loci into proximity. This process is thought to have important structural and regulatory functions, such as the separation of bacterial genomes and the folding of eukaryotic DNA into loops and topologically associating domains (TADs), facilitating sister chromatid resolution, gene regulation and immunoglobulin gene recombination. We discovered recently that in vitro single molecules of the SMC complex cohesin bound to NIPBL (cohesin-NIPBL) indeed rapidly extrude DNA into loops at up to 2.1 kb/s. These results provided the first direct evidence for the hypothesis that cohesin generates chromatin loops and TADs by extrusion. However, the most fundamental questions relating to this process remain unanswered: What is the mechanism of loop extrusion? How is this process controlled? How does cohesin extrude chromatin fibers in cells, and how does this contribute to the processes mentioned above and to other functions? We are proposing to use our single-molecule loop extrusion assay and other techniques to address these questions. Answering these will be essential for understanding genome architecture and regulation, will provide insights into mechanisms of gene regulation and recombination, will reveal how SMC complexes function as molecular ‘motors’, and may provide insight into the etiology of human disorders caused by malfunctioning of cohesin and NIPBL, such as several widespread cancers, rare congenital ‘cohesinopathies’, and trisomies and spontaneous human abortions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering fibers
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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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.
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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.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG
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1030 Wien
Austria
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