Shedding light on three-dimensional gene regulation

Project Information

3D-REG

Grant agreement ID: 101115401

DOI

10.3030/101115401

EC signature date 16 October 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2028

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 500 000,00

EU contribution

€ 1 500 000,00

Coordinated by

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - 3D-REG (Shedding light on three-dimensional gene regulation)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2026-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Complex organisms such as humans contain hundreds of different cell types that perform vastly different functions but are all instructed by the exact same DNA sequence. The specification of different cell types is dependent on precise regulation of the activity of the genes that are contained in our DNA. However, it remains unclear how specific sets of genes are switched on and off in order to support the development and functioning of specific cell types. It is known that genes make up a very small proportion of our DNA and that they are regulated by specific “non-coding” sequences in the DNA. Since these regulatory sequences can be located relatively far away from their target genes, DNA is folded in specific structures that allow for communication between these DNA sequences in 3D space. The 3D-REG research project aims to develop and apply cutting-edge techniques to identify the molecular mechanisms by which regulatory sequences communicate and regulate gene activity.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

So far, we have developed, established, and applied new, cutting-edge techniques that allow us to: (1) perturb potential regulatory proteins with very high temporal precision; (2) measure the effects on communication between regulatory sequences and other molecular gene regulatory events with very high spatial resolution; (3) characterize the proteins that are involved in gene regulation.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We have developed and applied cutting-edge techniques to analyse gene regulation in its 3D context at high temporal and spatial resolution. Further development and implementation of these techniques are not only important to better understand the fundamental nature of gene regulation, but will ultimately also contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis of genetic disease.