Project description
Mechanisms of acetylation-dependent dynamic gene regulation
Transcription factors send signals to the nucleus orchestrating temporal and spatial gene activation programmes. Lysine acetyltransferases that add acetyl groups to lysine residues are important transcription cofactors, and the amount of acetylation correlates with gene expression. However, the mechanisms by which acetylation induces transcription activation are not clear. The ERC-funded ACT-SIGNAL project aims to develop a model of acetylation-dependent dynamic gene regulation via insights gained by combining CRISPR-based gene editing, quantitative proteomics and genomics. Using these tools, the team will investigate the function of lysine acetyltransferases in proteome-scale acetylation and the mechanisms by which acetylation promotes gene activation.
Objective
Transcription, the first and most crucial step in decoding the genome, is orchestrated by an extensive repertoire of transcription factors (TFs). These TFs transmit diverse signals to the nucleus, directing precise temporal and spatial gene activation programs. They employ a diverse array of transcription coactivators to impact transcription, including lysine acetyltransferases (KATs), an evolutionarily conserved group of coactivators found in all eukaryotes. Lysine acetylation serves as a hallmark of active promoters and enhancers, with the level of acetylation correlating with gene expression. Despite a strong correlation between acetylation and gene activation, the causal role of acetylation in transcription activation remains debated. Our recent research has revealed that inhibiting the catalytic activity of CBP/p300 acetyltransferase halts the transcription of numerous genes without impacting DNA accessibility or TF binding. A fundamental question that remains unanswered is whether acetylation is directly involved in gene activation, what the nature of acetylation sites involved is, and what are the underlying mechanisms by which acetylation regulates transcription activation. In ACT-SIGNAL, we will take an integrated approach, combining CRISPR-based gene editing, quantitative proteomics, and genomics to investigate the function of lysine acetyltransferases in proteome-scale acetylation and explore the mechanisms by which acetylation promotes gene activation. Ultimately, ACT-SIGNAL aims to establish an integrated model for acetylation-dependent dynamic gene regulation. This endeavor has the potential to provide a major conceptual advance in our understanding of how transcription factors and acetyltransferases collaborate to promote transcription activation the crucial first step in genetic information decoding.
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.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes
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Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
1165 Kobenhavn
Denmark