Project description
Epigenetics meets evolutionary biology
Germline inheritance ensures the transmission of genetic and epigenetic information across generations, playing a crucial role in reproduction and species’ continuity. Chromatin pathways such as modification and remodelling play a central role in this transmission as well as in evolutionary battles: for example, between jumping genes and the host genome. The scope of the ERC-funded EvoEpi project is to understand how these chromatin pathways evolve and how their rapid diversification impacts reproduction and inheritance. Considering that disruptions in these inheritance mechanisms can lead to infertility and developmental disorders, project results will shed light on reproductive health and development. Moreover, outcomes are expected to challenge the idea that epigenetic marks remain mostly unchanged over time.
Objective
Germline chromatin pathways are key to the stable inheritance of genetic and epigenetic information. They also participate in intense evolutionary battles between genetic entities with opposite incentives during reproduction. These include conflicts between transposons and host genomes, between chromosomes during meiosis, and between maternal and paternal epigenomes. Such genetic conflicts are predicted to drive evolutionary arms races leading to rapid genetic and epigenetic innovations. Contrary to current dogmas focusing on conserved features, my research program explicitly tackles the functional consequences of epigenome rapid evolution during mammalian reproduction and disease, including in humans. With the support of the ERC, we want to harvest this unique perspective on the germline epigenome to explore novel inheritance paradigms:
(1) Using mouse models, we discovered that rapidly evolving short histone H2A variants function in a novel imprinting-like conflict during reproduction. We will identify the mechanisms underlying these functions combining epigenome profiling with evolution-guided hypothesis testing in vivo. We then seek to explore their contributions to reproductive barriers using functional genetics across mouse sub-species.
(2) Using in-depth phylogenomics and selection analyses, we uncovered novel signatures of functional diversification in rodent and primate chromatin remodelling enzymes. We propose to systematically identify these innovations across mammalian germline chromatin pathways.
(3) To study the chromatin consequences of these innovations, we designed a surrogate system in human and mouse cells for comparative epigenome profiling. We will use this approach to uncover the breadth of epigenome regulatory mechanisms shaped by potential genetic conflicts in vivo.
In sum, this proposal interfaces our unique expertise in epigenomics and evolution to transform our current understanding of epigenome regulation and its impact on reproduction.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics epigenomes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics heredity
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
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.
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.
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75654 Paris
France
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.