Final Report Summary - CHROMATIN MOTILITY (An innovative system to impose altered features on a defined chromosome region and investigate its movement by fluorescence microscopy in the nucleus of a ce
This project aimed at advancing research and training in the life sciences to contribute to Europe's competitiveness and knowledge-based economy. The overall scientific goal was to identify new regulatory mechanisms in DNA compaction and positioning in the cell nucleus. At the training level we successfully acquired expertise in cutting-edge live microscopy imaging and applied the new competencies to further our understanding of nuclear architecture. The project promoted diversification of skills and proactive management of resources, which strengthens the researcher's abilities to lead an independent research team in the near future.
The work specifically focused on the nuclear positioning of silent heterochromatin structures that represent vital cellular structures like the centromeres or the telomeres. Their integrity and defined positioning in the nucleus is critical, as defects in these processes are associated with many diseases and genetic disorders such as laminopathies and envelopathies. Therefore the results we obtained have a clear potential relevance to the general public.
We created an in vivo system to monitor DNA folding's influence on its organisation in the cell nucleus and vice-versa in the fission yeast model organism. This is both a scientific and technical achievement that advances our understanding of the nuclear regulatory processes. We exploited the system to gain insights into the causality relationship between chromatin structure and position. Surprisingly, we provide evidence that the chromatin state can be modified upon relocalisation and that this phenomenon is dependent on the expression level of the tether. After publication the quality and relevance of the results surely will make a significant contribution to the field.
The support from the European Commission provided numerous opportunities for training at workshops and dissemination of the work with posters and seminars at conferences worldwide. Over the course of this project the researcher gained extensive interdisciplinary expertise that will significantly strengthen his professional maturity.
Overall the project is a great success as demonstrated with the wide range of contributions made to the research field from scholarly publications to poster presentations and seminars. We also promoted outreach activities through articles in scientific magazines and layperson talks. Our results suggest that the mystery of chromosome compaction and positioning is only beginning to unravel. We will need to persevere in our efforts to provide further insights into the complex relationships between these processes.
The work specifically focused on the nuclear positioning of silent heterochromatin structures that represent vital cellular structures like the centromeres or the telomeres. Their integrity and defined positioning in the nucleus is critical, as defects in these processes are associated with many diseases and genetic disorders such as laminopathies and envelopathies. Therefore the results we obtained have a clear potential relevance to the general public.
We created an in vivo system to monitor DNA folding's influence on its organisation in the cell nucleus and vice-versa in the fission yeast model organism. This is both a scientific and technical achievement that advances our understanding of the nuclear regulatory processes. We exploited the system to gain insights into the causality relationship between chromatin structure and position. Surprisingly, we provide evidence that the chromatin state can be modified upon relocalisation and that this phenomenon is dependent on the expression level of the tether. After publication the quality and relevance of the results surely will make a significant contribution to the field.
The support from the European Commission provided numerous opportunities for training at workshops and dissemination of the work with posters and seminars at conferences worldwide. Over the course of this project the researcher gained extensive interdisciplinary expertise that will significantly strengthen his professional maturity.
Overall the project is a great success as demonstrated with the wide range of contributions made to the research field from scholarly publications to poster presentations and seminars. We also promoted outreach activities through articles in scientific magazines and layperson talks. Our results suggest that the mystery of chromosome compaction and positioning is only beginning to unravel. We will need to persevere in our efforts to provide further insights into the complex relationships between these processes.
