Objective
Chromatin insulators allow genes to maintain independent programmes of expression through the establishment of fixed chromatin boundaries. Vertebrate insulators have been found to regulate the expression of genes with functions from growth control and development to X-inactivation. The properties of insulators have been extensively characterised, but their mechanism of action is largely undetermined. The HS4 element from the chicken b-globin locus is the paradigm vertebrate insulator. Flanking transgenes with HS4 has proved useful in the generation of many transgenic animal and cell lines, by allowing uniform transgene expression in all tissue types.
The aim of this proposal is to determine the mechanism(s) of insulator action. In my postdoctoral studies at the NIH (USA), I identified the first known insulator-binding proteins from vertebrates. I have recently taken up a lectureship at the University of Glasgow where I am establishing an independent research group to study chromatin insulator elements and gene regulation. I have minimal start-up funding, so I am applying for an IRG to help establish my research programme, thus promoting my re-integration into the European Research Area.
The proposed work will focus on a new protein, called BGP1 that interacts with several binding sites within the HS4 element. BGP1 binding sites are required for the barrier activity of HS4. BGP1 binding sites are also required for the prevention of CpG DNA methylation, an epigenetic determinant of stable gene silencing. This is of broad interest as the promoters of tumour suppressor genes become aberrantly methylated and transcriptionally silenced in cancer. It is conceivable that BGP1 recruits a factor that mediates immunity from DNA methylation. I will purify BGP1-interacting proteins in order to identify factors that mediate BGP1-directed functions. I will also use BGP1 as bait to identify novel insulator elements to compare with the HS4 element.
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 DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Keywords
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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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.
Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-12
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Funding Scheme
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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.
IRG - Marie Curie actions-International re-integration grants
Coordinator
GLASGOW
United Kingdom
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