Objective
Cytosine methylation is a chemical modification that is precisely copied when DNA is replicated. Because methylation can regulate gene expression, accurate reproduction of DNA methylation patterns is essential for plant and animal development and for human health. The enzymes that maintain DNA methylation have to work within chromatin, and particularly to contend with nucleosomes – tight complexes of DNA and histone proteins. How methylation of nucleosomal DNA is maintained remains unknown, and even the simple matter of whether nucleosomes hinder or promote methylation is controversial.
My laboratory’s recent work with DDM1 – an ancient protein conserved between plants and animals that can move nucleosomes – and linker histone H1, which binds to nucleosomes and the intervening ‘linker’ DNA, has allowed us to formulate a model wherein movement of nucleosomes by DDM1 dislodges H1 and allows methyltransferases to access the DNA. Furthermore, this work revealed the existence of unknown factors required to maintain DNA methylation. My laboratory also discovered that DNA methylation influences nucleosome placement, thereby demonstrating that the interaction between DNA methylation and nucleosomes is bidirectional.
My goal is now to deeply understand the connected processes of maintenance methylation and nucleosome placement. This will be achieved through three interconnected research strands:
1) Elucidation of how DNA methylation is maintained within chromatin.
2) Identification of new DNA methylation maintenance factors.
3) Determination of how DNA methylation influences nucleosomes in vivo.
Our ultimate output will be the creation of a mathematical model of DNA methylation maintenance that will incorporate the bidirectional interactions between methylation and nucleosomes. This breakthrough will revolutionize research in the field by permitting the development of precise, quantitative hypotheses about the maintenance and function of DNA methylation within chromatin.
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 enzymes
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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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-2016-COG
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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.
3400 KLOSTERNEUBURG
Austria
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.