Objetivo 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. Ámbito científico natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymesnatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model Programa(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Tema(s) ERC-2016-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Convocatoria de propuestas ERC-2016-COG Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Institución de acogida INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRIA Aportación neta de la UEn € 335 492,00 Dirección Am Campus 1 3400 Klosterneuburg Austria Ver en el mapa Región Ostösterreich Niederösterreich Wiener Umland/Nordteil Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Participación en los programas de I+D de la UE Opens in new window Red de colaboración de HORIZON Opens in new window Coste total € 335 492,00 Beneficiarios (2) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación neta de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRIA Austria Aportación neta de la UEn € 335 492,00 Dirección Am Campus 1 3400 Klosterneuburg Ver en el mapa Región Ostösterreich Niederösterreich Wiener Umland/Nordteil Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Participación en los programas de I+D de la UE Opens in new window Red de colaboración de HORIZON Opens in new window Coste total € 335 492,00 JOHN INNES CENTRE Reino Unido Aportación neta de la UEn € 2 414 470,00 Dirección NORWICH RESEARCH PARK COLNEY NR4 7UH Norwich Ver en el mapa Región East of England East Anglia Breckland and South Norfolk Tipo de actividad Research Organisations Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Participación en los programas de I+D de la UE Opens in new window Red de colaboración de HORIZON Opens in new window Coste total € 2 414 470,00
