Deciphering the functions of the Aurora-B in the molecular mechanisms of chromosome segregation and the epigenetic program of male germ cells

Projektinformationen

FUNCTIONS OF AURORA-

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 515306

Startdatum 20 Dezember 2004

Enddatum 19 Dezember 2006

Finanziert unter

• Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006

Gesamtkosten € 0,00

EU-Beitrag € 158 219,00

Koordiniert durch

CENTRE EUROPEAN DE RECHERCHE EN BIOLOGIE ET MEDECINE-GROUPMENT D AND APOS;INTERET ECONOMIQUE
France

Ziel

The goals of my proposed research are to elucidate the functions of the Aurora-B kinase in chromosome segregation and epigenetic reprogramming during spermatogenesls. This research promises to provide new information pertaining to infertility and diseases arising from chromosomal abnormalities such as cancer and Down syndrome. In mitotic cells the Aurora-B kinase has key functions in chromosome dynamics, chromosome condensation and chromatin modifications. However, its function in mammalian meiosis is unkno wn. I propose to investigate the role of the Aurora-B kinase in mammalian spermatogenesis using newly engineered transgenic mouse lines with meiotic-specific promoters that either over-express Aurora-B, or express a non-functional form that acts as a domin ant negative. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy will be used to analyse the alignment, synapsis and segregation of the chromosomes in transgenic versus wild type mice. In addition to its role in chromosome dynamics, the Aurora-B kinase is likely t o have an epigenetic function in germ cells. The field of epigenetics involves the study of heritable modifications that do not alter the DNA code, but instead control gene transcription through chromatin structure via histone modifications. Epigenetic mod ifications in the germline are remarkable because they can control gene expression from one generation of an organism to the next. Aurora-B is known to phosphorylate, histone H3. This phosphorylation has been linked to chromatin condensation and epigenetic regulation of gene expression. To investigate the role of Aurora-B in the epigenetic program of sperm cells I will probe for differences in chromatin modifications between transgenic and wild type animals.

Wissenschaftliches Gebiet

• natural sciences › biological sciences › biochemistry › biomolecules › proteins
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › microscopy › electron microscopy
• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › heredity
• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › chromosomes
• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › epigenetics

Schlüsselbegriffe

• Meiosis
• chromatin modifications
• chromosome segregation
• epigenetics
• kinase
• spermatogenesis

Programm/Programme

• FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006

Thema/Themen

• MOBILITY-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF)

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
Andere Projekte für diesen Aufruf anzeigen

Finanzierungsplan

EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships

Koordinator

CENTRE EUROPEAN DE RECHERCHE EN BIOLOGIE ET MEDECINE-GROUPMENT D AND APOS;INTERET ECONOMIQUE

• EU-Beitrag: Keine Daten
• Adresse: 1 rue Laurent Fries ; ILLKIRCH ; Frankreich
• Gesamtkosten: Keine Daten