Posted by Jamina on November 6, 2014 · Leave a Comment
The modern microscopy techniques like STORM (stochastic optical reconstruction
microscopy) allow us to photograph the structure of the genome within the nucleus. In this work, Maria Aurelia Ricci characterized the structure and the organization of euchromatin and heterochromatin domains in differentiated cells, transcriptionally active cells and in a variety of different embryonic stem cell mutants.
Posted by Jamina on November 6, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Kinases are known to regulate gene expression influencing transcription factors and co-regulators; however, recently it is emerging a new role of these enzymes also in the dynamic of the chromatin structure, since they could modify histones and chromatin remodeling proteins. Little is known on the nuclear function of DYRK1A, an important kinase associated with Down Syndrome. In this short talk, Chiara di Vona suggests a new role of DYRK1A in the regulation of chromatin-associated transcriptional regulators.
Posted by Jamina on November 6, 2014 · Leave a Comment
If we compare the size of the complexes that architectural proteins form on the genome, we could define high occupied regions that are enriched at borders of topologically associating domains (TADs). During an heat shock, many genes are down regulated and only few response genes are activated suggesting that a dramatic reorganization of the chromosomal structure has to be activated as well as the alteration of the localization of architectural proteins. Thus, cells should possess a still unknown mechanisms to regulate the localization of these proteins and the three-dimensional arrangement of the genome. Victor Corces studies provide new insights in the protein modifications that could regulate the role of insulators and of architectural proteins in the dynamic change of the genome three-dimensional structure.
Posted by Jamina on November 6, 2014 · Leave a Comment
The X-chromosome is a fundamental model to study how identical DNA sequences are treated differently from the chromatin organization factors. Exploring the structure of the X-chromosome it is possible to study how the choose of the specific expressed allele is done. it is emerging that non-coding RNA molecules could have an important role in the inactivation of a specific alleles and in the propagation of these modifications. Chromosome conformation capture analysis allowed the Edith Heard’s group to define topologically associated domains (TADs) in which specific non-coding regulators are clustered with their target genes suggesting a genome function of TADs. Thus, the study of TADs could help not only to identify new regulators, but also to define structural differences between the active and inactive X-chromosome.
Posted by Jamina on November 6, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Despite the post-translational modification of proteins are mainly considered uncontrolled phenomenon, active enzymes regulate phosphorylation, methylation and oxidation of proteins. Important oxidation processes seem to be crucial for the control of the activity of the “pluripotency-controlling” network, regulated from the well known Yamanaka factors. Novel protein modifications are arising and more studies are needed to understand their functional role.
CRG Symposium 2014
