Characterization of chromatin dynamics in cycling cells
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Dundee
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Epigenetic information relies on a combination of DNA modifications, nucleosome positioning, histone modifications, histone variants, chromatin remodellers, higher-order structures and many proteins that define, maintain and functionally translate this information. During lineage propagation, cells must duplicate their genetic and epigenetic information to maintain cell identity. Yet, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of epigenetic information in cycling cells remain largely unknown. In S phase, the DNA replication machinery provokes genome-wide disruption of chromatin structure, and thus challenges the persistence of epigenetic information (1). Nucleosomes are evicted ahead of the replisome and reassembled within minutes on newly replicated DNA by the recycling of parental histones and the deposition of newly synthesized histones (2). However, several aspects of histone-based information are not restored so quickly, revealing that restoration of epigenetic information is not necessarily tightly coupled to DNA replication. For example, H3K27me3, which is required for gene repression, is restored in the following G1 phase (2). These chromatin components, which are instrumental for cell identity, are often found deregulated in cancer or intellectual disabilities linked to nervous system development (1). Therefore it is crucial to understand the mechanisms that underlie the faithful restoration of epigenetic information.
Project provides training in Interdisciplinary Skills.
Project provides training in Interdisciplinary Skills.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR/N013735/1 | 05/09/2016 | 30/09/2025 | |||
| 1785999 | Studentship | MR/N013735/1 | 05/09/2016 | 30/11/2020 |
| Description | Primary School Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Pupils attended a Science club organised by our lab in their primary school. We carried out several simple experiments with them, and talked about the scientific method. This sparked great interest, and many questions about the experiments themselves and the scientific life arose. The activity was a success and increased the audience in successive iterations of the science club. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Science Saturdays : Guardians of the Genome |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The public engagement aims of the School of Life Sciences are to: 1. Build on our creative partnerships to deliver a high quality, innovative engagement programme. 2. Engage a range of people with our research. 3. Collaborate with our local communities to meet their needs and widen our reach. 4. Promote and support a culture of active participation in public engagement within our life sciences community. This includes students, research and non-research staff. Science Saturdays take place at the Mills Observatory in Dundee as a partnership project between the Centre of Gene Regulation and Expression and Leisure and Culture Dundee who run the observatory. These events take place on various Saturdays throughout the winter season (October - March). The aim for these free events is to allow the general public (usually family groups with young children) to drop in and get involved with science experiments and discover the tools scientists use when they learn more about the wonders of the world. Each Science Saturday has a different theme and allows the visitors to meet scientists and find out about the amazing research work taking place at the University of Dundee. During the events researchers and students facilitate interactive hands-on outreach activities related to their respective groups' research to the visitors. The observatory also has an immersive, room-filling visual presentation screen that allows visitors of all ages and abilities to engage with and explore the wonders of the world of science. This can be through interactive activities, videos presentations or by being able to view items down a microscope. In February 2020, the Centre of Gene Regulation and Expression presented the event "Guardians of the Genome". This event aimed to show the public that our genome or DNA is a complete set of instructions to make all living things. If a mistake occurs in this set of coded instructions it can cause diseases. The scientists used various different activities to explain how the code works and how it is taken care of. Activity examples included taking a dive into the core of a cell in a Virtual Reality Game setup to repair faulty DNA using rocket gloves and a molecular toolbox, looking at your own cells and C. elegans worms under a microscope, extracting DNA from fruit and making DNA themed bracelets. Together with the rest of my laboratory team I planned several of the engagement activities for the event, including the making of DNA bracelets, visualising your own DNA, and extracting DNA from fruit. During the event I coordinated and engaged with the public through the DNA extraction demonstration. During both planning and execution of the event I represented how my current research into regulation of DNA replication relates to the activities performed. Our event had excellent feedback, with questions and comments such as the following: "Why do we have DNA?", "What's the difference between mutation and variation?", "Fascinating, outstanding, excellent. Thank you.", "Everyone was so kind and welcoming.", "Too much fun!". The strawberry DNA extraction activity which I conducted was reported as one of the favourites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |