Formation and maintenance of chromatin domains in C. elegans

Genome function is partially controlled by the chromatin states underlying genomic elements. Due to technological developments over the last decade, it has become amenable to interrogate these chromatin states on a genome-wide basis. Recent work in the Ahringer group has shown these chromatin states are organised into large domains, which contain either actively transcribed genes, or genes that are developmentally/environmentally regulated. The project will investigate the regulation, formation and function of these chromatin domains. It will investigate the functional role of the domains with regard to regulation of the genome and cell events. It will also attempt to identify mechanisms and factors involved in the formation and regulation of domains as well as investigating the border regions between domains to elucidate their role in domain definition and function.