Essential Roles Of RNA Polymerase II Transcription And DNA Damage Response Pathway In The Maintenance Of Centromere Chromatin Assembly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,224.00
Summary
A centromere is a region of DNA typically found near the middle of a chromosome where two identical sister chromatids come in contact. It is involved in cell division as the point of attachment to the mitotic spindle. Defective centromeres can result in genome instability, infertility and development of cancers. This work involves a study into how the identity of a centromere is maintained and inherited after each cell division. This has significant implication in the understanding of cell growt ....A centromere is a region of DNA typically found near the middle of a chromosome where two identical sister chromatids come in contact. It is involved in cell division as the point of attachment to the mitotic spindle. Defective centromeres can result in genome instability, infertility and development of cancers. This work involves a study into how the identity of a centromere is maintained and inherited after each cell division. This has significant implication in the understanding of cell growth and cancer development.Read moreRead less
Defining The Epigenetic Origins Of Maternally Inherited Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$731,162.00
Summary
Epigenetic (non genetic) changes to the DNA in sperm and eggs can alter outcomes in children. Despite the potential for drugs and diet to mediate some of these inherited effects, the processes involved are very poorly understood. By determining the mechanisms that regulate epigenetic inheritance, this project will improve our understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms acting in the parent, can mediate inherited disease and life-long health outcomes in our children.
Supporting A Friend: The Role Of The Molecular Scaffold CoREST Family In Chromatin Regulation And Neuroprotection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,802.00
Summary
In diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease, neurons degenerate and die. One contributing factor to neuronal death is inflammation. The aim of this study is to identify mechanisms that protect neurons from death. This project focuses on the role of a family of proteins (CoREST1-3) that function to reverse gene expression changes in inflammation that lead to neurodegeneration.
Role Of Epigenetic Modifyers MBD2 And TET Proteins In DNA Methylation And Demethylation In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$722,068.00
Summary
Cancer is a disease of both genetics and epigenetics, the cell machinery that controls how the DNA code is read. DNA methylation is one part of epigenetics but few studies have investigated how the loss of methylation contributes to cancer formation. We have exciting new data that implicates specific proteins in this process and, with this funding we will determine how these proteins affect gene regulation in cancer, potentially leading to novel cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Insights Into The Epitranscriptome: Linking RNA Methylation And Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,878.00
Summary
The string of nucleotides in an RNA molecule can contain the information to make proteins or to regulate diverse biological processes. Chemical modifications can be added to certain nucleotides that impact the regulation, structure or function of RNA. Recently, mutations in enzymes that modify RNA have been found in patients with intellectual disability. This project focuses on identifying and characterising specific RNA modification sites in brain that when disrupted cause mental retardation.
Molecular Memory: How DNA Methylation Contributes To Spatial Memory
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,842.00
Summary
The brain stores memories that can last a lifetime and our memory is core to mental health, but we still do not know how memories are stored. Here we explore a radical new theory that memory storage involves chemical modification of the DNA molecule - DNA-methylation. We will examine how memory changes patterns of DNA-methylation, and how modifying DNA-methylation can change memory. Our work will examine the biochemical basis of memory, and will inspire new strategies to treat memory disorders.
Epigenetic Changes In The Prostate Cancer Microenvironment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$848,954.00
Summary
Many men with prostate cancer have slow-growing tumours that are unlikely to spread outside the prostate. These men with low-risk cancer are often monitored to prevent unnecessary aggressive treatments. However, the current methods used to distinguish between slow-growing and aggressive tumours are imprecise and there is a risk of missing aggressive tumours. We aim to identify new biomarkers of prostate cancer by measuring modifications to the DNA in the tumour and surrounding cells
Chromatin Dynamics As A Driver Of Disease Initiation And Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Epigenetic programming ensures that the right genes are expressed in the right amount, in the right cell type at the right time. Our OVERALL AIM is to identify how this programming is altered in certain cancers and dementias and to determine whether this is a cause or driver of disease. This study has great potential to identify the epigenetic marks that will be the best targets for new therapies.
Deciphering The Role Of Atypical DNA Methylation In Neuronal Genome Regulation And Neurological Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,484.00
Summary
This research will use a combination of genomic, biochemical and functional genomics approaches to investigate the role of the atypical mCH form of DNA methylation in neuronal genome regulation and function, and provide new insights into the role of the epigenome in healthy brain function and neural pathologies.
Identifying Genes That Function As Epigenetic Barriers To Cell Reprogramming
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,649.00
Summary
Stem cells can form many different cell types and show significant promise in cell therapies. New technologies allow the generation of stem cells from adult cell types such as skin cells, but these technologies are inefficient and typically introduce new genetic material to the cells. This project will develop new, more efficient approaches for producing stem cells potentially without the introduction of genetic material, thereby improving the use of these stem cells in therapies.