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.
Epigenomic Profiling At Single Nucleotide Resolution In Development And Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,324.00
Summary
Epigenetics literally means 'above DNA' and refers to genetic marks that control how genes are turned on and off. The first part of this project will examine these marks on a whole genome level in normal human white blood cell development. This will identify new genomic regions involved in immunity. In the second part of the project the same technology will be applied to study paediatric cancer in Australia. This has the potential to identify new diagnostic marks and targets for treatment.
A Piggy-back Screen For Genes Involved In Cancer Epigenetics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
Cancer can be caused not only by mutations in genes, but also by changes to our epigenome, which controls whether genes are on or off. There is much still to learn about the epigenome. We have developed a method to identify epigenome regulators. The epigenome is disrupted in cancer, but it is not know whether this starts tumour growth. I will use mutant mice to study this and analyse human cancers for mutations in epigenome regulators. This may lead to preventative screening and new treatments.
Transcription factors (TFs) read cis-regulatory information encoded in the genome. However, they must compete with structural chromatin proteins such as nucleosomes for access to DNA motifs. It is unclear what features discriminate used from unused binding sites with similar motifs, in vivo. To provide insight and general principles of TF biology, I will express variants of a model TF in mammalian cells and test the contribution that specific molecular properties have on genomic binding.
The Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance Of Parental Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,431.00
Summary
The current global epidemic of obesity and diabetes has partly been fuelled by the propagation of these diseases from parent to child across multiple generations. Successful completion of this study will provide hard evidence that there is an inborn but non-genetic component to the risk of obesity and provide insights into the mechanisms by which that risk is created and transmitted from both the mother and the father to the child.