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.
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
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.
A Genome-wide Analysis Of The Epigenetic Control Of Learning And Memory
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,857.00
Summary
The ability to form and recall memories is a fundamental function of the brain. This ability is affected by neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. This project will uncover the regulatory framework that defines the brain cells involved in forming memories, and how these change during Alzheimer's Disease progression.
Deciphering The Role Of DNA Methylation In The Regulation Of Alternative Splicing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$865,494.00
Summary
When a gene is turned on, the messenger RNA must be correctly processed to generate functional proteins. This ‘splicing’ process is essential for normal cellular activity, and is disrupted in many human diseases. We have discovered that an epigenetic modification, DNA methylation (mC), may control splicing. This project will investigate how mC influences splicing and use new epigenome-editing tools to control it, in order to ultimately understand and treat diseases involving aberrant splicing.
Identification Of Novel Epigenetic Modifiers Involved In Neural Stem Cell Function And Glioblastoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$748,680.00
Summary
The brain is produced from stem cells that have the capacity to make all the mature cells in the brain, both during development, and after injury. Brain stem cells are of interest due to the therapeutic potential to alter their function for regenerative medicine or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. These stem cells also have characteristics in common with brain tumour cells. We seek to identify genes important in brain stem cells and brain tumours, in order to identify new targets for th ....The brain is produced from stem cells that have the capacity to make all the mature cells in the brain, both during development, and after injury. Brain stem cells are of interest due to the therapeutic potential to alter their function for regenerative medicine or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. These stem cells also have characteristics in common with brain tumour cells. We seek to identify genes important in brain stem cells and brain tumours, in order to identify new targets for therapy.Read moreRead less