Histone H3.3 Dynamics At The Telomere In Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$571,977.00
Summary
The telomere is required for the protection of the chromosome ends. Telomere loses its repeat during each cell division, so telomere shorthening is one of the mechanisms underlying organismal aging as critically short telomeres induce chromosome instability and cell death. Defective telomeres can also result in genetic diseases and development of cancers. Here, we propose to study the mechanism that operates to ensure continual telomere renewal without senescence in embryonic stem cells.
Common Fragile Site Genes: Function And Contribution To Cancer Cell Biology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,597.00
Summary
Common fragile sites are regions on human chromosomes that everybody has. These regions are much more sensitive to damage from agents in the environment (including the diet) than other regions in human chromosomes - so when damage does occur it is more likely to occur at these fragile sites. Many of the most sensitive fragile sites have large genes that span them. We need to understand the function of these genes to see how their disruption can contribute to cancer.