Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Functional genomics, Genetics
in Freiburg- THE ROLE OF NON-CODING RNA IN DOSAGE COMPENSATION
The involvement of non-coding RNAs as potential targeting molecules adds another level of complexity to chromatin regulation. Interestingly, the dosage compensation complex includes two non-coding roX RNAs. However, the mechanism by which these RNAs function is unknown. One of our future aims will be to elucidate how these interactions influence transcription activation of the X-linked genes.
- THE ROLE OF NUCLEAR PERIPHERY IN X CHROMOSOMAL REGULATION
We have recently discovered the involvement of nuclear pore components in the regulation of dosage compensation in Drosophila. This work has raised several interesting questions about the role of genome organisation and gene regulation, which we will continue to actively address in the future. In addition to using functional genomic approaches, we plan to study in detail the mechanism of nuclear pore/X chromosomal interaction by employing detail cell biology and biochemical chromatin based strategies. This multifaceted approach will be instrumental in future studies to decipher the mechanism of X chromosomal regulation by the MSL complex.
- THE FUNCTION OF THE MAMMALIAN MSL COMPLEX
There is a remarkable evolutionary conservation of all the known Drosophila dosage compensation complex members in mammals. In fact, we have recently purified the Drosophila and mammalian MSL complexes and shown that there is a high degree of conservation also at the biochemical level, implying a functional role for the mammalian MSL complex in gene regulation which we will continue to study.
Publications
Vaquerizas, J. M., Suyama, R., Kind, J., Miura, K., Luscombe, N. M., and Akhtar, A. (2010). Nuclear pore components Nup153 and Megator define transcriptionally active regions in the fly genome. PLoS Genet 6(2), e1000846.
Zhou, Y., Schmitz, K.-M., Mayer, C., Yuan, X., Akhtar, A., Grummt, I. (2009). Reversible acetylation of the chromatin remodeling complex NoRC is required for non-coding RNA-dependent transcriptional silencing. Nat Cell Biol 11(8), 1010-1016.
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Zhou, Y., Schmitz, K.-M., Mayer, C., Yuan, X., Akhtar, A., Grummt, I. (2009). Reversible acetylation of the chromatin remodeling complex NoRC is required for non-coding RNA-dependent transcriptional silencing. Nat Cell Biol 11(8), 1010-1016.
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Contact
Dr. Asifa
Akhtar
Max-Planck Institute of Immunobiology
Stübeweg 51
D-79108 Freiburg, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)6221-387-8550/8557
Fax: +49-(0)6221-387-8518
Email:
Max-Planck Institute of Immunobiology
Stübeweg 51
D-79108 Freiburg, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)6221-387-8550/8557
Fax: +49-(0)6221-387-8518
Email: