Collaborative Research: Chromatin Modification in Archaea and its Role in Gene Expression

表观遗传学(研究不是由DNA引起的生理变异)是一个对生物的生存和健康非常重要的不断扩大的领域。这项研究将以一种古老的微生物为研究对象，探索表观遗传学的进化起源。该项目的结果可能为理解表观遗传学的基本方面建立新的途径。该项目还将通过新的课堂努力为大学生提供培训，包括普通微生物学课程的动手实验室模块。这些模块将被改编用于高中和美国教育部向上绑定计划中代表不足的少数族裔学生。研究生和本科生将接受多学科交叉培训，包括系统生物学、遗传学、生物化学和微生物学。可遗传的表型是通过传递控制基因表达的DNA等位基因或染色质修饰状态而产生的。古细菌的染色质蛋白质是甲基化和乙酰化的。已知真核生物中复杂的基于染色质的机制可以调节基因表达，但类似的过程在古生物界可能在多大程度上被使用尚不清楚。这个项目将测试古生菌染色质蛋白修饰和基因表达以协调方式耦合的假设。预期的结果将为在古生菌中进行转录调控提供一个新的背景，并扩大对染色质进化的洞察。

Epigenetics (the study of physiological variation not caused by DNA) is an expanding area of great importance to the survival and health of living organisms. This research will investigate the evolutionary origin of epigenetics using an archaeal microbe as the studied organism. The results of this project could establish new ways to understand fundamental aspects of epigenetics. The project will also provide training for college students through new classroom-based efforts including hands-on laboratory modules for general microbiology courses. The modules will be adapted for use in high schools and with underrepresented minority students in the U. S. Department of Education Upward Bound program. Graduate and undergraduate students will be cross-trained in multiple disciplines, including systems biology, genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology.A heritable phenotype results from transmission of a DNA allele or chromatin modification state that controls gene expression. The archaeon Sulfolobus solfatarics has chromatin proteins that are methylated and acetylated. Sophisticated chromatin-based mechanisms in eukaryotes are known to regulate gene expression, but the extent to which similar processes might be used in the archaeal kingdom is unknown. This project will test the hypothesis that archaeal chromatin protein modification and gene expression are coupled in a coordinated fashion. The anticipated results will provide a new context in which to place transcriptional regulation in the archaea and expand insight into the evolution of chromatin.