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

表观遗传学（研究非DNA引起的生理变异）是一个不断扩大的领域，对生物体的生存和健康非常重要。本研究将以古细菌为研究对象，探讨表观遗传学的进化起源。该项目的结果可以建立新的方法来理解表观遗传学的基本方面。该项目还将通过新的基于课堂的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。这些模块将适用于高中和美国少数民族学生。S.教育部的向上发展计划。研究生和本科生将在多个学科交叉培训，包括系统生物学，遗传学，生物化学和微生物学。遗传表型来自控制基因表达的DNA等位基因或染色质修饰状态的传递。古细菌硫化叶菌（Sulfolobus solfatarics）具有甲基化和乙酰化的染色质蛋白。已知真核生物中复杂的基于染色质的机制调节基因表达，但在古细菌王国中可能使用类似过程的程度尚不清楚。这个项目将测试古细菌染色质蛋白质修饰和基因表达以协调的方式耦合的假设。预期的结果将提供一个新的背景下，在古细菌中的转录调控，并扩大深入了解染色质的进化。

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.