Arginine methylation and its influence on transcription and genotoxic stress

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Integrity of the genetic material contained in animal cells, together with appropriate use of the information contained therein, is absolutely indispensable for the development of different types of cells that make up a normal and healthy living organism. Our DNA contains over 20,000 units of information for making proteins. These units are known as genes, and as we develop, these genes (and proteins) need to be switched on and switched off in cell-type specific ways, thereby enabling each different type of cell to survive, grow and take on its allotted task in a multicellular organism, such as becoming nerve cells, or, alternatively, blood cells. This work seeks to examine how a protein involved in switching on genes, named BRD4, might select certain genes in certain cell-types in order to help different groups of cells attain their unique identity, thereby enabling their appropriate function. We believe that this is made possible by BRD4 gaining different marks on it that enable it to form different complexes with other proteins. We aim to determine the nature of these marks and the interactions that they control.Another key function that BRD4 performs in cells is that it acts as a shield for the genetic material to protect it from damage. Possible sources of damage include ageing and radiation. We think that this too might depend on marks on BRD4. This will also be investigated in our study.