Epigenetics and chromatin remodeling: deciphering the molecular architecture of silent chromatin domains

表观遗传学和染色质重塑：破译沉默染色质结构域的分子结构

• 批准号: 3005-2009
• 负责人: Grigliatti, ThomasAnthony
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=419650
• 关键词: Epigenetics; chromatin; remodeling; deciphering; molecular

The genes of all higher organisms are packaged with special proteins into a complex structure called chromatin. While every cell contains the same set of genes, each tissue type expresses a specific suite of genes, which gives that tissue its unique identity. Thus, some genes must be expressed while others are silenced. The first level of gene regulation occurs via alterations in the chromatin architecture surrounding a gene, the chromatin domain. A chromatin domain exists either in an 'open' or a 'closed' state, thus enabling or silencing gene expression, respectively. This phenomenon is called epigenetic regulation and it has been the subject of intense study for the past decade. Understanding epigenetic regulation is essential for understanding normal developmental processes and it is absolutely critical to understanding disease states, such as cancer.

所有高等生物的基因都与特殊的蛋白质一起包装成一种称为染色质的复杂结构。虽然每个细胞都含有相同的基因组，但每种组织类型都表达一套特定的基因，这使该组织具有独特的身份。因此，一些基因必须表达，而另一些则沉默。基因调控的第一个层次是通过改变基因周围的染色质结构（染色质结构域）来实现的。染色质结构域以“开放”或“封闭”状态存在，从而分别使基因表达能够或沉默。这种现象被称为表观遗传调节，在过去十年中一直是深入研究的主题。了解表观遗传调控对于理解正常发育过程至关重要，对于理解疾病状态（如癌症）也至关重要。