Biochemical characterization of the epigenome.

表观基因组的生化特征。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-06503
• 负责人: Couture, JeanFrancois
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=591100
• 关键词: Biochemical; characterization; epigenome.

The genetic information, which is carried by our genes and their regulatory elements, contribute to the proper development of all living organisms. Despite the importance of this genetic code, an additional layer of information is also known to be vital. In fact, epigenetic information, which is defined as heritable information that do not depend on the underlying DNA sequence, has recently surfaced as a master regulator of many biological processes. The discoveries that DNA scaffolding proteins, such as histones, could be chemically modified and that such covalent alterations could trigger specific molecular signals, have been cornerstone in unraveling a complex, intricate and new code: the histone code. Modifications of histone is now known to carry critical information vital for many molecular events including gene transcription, protein translation, DNA repair and many others. Among those covalent modifications, methylation of lysine residues is amongst the most prominent alteration of histone proteins. However, despite their critical roles in the nucleus, the mechanisms controlling histone substrates recognition and methylation by protein lysine methyltransferases (MTs) require further investigation. Our endeavors to focus on plant PKMT is also motivated by recent findings showing that plant PKMTs play pivotal roles in plant floraison and growth; raising the hope that our findings may have important impact in agriculture.

由我们的基因及其调节元件携带的遗传信息有助于所有生物体的正常发育。尽管这种遗传密码很重要，但已知另一层信息也至关重要。事实上，表观遗传信息，被定义为不依赖于潜在DNA序列的可遗传信息，最近已经成为许多生物过程的主要调节因子。DNA支架蛋白（如组蛋白）可以被化学修饰，并且这种共价改变可以触发特定的分子信号，这一发现已经成为解开一个复杂，错综复杂的新密码的基石：组蛋白密码。组蛋白的修饰现在已知携带对许多分子事件至关重要的关键信息，包括基因转录、蛋白质翻译、DNA修复和许多其他事件。在这些共价修饰中，赖氨酸残基的甲基化是组蛋白蛋白质最显著的改变之一。 然而，尽管他们在细胞核中的关键作用，控制组蛋白底物的识别和甲基化的蛋白质赖氨酸甲基转移酶（MTs）的机制需要进一步的调查。我们致力于植物PKMT的研究也是因为最近的研究结果表明植物PKMT在植物的生长和发育中起着关键作用;这提高了我们的研究结果可能对农业产生重要影响的希望。