2011 Epigenetics Gordon Research Conference

描述(申请人提供)：在这份申请中，我们寻求资助2011年戈登表观遗传学研究会议(GRC)的部分资金，这是当今生物学研究中最令人兴奋和活跃的领域之一。在过去的十年中，表观遗传学研究的爆炸性增长反映了这样一个事实，即对完整基因组序列的知识不足以理解基因组信息是如何被解码或调节的。染色体不是裸露的DNA分子，而是被称为染色质的DNA-蛋白质复合体。通过DNA甲基化修饰染色质，对包裹DNA的组蛋白进行翻译后修饰，使用替代的组蛋白变体，改变组蛋白间距和染色质压缩，是整个真核生物表观遗传调控的常见方面。因此，对模式生物的研究与人类和人类疾病状态直接相关。 自1995年以来，表观遗传学GRC每两年举行一次会议，作为该领域的首屈一指的会议，它赢得了很高的国际声誉，通常吸引的申请者比接受的多。这次会议以其尖端科学和广泛的报道而闻名，为探索众多模式生物以及人类中的广泛表观遗传现象和表观遗传调控机制提供了一个论坛。对X染色体失活、配子印记、位置效应变异、基因剂量控制、辅助突变、核仁显性、转座子沉默和RNA介导的DNA甲基化等有趣现象的基础科学研究将与医学相关研究相平衡，包括癌症的表观遗传学、印迹障碍、衰老、记忆和环境(包括饮食)的影响。2011年的会议将由哺乳动物生物学家Marisa Bartolomei(宾夕法尼亚大学)和植物生物学家Craig Pikaard(印第安纳大学)共同主持，他们都是表观遗传学领域的领导者和长期参加表观遗传学GRC的人。 2011年表观遗传学GRC将包括一批受邀的知名研究人员，他们是该领域的领导者，受邀的年轻研究人员正在进行令人兴奋的工作，以及年轻科学家，他们提交的摘要表明该领域的前沿取得了新的突破。通过这种方式，组织者将努力促进学生、博士后研究员和新的主要研究人员的职业生涯，让他们参与口头和海报演示。还将作出特别努力，支持女科学家，包括在科学界代表性不足的种族/民族群体的参与者。 公共卫生相关性：表观遗传调控对发育至关重要，控制雌性哺乳动物体细胞中一条X染色体的失活现象，决定特定基因的拷贝在后代中是否只表达母系或父系遗传副本，保持转座元件处于沉默状态，或控制重复必需基因的剂量。表观遗传失调通过沉默肿瘤抑制基因而导致癌症的发生。包括印记障碍和Rett综合征在内的疾病状态具有表观遗传学基础，衰老以及饮食或环境毒素对基因表达的影响也是如此。通过推进表观遗传学机制的研究，表观遗传学戈登研究会议将有助于理解和改善人类的健康和福祉。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this application, we seek funding for the partial support of the 2011 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Epigenetics, one of the most exciting and active areas of biological research today. An explosion of epigenetics research in the past decade reflects the fact that knowledge of complete genome sequences is not sufficient to understand how genomic information is decoded or regulated. Chromosomes are not naked DNA molecules, but DNA-protein complexes known as chromatin. Modification of the chromatin by DNA methylation, post- translational modification of the histones that wrap the DNA, use of alternative histone variants and alterations in histone spacing and chromatin compaction are common aspects of epigenetic regulation throughout eukaryotes. As a result, studies of model organisms have direct relevance to humans and human disease states. Meeting every two years since 1995, the Epigenetics GRC has earned a strong international reputation as the premier meeting in its field, typically drawing more applicants than can be accepted. The conference is known for its cutting edge science and breadth of coverage, providing a forum for the exploration of a wide range of epigenetic phenomena and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in numerous model organisms, as well as humans. Basic science studies of such intriguing phenomena as X chromosome inactivation, gametic imprinting, position effect variegation, gene dosage control, paramutation, nucleolar dominance, transposon silencing and RNA-mediated DNA methylation will be balanced with medically-relevant research, including the epigenetics of cancer, imprinting disorders, aging, memory and effects of the environment (including diet). The 2011 conference will be co-chaired by mammalian biologist Marisa Bartolomei (University of Pennsylvania), and plant biologist Craig Pikaard (Indiana University), both leaders in the field of epigenetics and long time Epigenetics GRC participants. The 2011 Epigenetics GRC will include a mix of invited established investigators who are leaders in the field, invited young investigators who are doing exciting work and young scientists whose submitted abstracts indicate new breakthroughs at the cutting edge of the field. In this way, the organizers will strive to promote the careers of students, postdoctoral fellows, and new principal investigators, by involving them in both the oral and poster presentations. Special efforts will also be made to support women scientists and include participants who are members of racial/ethnic groups that are underrepresented in science. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Epigenetic regulation is essential for development, controlling such phenomena as inactivation of one X chromosome in somatic cells of female mammals, dictating the whether only maternally or paternally inherited copies of specific genes are expressed in offspring, maintaining transposable elements in a silenced state, or controlling the dosage of repetitive essential genes. Epigenetic misregulation contributes to cancer through silencing of tumor suppressor genes. Disease states including imprinting disorders and Rett syndrome have an epigenetic basis, as do aspects of aging and effects of diet or environmental toxins on gene expression. By advancing the study of epigenetic mechanisms, the Epigenetics Gordon Research Conference will contribute to the understanding and improvement of human health and well-being.