In vitro reconstitution and structural studies for chromatin

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Dynamic chromatin structure and function
• Project/Area Number: 25116002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: Kurumizaka Hitoshi 早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 教授 (80300870)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 堀 哲也 大阪大学, 生命機能研究科, 准教授 (70550078)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: エピジェネティクス / ゲノム機能 / 染色体構築・機能・分配 / ゲノム多様性 / 生体高分子構造・機能ゲノム進化・再編 / 遺伝情報複製・再編 / ゲノム維持修復

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In eukaryotes, genomic DNA is compacted as chromatin, which is formed as the higher ordered protein-DNA complex. Recent evidences suggested that versatility of the structures and dynamics of chromatin is essential for gene regulation. However, the mechanism by which the chromatin dynamics regulates eukaryotic genes has not been elucidated yet. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the structures and dynamics of fundamental unites of chromatin. To do so, we have established in vitro methods for chromatin reconstitution. We then performed X-ray crystallography, X-ray and neutron scattering, and cryogenic electron microscopy with the reconstituted chromatin samples. We also performed the biochemical, cell biological, and genomics approaches. We then revealed many important aspects of chromatin to understand the molecular mechanism for genomic DNA function in eukaryotes.

Free Research Field

クロマチン、構造生物学