High-dimensional structure of chromatin and transcription regulation

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26291006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Molecular biology
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Ishii Shunsuke 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 石井分子遺伝学研究室, 上席研究員 (00124785)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ヘテロクロマチン / ATF7 / ストレス / エピゲノム変化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

High-dimensional structure of chromatin has an important role for transcription regulation. Chromatin consists of the heterochromatin, which is localized close to the centromere and telomere, and the euchromatin. We found that ATF7 contributes to heterochromatin formation by recruiting histone H3K9 methyltransferases, and that the stress-induced phosphorylation of ATF7 by p38 causes the disruption of heterochromatin and transcriptional induction. This effect was maintained for long period. Thus, it was shown that ATF7 plays an important role for regulation of the high-dimensional structure of chromatin.

Free Research Field

分子生物学