LSF Germany - Prof. Dr. Wendy Bickmore

MRC Human Genetics Unit Western General Hospital Edinburgh, UK

"Relating the Spatial Organisation of the Genome in the Nucleus to Gene Expression"

Abstract

The human genome is packaged as a complex three-dimensional chromatin structure within the cell nucleus. This organisation is not random, and it is modulated during development. In recent years it has become increasing apparent that the spatial organisation of the genome has a role in regulating gene expression. I will discuss two aspects of this organisation; how tightly chromatin is packed in the nucleus and where genes are located.

I will show how the packaging of a set of genes important for development – the Hox genes –changes during early development and will demonstrate that it is the polycomb-group of proteins that are important for keeping Hox genes in a compact structure in stem cells. Finally, I will discuss an experimental system to reposition human chromosomes in the nucleus and determine the consequences of this on gene expression.

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