Project Reference: TRG27-BAB-PV1
Project title: Poised Chromatin and the Epigenetic Control of Development
Project outline
How cells switch genes on and off at the right time is fundamental to development. In embryonic stem cells, many genes whose expression is required later in development are kept in a ""poised"" state, ready to be activated during cell lineage commitment. This poised state is controlled by chromatin, where specific histone marks create regulatory environments that either promote or repress gene expression. However, the mechanisms that allow these poised genes to respond rapidly to developmental signals remain poorly understood.
Our recent work has identified several previously uncharacterised histone acetylation marks at these poised genomic regions, known as bivalent chromatin domains. This project will investigate how these acetylation marks control gene expression during cell differentiation and development.
The student will test whether the acetylation marks recruit specific ""reader"" proteins that help activate developmental genes or influence gene repression pathways. Using embryonic stem cell models, the project will examine where these proteins bind across the genome, how they are recruited to chromatin, and how they affect gene activity as cells differentiate. The student will also identify additional factors that work together with these proteins to regulate developmental gene expression.
The project combines molecular biology, genomics, biochemistry and stem cell biology. Training will include genome-wide approaches such as ChIP-seq and RNA-seq, bioinformatic data analysis, CRISPR-based genome editing, stem cell differentiation, protein degradation systems, chromatin biochemistry and proteomics. The work will provide broad training in epigenetics and gene regulation while addressing a fundamental question in developmental biology.
The project will be carried out within the Epigenetics Programme at the Babraham Institute, offering an outstanding interdisciplinary environment with expertise spanning epigenetics, development, signalling and ageing.
Principal Supervisor
Dr Philipp Voigt
Email address: philipp.voigt@babraham.ac.uk
Department / Partner Institute: Babraham Institute
URL link to personal profile page or website: https://www.babraham.ac.uk/our-research/epigenetics/philipp-voigt
BBSRC strategic theme
Understanding the rules of life