Project 462788

All cells in a multicellular organism contain the same genetic material. Despite this fact, different cell types must carry out different functions. How each cell expresses the required proteins at the correct times and represses unnecessary ones is precisely controlled. Deregulation of this process can result in malfunctioning cells, cell death or uncontrolled growth (cancer). The goal of this research project is to characterize an essential regulator that is fundamental to cell life while its mutations/disruptions are linked to several human illnesses, including neurodevelopmental syndromes, diabetes, Alzheimer and multiple cancers. Research work including from our laboratory has shown that this regulator (NuA4/TIP60) is at the center of epigenetic (information not contained in the DNA) mechanisms controlling cell growth, development, stability of the genetic material, stem cell renewal and protection from cancer. Our proposed research plan is to characterize how this regulator functions in fundamental processes that govern cell growth and differentiation as well as in conditions leading to disease. This in turn will point us to new approaches to treat different human pathologies.