Grant: Project Grant

One of the most fundamental questions in biology is how a fertilized egg can develop into an organism with hundreds of different, yet genetically identical, cell types. Each of these different cell identities are the result of unique combinations of gene expression. During development, cells transition from a state that is capable of becoming any cell type into specialized cell types by acquiring different patterns of gene expression. This involves first establishing active and inactive gene expression states and then maintaining them once they have been established. Genome organization plays a key role in this process by controlling accessibility of DNA to the cell's gene expression machinery. Densely packaging restricts access to DNA and is associated with inactive or silent parts of the genome, called heterochromatin. Whereas loose packaging facilitates access to DNA in active genomic regions, called euchromatin. Ensuring proper genome organization is critical for establishing and maintaining cell type-specific gene expression programs and preventing developmental disorders and cancer. The Currie lab will use a combination of genetics, genomics, proteomics, and cell biology to study fundamental molecular mechanisms involved in cell type-specific genome organization and epigenetic gene regulation. These studies will reveal molecular mechanisms of disease that will inform the design of novel therapies.