An ambitious EC-funded research initiative on epigenetics advancing towards systems biology

There is an increasing number of examples referring to the involvement of retroelements or their remnants as mediators of transcriptional regulation within chromosomal neighbourhood regions through attraction of specific epigenetic marks. We plan to combine genomic and bioinformatics approaches to determine genetic and environmental cues involved in transcriptional and transpositional regulation of retrotransposons in plants, where some big genomes consist of 85% of retroelements. We want to examine specificities of their epigenetic regulation not only with respect to the molecular mechanisms involved but also determine their cooperation with developmental and environmental signals. Using genome wide approaches we should obtain data sets that would pave the way to link genetic and epigenetic information at these chromosomal elements and allow the building of predictive models for their epigenetic regulation.

Involved in the project:

• Dr. Yoko Tanaka
• Dr. Diego H. Sanchez
• Dr. Mayumi Iwasaki