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

Our aim is to determine the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic gene regulation that are associated with DNA modification in vertebrates. This relates to the general question; how do epigenetic mechanisms participate in setting up gene expression states during development and how are the associated transcription profiles maintained in differentiated tissues and organs?
Our current research program is focused on determining if the regulatory pathways (transcriptional regulation and activation of apoptosis) that we have identified for xDnmt and MeCPs in Xenopus laevis are applicable in mammalian systems. We primarily use somatic cells and embryonic stem cells (wild type and mutant) in conjunction with genome wide arraying approaches to study these processes in the context of development and cancer.

Lab members:

• Dr. Donncha Dunican
• Dr. Duncan Sproul
• Dr. John Thomson
• Dr. Alex Laird (MD)
• Dr. AN Other Ms Heidi K.Mjoseng
• Mr. Michael Moffat
• Ms Sara Perricone
• Ms Jennifer Hunter