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

The aim of the group of Edith Heard is to understand how cells can express their genomes differentially and in a stable, although sometimes reversible, manner during development, using X-chromosome inactivation as our model. X inactivation is a normal process, entailing the silencing of one of the two X chromosomes in female mammals. Once established the silent state is stably maintained through cell divisions and throughout the adult life, but can be reversed at certain stages of development, in the germ line and possibly in cancer cells. Studying the process of X chromosome inactivation should allow us to unveil the molecular mechanisms involved in establishing, maintaining and reversing heterochromatin. We are interested (1) in what underlies the control of the initiation of X-chromosome inactivation, (2) in how transcriptional repression is established and (3) in how the inactive state is faithfully inherited through cellular division. In the context of Epigenesys, we are investigating the cis- and trans-regulatory network that controls the initiation of X inactivation.

Lab members:

• Katia Ancelin
• Mikael Attia
• Maud Borensztein
• Ronan Chaligné
• Chongjian Chen
• Catherine Corbel
• Patricia Diabangouaya
• Martin Escamilla del Arenal
• Anne-Valerie Gendrel
• Luca Giorgetti
• Camille Granier
• Elphège-Pierre Nora
• Christel Picard
• Tim Pollex
• Edda Schulz
• Simao T da Rocha