Speaker: Li Fei, professor, New York University

Date: July 14, 2025

Time: 9:00-11:00 am

Location: Conference Room, First Floor, Teaching Building One, Baotuquan Campus, Shandong University

Sponsor: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University

Abstract:

In eukaryotes, DNA is packaged together with histone proteins into an ordered, highly complex chromatin structure. Chromatin exists in two forms: euchromatin and heterochromatin. Euchromatin is typically transcriptionally active and loosely packaged, whereas heterochromatin is the highly condensed and transcriptionally inactive part of the genome. Heterochromatin plays an important role in gene regulation, chromosome segregation and genome stability and has been linked to many diseases, such as cancer, neurological disorders and aging. Heterochromatin is generally composed of repetitive DNA and is characterized by unique epigenetic hallmarks, such as histone H3K9 methylation. We use a combination of approaches, including genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and structural biology, to define the mechanisms underlying how heterochromatin is organized. Our work has also potential to advance our understanding of human diseases resulting from misregulation of heterochromatin.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.view.sdu.edu.cn/info/1020/204321.htm