Regulation of a Chromatin Remodeling Oncogene

The activity of the human oncogene and chromatin remodeler ALC1 is strictly regulated by PARP1 activation. In this new study we reveal how oligomers of ADP-ribose trigger the activation of ALC1 from an auto-inhibited state. We identify cancer mutations that disrupt the NAD+-metabolite-regulated allosteric mechanism and activate chromatin remodeling. Modular allostery in this oncogene tightly controls its robust, DNA-damage-dependent activation. more

ChroMe - How diet influences our genes

A new EU-funded Innovative Training Network (ITN) for PhD students called ChroMe (Chromatin & Metabolism), which will be coordinated by Professor Andreas Ladurner, will explore how the products of metabolism intervene in gene regulation. An international team of researchers plans to identify the molecular mechanisms that account for these emerging connections between genes and nutrition, and will search for targeted approaches to the therapy of the metabolic syndrome. more