Award details

Kinetics and Mechanism of germline methylation imprints

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000T022
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Gavin Kelsey
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	62,680
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/09/2001
End date	31/12/2003
Duration	28 months

Abstract

We inherit a set of genes from our mother and our father. For most, both copies are equally active irrespective of their parentage. A few genes defy this expectation: only one copy of an imprinted gene is normally expressed. The molecular means by which one copy of an imprinted gene is silenced are poorly understood, but it is apparent that imprinted genes must be marked differently in the mothers and fathers germlines, in the development of the egg and the sperm. Part of this mark appears to be a reversible modification of the DNA, called methylation, however, the factors leading to methylation of a particular gene in the egg and not the sperm (or vice versa) are not understood. The purpose of this project is to look in detail at the timing of the methylation marking in the developing germ cells and to examine the influence of the underlying DNA sequence in attracting methylation. Problems in this molecular marking can disturb the genetic control of fetal growth and predispose to some cancers.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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