a) Mechanisms of functional chromatin organization: role of non-histone chromatin proteins, PC4 and HP1 (heterochromatin protein 1):
The research focuses on investigating the cooperative role of non-histone proteins PC4 and HP1α in maintaining Heterochromatin dynamics during neurogenesis and cognition. We are investigating the chromatin-mediated regulation of transcriptional fidelity, which is important for normal neuronal physiology. Using genetic knockdown mouse models and neural stem cell systems, we are investigating how the disruption of this axis affects neural development and animal behavior. This work aims to uncover chromatin-mediated mechanisms that safeguard neurogenic identity and resilience.
b) Role of histone chaperone in transcriptional regulation
Histone chaperones are a group of proteins which play important roles in histone metabolism such as assembly and disassembly of nucleosomes during different physiological processes. Thus this group of proteins are important regulators of transcription. We are focusing on the mechanism of transcriptional activation by the human histone chaperone NPM1 and its relevance in disease manifestation. Recently, we have found that NPM1 over expressed and gets hyperacetylated in progressive grades of oral cancer samples. We are also trying to understand the cross-talk among different post-translational modifications which might modulate its multi-functionality.
