Epigenetic regulation of genome organization
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Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS UMR7592, Université de Paris
15 rue Helene Brion
75205 Paris Cedex 13
France
Scientific Interest
Our research aims at understanding the fundamental principles that govern chromosome structure and genetic stability in eukaryotes. We study a remarkable process of genome rearrangements that occurs during development in Paramecium tetraurelia. In this unicellular eukaryote, the development of the somatic macronucleus from the germline micronucleus is characterized by the massive and reproducible elimination of a large fraction of the genome, including transposable elements, and their remnants, in the form of 45,000 short, dispersed, single-copy sequences. Our goals are to i) identify all the sequences that are eliminated in the Paramecium aurelia complex of sibling species and examine their evolutionary trajectories using comparative genomic approaches, and ii) decipher the molecular mechanisms controlling the process of DNA elimination, using genetic and genomic approaches, biochemistry and, cellular biology.
Our research aims at understanding the fundamental principles that govern chromosome structure and genetic stability in eukaryotes. We study a remarkable process of genome rearrangements that occurs during development in Paramecium tetraurelia. In this unicellular eukaryote, the development of the somatic macronucleus from the germline micronucleus is characterized by the massive and reproducible elimination of a large fraction of the genome, including transposable elements, and their remnants, in the form of 45,000 short, dispersed, single-copy sequences. Our goals are to i) identify all the sequences that are eliminated in the Paramecium aurelia complex of sibling species and examine their evolutionary trajectories using comparative genomic approaches, and ii) decipher the molecular mechanisms controlling the process of DNA elimination, using genetic and genomic approaches, biochemistry and, cellular biology.
