Post-translational modifications of histones and DNA define distinct chromatin or “epigenetic” states. The set of characterised histone modifications is far from complete and many modifications are awaiting identification and functional characterisation. Additionally, for many modifications it is still unclear how they act and how distinct “epigenetic” (or transcriptional) states are inherited through cellular divisions.
We are aiming i) to identify novel players in chromatin (in particular histone and RNA modifications) and to crack how they (mechanistically) regulate chromatin function, ii) to unravel how chromatin states can mediate “epigenetic” (or transcriptional) memory through cell divisions as well as iii) to understand how cellular metabolism impacts on chromatin architecture and hence transcription. For this we are applying chromatin biochemistry, different “omics”, metabolomics and single cell approaches as well as mathematical modelling in mouse models, mESCs and also yeast cells.