[CSBi-events] CSB seminar - Dr. Marian Walhout - February 27

[CSBi events]

Spring 2009 Seminar Series on Computational and Systems Biology

Friday, February 27, 2009
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Room 3-270



Presenting:

Gene-centered transcription regulatory networks

 

Professor Marian Walhout

Program in Gene Function and Expression and Program in Molecular Medicine,
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester



The differential expression of each of our ~25,000 genes in different tissues or under different conditions is critical for our proper development and function. Indeed, changes in differential gene expression caused by mutations in transcription factors (TFs) or the cis-regulatory genomic DNA elements they bind to (TF binding sites, or TFBSs) can result in a variety of human diseases, including several congenital disorders and cancer. In order to fully understand both normal development and pathologies, and to design effective therapeutics it is critical to understand which TF regulates the expression of which gene, where and under which (developmental) conditions. In addition, it is essential to know the elements each TF binds to and where in the genome these TFBSs are located. This is a major challenge in genomic science as very little is known about the targets, binding sites, transcriptional activity and biological function for the majority of metazoan TFs. We use the nematode C. elegans (worm) as a model to address this challenge. The C. elegans genome contains ~20,000 protein-coding genes, 940 of which we predict encode regulatory TFs. We use gene-centered, rather than TF-centered (e.g. ChIP), protein-DNA interaction mapping methods to map transcription regulatory networks. We then integrate these networks with other networks and data types and analyze how regulatory networks and their properties relate to healthy as well as pathological system states. Progress on network mapping and characterization will be discussed.

 Light refreshments to be served at 2:45 pm

 Host: Alexander van Oudenaarden, Department of Physics

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