Dynamics and inheritance of chromatin states

I will talk about two topics:

1) Dynamics and inheritance of chromatin states
To track nucleosome turnover, chromatin remodeling activities and inheritance of chromatin components across cell cycle, we combine fast protein pulsing with quantitive time-lapse ‘omics measurements. By further introducing rapid chemical or genetic perturbations, we study how different factors cooperate to maintain chromatin states during major chromosomal transitions, such as DNA replication and mitosis.

2) Reconstructing the human epigenome from cell-free nucleosomes.
Nucleosomal cell-free DNA fragments circulating in the blood stream carry the epigenetic modifications of their originating chromatin, hence providing a cross-section of the organismal epigenetic state of an individual. We have developed a multiplexed ChIP-seq protocol for liquid biopsies to systematically map histone and DNA modifications accross cohorts of healthy and diseased individuals. We plan to identify disease-associated epigenetic changes and elucidate the influence of ageing, environmental and lifestyle factors on the human epigenome.