Integrating chromatin structure and global chromosome dynamics

Our research aims to unravel the biological significance that the different levels of DNA compaction structures and components have on chromosome condensation and DNA processes in the nucleus. We believe that this research will contribute to the understanding of different important themes like cell division, cancer, stem cells, chromosome alterations, fertility and plant breeding.
The role of DNA is to store an individual’s genetic information such that it can be used during normal growth and development and be accurately copied during the different divisions of the cell. Human cells contain DNA totalling about 2 m in length that has to be packed within the cell nucleus which is only 0.01 mm in diameter. Importantly, the DNA must be organised in such a way that it is readily accessible for a variety of crucial processes.
There are different levels of compaction involved in packaging DNA into chromosomes. The basic structure is the nucleosome, formed by wrapping naked DNA around a core of proteins known as histones. The nucleosomes are arranged along the DNA forming a 10nm diameter fibre. The nucleosomal fibre is further compacted by winding it into a 30 nm fibre. This fibre is additionally arranged into loops that are attached to a multi-protein axis called the chromosome scaffold. Although the biochemistry of chromosome-associated proteins has been studied intensively, their interactions to achieve chromosome condensation are still poorly understood.
The key proteins involved in chromosome condensation are conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution. We are using Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant model organism and a good experimental system without any of the ethical issues related to working with animals. We are using a multidisciplinary approach combining new high-resolution cytogenetic techniques, mutant characterisation, proteomic analysis, and systems biology to resolve the complicated interactions of individual chromatin components that result in accurate chromosome condensation.

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Please find additional funding text below. For further funding details, please see the ‘Funding’ section.
The School of Biosciences offers a number of UK Research Council (e.g. BBSRC, NERC) PhD studentships each year. Fully funded research council studentships are normally only available to UK nationals (or EU nationals resident in the UK) but part-funded studentships may be available to EU applicants resident outside of the UK. The deadline for applications for research council studentships is 31 January each year.

Each year we also have a number of fully funded Darwin Trust Scholarships. These are provided by the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh and are for non-UK students wishing to undertake a PhD in the general area of Molecular Microbiology. The deadline for this scheme is also 31 January each year.