The role of nuclear motor proteins in chromatin dynamics

Our laboratory has been working on active and rapid gene and chromosome movement with interphase nuclei using gene or chromosome positioning assays via bio-imaging, data analysis and live imaging. We have identified a nuclear motor mechanism that is involved in this active and directional movement containing motor proteins, such as actin and myosins, that form functional complexes. These proteins and complexes are responsible for taking genes and chromosomes to new non-random locations and structures involved in gene expression or silencing. This project would investigate the mechanism of gene/chromosome movement within cells by interfering with the ability of these proteins to build these complexes using specific drugs and genomic engineering. The project will then combine cell culture, fluorescence in situ hybridisation, 3D and 4D imaging and analysis, assessing the epigenetic status of chromatin being relocated with ChIP-seq and CRISPR/cas9 genomic engineering.