Biology

Prof. Frederic Berger
Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Vienna

Abstract: The seminar will present data supporting that Histone variants are associated and chromatin organization.  Genome wide profiling of all four types of H2A variants in Arabidopsis shows that they occupy distinct domains along the genome and mark genes according to their degree of expression. We provide further evidence of an interplay between H2A and H3 variants in the control of transcription. Cytological data show that various domains of the nucleus are marked by H2A.Z and H2A.W and additional biochemical data  show that H2A.W is required and sufficient to assemble high order structures of heterochromatin, the chromocenters that host the kinetochore required for cell division. Additional structural data will present unique properties conferred by H2A.W to the nucleosome. H2A variants containing the H2A.W C-terminal motif exist in mammals and our study will shed light on understanding heterochromatin condensation disorders in human health.