Advances in Biosciences Seminar Series - Dr Pradeepa Madapura , Blizard Institute, QMUL London. Title: "Role of histone acetylation pathways in the regulation of vertebrate genome"
| Dates: | 29 October 2024 |
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| Times: | 13:00 - 14:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health |
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| Who is it for: | University staff |
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| Speaker: | Dr Pradeepa Madapura |
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Introducing the next speaker in October for the Advances in Biosciences Seminar Series; Dr Pradeepa Madapura , Blizard Institute, QMUL London.
Title: Role of histone acetylation pathways in the regulation of vertebrate genome
Abstract: Epigenetic factors including cell-type-specific transcription factors, writers and readers of histone posttranslational modifications, and chromatin remodelling proteins, play an essential role in the controlled tissue-specific regulation of gene expression. Acetylation of histone lysines is one of the most abundant modifications which alters chromatin structure and function. Gene mutations that perturb the histone acetylation pathway cause many neurodevelopmental disorders, warranting further investigation to understand the specific role of the acetylation pathway in the central nervous system. Moreover, deciphering the causal role of epigenetic factors in the development of the human nervous system and how the perturbation of the histone acetylation pathway causes specific disorders is a fundamental challenge. I will present our lab's recent unpublished work on the role of H4K16ac and histone acetylation reader protein – BRD4 in genome regulation. We show histone acetylation pathways can perturb genome function by altering the expression of transposable elements in human embryonic stem cells and trophoblast lineage. Furthermore, we show transposable elements that are regulated by this pathway can function as cis-regulatory elements to regulate gene expression in cis. We also show how deregulated histone acetylations in trophoblast lineage contribute to abnormal placentation leading to preeclampsia. Furthermore, I will also present our work on how mutations in genes encoding histone acetylation pathways can affect the development of the nervous system.
Career history
2023 – Reader of Genome Biology, QMUL, UK
2021 – Associate professor (senior lecturer) at the Queen Mary University of London, UK
2018 – Assistant professor (lecturer) at the Queen Mary University of London, UK
2016 – 2018 Assistant professor (lecturer) at the University of Essex, Colchester, UK
2009 – 2015 Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Prof Wendy Bickmore
2004 –2009 PhD, JNCASR, Bengaluru, India
Pradeepa Madapura’s research investigates the role of chromatin proteins and histone modifications in regulating genome functions such as gene expression, splicing and DNA repair. The highlight of Madapura’s work includes identifying the novel class of enhancer elements that lack acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27ac), a widely used marker of active enhancers. (Nature SMB 2023, Nature Genet 2016, Genome Res 2013) marks active enhancers. de novo mutations in a key transcriptional regulator BRD4, known to function as enhancers and promoters by binding to acetylated histones, cause a neurodevelopmental disorder called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) (Nature Genet 2018). Recent work shows how chromatin protein PSIP1 reduces transcription-associated R-loop accumulation (Nature Comm 2024). Recent unpublished work shows how transposable element expression levels can be used to predict preeclampsia early on in the pregnancy (In revision, Patent pending).
The seminar will be hosted by Dr Sankari Nagarajan
Speaker
Dr Pradeepa Madapura
Role: Reader of Genome Biology
Organisation: Blizard Institute, QMUL London
Travel and Contact Information
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Michael Smith Lecture Theatre
Michael Smith Building
Manchester
