Reina Brodeur
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Research Mentor(s): Sundeep Kalantry, Associate Professor
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Human Genetics, Michigan Medicine
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 2 (11am – 11:50am)
Breakout Room: Room 8
Presenter: 6
Abstract
X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a dosage compensation method thought to equalize gene expression between males and females through the silencing of one of two X chromosomes in eutherian mammals. This process is carried out by the long non-coding RNA Xist, which is expressed from the prospective inactive X. Xist then recruits polycomb group proteins to help mediate gene silencing. One such protein, EED, which is a part of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), has been shown to help deposit and maintain histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) on the inactive X. This epigenetic tag is commonly associated with gene silencing and thought to play an integral role in XCI. However other components of the PRC2 complex, specifically the roles of the catalytic proteins EZH1 and EZH2 are less known and this project seeks to better understand their impact on XCI.
Authors: Reina Brodeur, Marissa Cloutier, Clair Harris, Sundeep Kalantry
Research Method: Laboratory Research with Animals
