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DEFINING REGULATORY ROLES FOR HISTONE H3 METHYLATION IN DEVELOPMENT

Award Number: R35GM142884
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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DEFINING REGULATORY ROLES FOR HISTONE H3 METHYLATION IN DEVELOPMENT - PROJECT SUMMARY Pluripotent stem cells hold tremendous scientific and therapeutic potential because they have the capacity to differentiate into any cell in the adult body. Mounting evidence suggests that differentiation is driven, in part, by epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modifications that help to establish and subsequently maintain cell identity. However, demonstrating a direct role for an individual histone modification is challenging via traditional mutagenesis approaches because multiple copies of canonical histone genes are present in the mammalian genome. Moreover, many histone marks are regulated by several, redundant enzymes, which are difficult to perturb simultaneously and in a physiological context. The long-term goal of our research is to resolve the role of histone modifications in directing cell fate, both in vivo and in tissue culture systems. Our approach is innovative because it overcomes current limitations in the field by taking advantage of lysine-to-methionine (K- to-M) mutations on histone H3, which act as dominant negative inhibitors of methylation at their respective sites. The objective of this grant is to characterize the function of methylation on H3K9 and H3K36, which change dramatically during differentiation and development. Our central hypothesis is that H3K9 and H3K36 methylation have distinct and crucial roles in developmental transitions. To test this hypothesis, we will express mutant histones, H3K9M and H3K36M, in early embryos and pluripotent stem cells. Specifically, we will track the maternal to zygotic transition and early lineage decisions following suppression of H3K9 and H3K36 methylation in embryos (Project 1). We will then apply in vitro cell culture systems to investigate the molecular basis for the effects of K-to-M mutants on chromatin and gene expression (Project 2). A key feature of our approach is that expression of the mutant histones is doxycycline-inducible, which permits induction or withdrawal of our histone mutants in a tissue- and time-specific manner. Using this tool, we will ask whether cells are capable of reestablishing histone modifications to rescue proper differentiation after mutant histone withdrawal (Project 3). Collectively, this work is significant because it will provide valuable insight into the functional role of histone modifications in cell fate change. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control stem cell function is a crucial step in realizing their tremendous potential. We therefore anticipate that the proposed work will have important implications for both basic science and medicine.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $385,000 )
2025	2025	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	5	5/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$385,000
														Subtotal = $385,000

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $385,000 )
2024	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	5/21/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$385,000
														Subtotal = $385,000

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $385,000 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	5/17/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$124,990
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	3	6/16/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$124,990
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	5/16/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$385,000
														Subtotal = $385,000

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $547,570 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	2	6/21/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$128,903
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	5/16/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$385,000
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	2	6/29/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$33,667
														Subtotal = $547,570

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $385,000 )
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	7/8/2021	NEW	$385,000
														Subtotal = $385,000

Grand Total All Awards = $2,087,570

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DEFINING REGULATORY ROLES FOR HISTONE H3 METHYLATION IN DEVELOPMENT

Award Number: R35GM142884

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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