Genetic recollections linked to a chromosomal location
In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of researchers at the University of Geneva have identified an epigenetic process in the transparent worm Caenorhabditis elegans that does not rely on genes for the transmission of a specific trait. This research, published in the journal PLOS Biology, sheds light on the epigenetic memory responsible for the correct positioning of centromeres, essential sites on chromosomes for cell division.
The research, led by Dr. Florian A. Steiner at the Department of Genetics and Evolution, focused on a mutant worm whose DNA lacked the piece that codes for a 'guide' region of the protein responsible for defining the location of centromeres. Surprisingly, the truncated protein positioned itself correctly and was functional. Despite this missing 'guide' region, the mother's cells of the mutant worms 'remembered' the correct location of the centromeric sites and transmitted this information to the next generation, allowing the worms to survive.
However, the offspring of the mutant worms, which lacked a 'guide' region of the protein, could not divide their cells properly and did not survive. This finding confirms the existence of an epigenetic process in C. elegans that allows for the transmission of centromere location information across generations, but only for one generation.
The team, led by Steiner, is studying centromeres in C. elegans, a model organism that allows live observation of cell divisions and the fate of chromosomes. They plan to investigate the mechanism by which this epigenetic memory is established and persists during development.
This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the complex interplay between genes and epigenetic factors in determining cellular traits. The DOI for the published research is 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000968.
Centromeres serve as anchors for the machinery responsible for the correct distribution of chromosomes to daughter cells during cell division. The location of the centromere on the chromosome is defined by a protein that biologists study in the group of Steiner and Monica Gotta. Understanding the epigenetic mechanisms that govern centromere positioning could provide insights into the development of treatments for diseases associated with chromosomal abnormalities.
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