Thomas Foy

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
• Investigating the role of INO80 chromatin remodeler in metabolism in S.cerevisiae

Cellular metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life. Accurate transcription of our genes is essential for cell viability. Alterations to the transcriptional program is an acute response to changes in the metabolic state of the cell, but its role is not well understood. In eukaryotes, genetic material is stored into chromosomes. Chromosomal DNA is wrapped around histone proteins to form chromatin. Chromatin not only compacts the genetic material in the tight space of the nucleus, but also carries epigenetic information that regulates the expression of the genetic material. Chromatin remodelling enzymes shape the chromatin landscape and are regulators of transcription. While their role in regulating transcription initiation is understood, how chromatin remodelling promotes cell survival under metabolic stress is unclear. This project illuminates potential roles of the INO80 chromatin remodelling enzyme in regulation of the transcriptional response to metabolic changes.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Project supervisor: Dr Manolis Papamichos-Chronakis