Epigenetics

Biophysics of epigenetic and chromatin dynamics

16-17 April 2018
University of Edinburgh, Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics
Workshop Chairs: Davide Michieletto, Chris Brackley, Davide Marenduzzo

Workshop Overview

Virtually all cells in our body have the same DNA (hence genetic information), yet a skin, liver and a brain cell all express a very different set of genes. Additionally, when a differentiated cell divides, the daughter has the same set of genes on: a skin cell gives rise to another skin cells, etc. Understanding how cells can establish, maintain and transmit their identity to daughter cells remains a crucial question in biophysics. It is now understood that this process is associated with "epigenetic factors" -- such as histone post-translational modifications -- which can operate "beyond the genes" and regulate gene expression independently of the underlying genome sequence. In spite of the robustness displayed by cellular identity and memory, the epigenetic factors that are responsible for this stability are highly dynamic and display a fast turn-over. In order to reconcile these two apparently contradictory observations, we need combined experimental and theoretical efforts, involving biologists, physicists and applied mathematicians.
It is also now well established that epigenetic factors are highly correlated with chromatin state, and the folding of chromosomes in three-dimensions within the nucleus. For example, dynamic changes in the distribution of histone modifications are often accompanied by a change in the conformation of chromosomes. A better understanding of the causal relationship between the dynamics of chromatin and that of epigenetic factors should therefore shed light into the biophysics behind cellular differentiation and reprogramming, cellular response to inflammation and external stimuli and cellular ageing.
The goal of the proposed workshop is to bring together leading experts in the field of epigenetic and chromatin dynamics. In particular, the workshop seeks to:

determine the current state of the art of the field
foster the exchange of ideas between experiments and theories
create a fertile ground for the creation of new collaborations between biologists and physicists
set out the direction for future experiments and modelling efforts.

This meeting is part of a a series of Focused Workshops delivered through the EPSRC NetworkPlus in ‘Understanding the Physics of Life 2’.

Who should attend?

We invite participation by academic, industrial and clinical scientists in the UK who are interested in the central goal of generating new collaborative research interactions at the physical/life sciences interface focused on this subject area.
Talk and poster contributions for this workshop are welcomed from all attendees. To be considered to present a poster and a 15 minute talk, please provide the title and abstract. Submission deadline is 2nd April with selection on 6th April. Please indicate interest in submitting a talk/poster on the registration page below.

Provisional programme

Day 1	Monday 16 April
09.15-9.30	Welcome
9.30-10.15	Kim Sneppen (University of Copenhagen) Title TBA
10.15-11.00	Karsten Rippe (Heidelberg University) 'Chromatin in context: integrating protein mobility, the formation of ‘chromatin bodies’ and gene regulation'
11.00-11.15	Daniel Rico 'Identification of epigenomic features linked to 3D interactions using snapshots of chromatin social networks'
11.15-11.45	Refreshment Break
11.45-12.30	Cedric Vaillant (CNRS-Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon) 'Epigenomics in 3D: modeling the dynamic coupling between epigenome and chromatin organization'
12.30-13.15	Patrick Heun (University of Edinburgh) 'Epigenetic inheritance of centromere identity in a heterologous system'
13.15-13.30	Sara Buonomo 'Rif1 a hub connecting nuclear architecture and replication timing'
13.30-14.30	Lunch
14.30-14.45	Ruggero Cortini 'Principles of transcription factor traffic on a folded chromosome'
13.00	Enzo Orlandini (University of Padova, Italy) 'The Role of 3D Chromosome Folding in Cellular Identity and HIV Integration'
15.30-16.15	Yuki Okiyama (CNRS, France) 'Stepwise 3D genome organization during early fly development'
16.30-17.15	Poster Session
Day 2	Tuesday 17 April
9.30-10.15	Martin Howard (John Innes Centre, UK) 'Analogue or digital? Bursty or Poissonian? Dissecting the fundamentals of transcriptional regulation'
10.15-11.00	Robin Allshire (University of Edinburgh) 'Can stochastic heterochromatin formation protect cells from external insults?'
11.00-11.20	Discussion session
11.20-11.45	Refreshment break
11.45-12.30	Vladimir Teif (University of Essex) 'Microdomain formation in chromatin'
12.30-13.15	Argyris Papantonis (Centre for Molecular Medicine, Cologne) 'Insulating the insulator: 3D genome architecture sustains homeostasis'
13.15-13.30	Rea Kourounioti 'Natural variation identifies specific steps in Polycomb silencing'
13.30-14.30	Lunch
14.30-14.45	Joshua Moller 'The Nucleosome Interaction Landscape Influences Multiscale Modeling of Chromatin'
14.45-15.00	Anagha Joshi 'Dynamics of promoter bivalency and RNAP II pausing in mouse stem and differentiated cells'
15.00-15.45	Wendy Bickmore (University of Edinburgh) Title TBA
15.45-16.30	Concluding Remarks

Registration

Registration for this event is FREE but places are allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

Directions

The meeting will take place at the University of Edinburgh in the James Clerk Maxwell Building, Kings Buildings. 15 minutes by bus from Edinburgh city centre. Details on getting from the City Centre to JCMB here. A map of the Kings Buildings campus here. Edinburgh is well served by trains and planes.