IGBMC : Institut de la Génétique et de la Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire

• Researchers

  Sylvain DAUJAT

  Robert SCHNEIDER

• Post-Doctoral Fellowships

  Poonam BHEDA

• Engineers & Technicians

  Lydia BRONDANI

  Stéphanie SIEBERT

Functional genomics & cancer

Functional epigenetics and chromatin regulation

One of the major goals of post-genomic biology is to understand the molecular basis and physiological role of covalent protein modifications. We are using the "histone code" as a model to study novel multi-site protein modifications. The complexity and diversity of histone modifications add largely to the capacity of the genome to store and process information. We are currently only beginning to understand the many implications of this epigenetic information for biology and disease. Interestingly, histone modifying enzymes have been found to be rearranged, mutated or deleted in cancer cells and small molecule inhibitors are effective in clinical trials.

Our aim is to identify new histone modifications, to decipher how these modifications are inherited, how they regulate gene expression/chromatin dynamics and in particular their role in disease processes. Whilst it is still under discussion if histone modifications form a true "code", it has now been established that changes of histone modifications (and of the ”readers”) are involved in the regulation of all genes and can affect all biological processes. Therefore the significance of studying chromatin modifications extends far beyond the field of chromatin research.

Importantly, the functional characterisation of new histone modifications will open up possibilities to develop new strategies in cancer diagnostics and prognosis. The identification of novel modifying enzymes will provide us with new target molecules for epigenetic therapy of diseases where epigenetic states have become distorted.

If you are interested in joining the lab, please email directly to: schneidr@igbmc.fr

The team is currently moving to the IGBMC.

Team website

• Current projects

  The set of characterised histone modifications is far from complete and deciphering the functions of novel modifications represents a key-challenge in biology. We are in particular interested in the functional role of novel modifications and are studying how they integrate in normal biological processes e.g. cell proliferation, development or epigenetic reprogramming and their deregulation in diseases.

  
  The current main project areas of our group are:

  
  1. To determine the role of linker histone H1 modifications and of H1 variants in the regulation of gene expression, chromatin dynamics, development and disease processes. This will enable us to revisit the role of H1 from a mere structural chromatin component towards more specific functions.

  
  2. To identify and functionally characterise new sites and new types of histone modifications, with a focus on modifications in the core of the nucleosome. Currently we are mapping these modifications globally, identifying the modifying enzymes and analysing their role in transcription, chromatin dynamics, development, pluripotency and diseases. We are establishing a comprehensive model for the function of modifications in the core of the nucleosome in “normal” chromatin and in tumorigenesis.

  
  3. The identification of novel players in chromatin organisation. We are studying the role of non-histone proteins (as well as RNA) in chromatin integrity, in establishing and maintaining the dynamic nature of chromatin and in genome stability.
  
  

• Collaborations

• Prizes/Awards

  • Robert SCHNEIDER - Gutenberg prize - Cercle Gutenberg - 2011
  • Robert SCHNEIDER - Member of Epigenesys Network of Excellence - Epigenesys Network of Excellence - 2011
  • Robert SCHNEIDER - Member of BIOS Excellence Cluster - BIOS Excellence Cluster - 2008
  • Robert SCHNEIDER - ERC Starting grant - European Research Council (ERC) - 2007
  • Robert SCHNEIDER - Career Development Award (CDA) - Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) - 2005
  • Robert SCHNEIDER - Long-term fellowship - Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) - 2001
  • Robert SCHNEIDER - Long-term fellowship - European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) - 2000

• News

  • April 15, 2012 - New roles of Histone H1 in transcription

• Publications

  • A dual role of linker histone H1.4 Lys 34 acetylation in transcriptional activation.

    Kamieniarz K, Izzo A, Dundr M, Tropberger P, Ozretic L, Kirfel J, Scheer E, Tropel P, Wisniewski JR, Tora L, Viville S, Buettner R, Schneider R.

    Genes Dev March 30, 2012 .

  • Methylation of H2AR29 is a novel repressive PRMT6 target.

    Waldmann T, Izzo A, Kamieniarz K, Richter F, Vogler C, Sarg B, Lindner H, Young NL, Mittler G, Garcia BA, Schneider R.

    Epigenetics Chromatin July 20, 2011 ; 4:11 .

  • Isoform-specific phosphorylation of human linker histone H1.4 in mitosis by the kinase Aurora B.

    Hergeth SP, Dundr M, Tropberger P, Zee BM, Garcia BA, Daujat S, Schneider R.

    J Cell Sci May 15, 2011 .

  • The DEK oncoprotein is a Su(var) that is essential to heterochromatin integrity.

    Kappes F, Waldmann T, Mathew V, Yu J, Zhang L, Khodadoust MS, Chinnaiyan AM, Luger K, Erhardt S, Schneider R, Markovitz DM.

    Genes Dev April 1, 2011 ; 25:673-8 .

  • Arginine methylation of the B cell antigen receptor promotes differentiation.

    Infantino S, Benz B, Waldmann T, Jung M, Schneider R, Reth M.

    J Exp Med April 12, 2010 ; 207:711-9 .

  • Chatting histone modifications in mammals.

    Izzo A, Schneider R.

    Brief Funct Genomics Dec 2010 ; 9:429-43 .

  • Going global: novel histone modifications in the globular domain of H3.

    Tropberger P, Schneider R.

    Epigenetics Feb. 16, 2010 ; 5:112-7 .

  • Histone H1 variant-specific lysine methylation by G9a/KMT1C and Glp1/KMT1D.

    Weiss T, Hergeth S, Zeissler U, Izzo A, Tropberger P, Zee BM, Dundr M, Garcia BA, Daujat S, Schneider R.

    Epigenetics Chromatin March 24, 2010 ; 3:7 .

  • Quantitative proteomics reveals direct and indirect alterations in the histone code following methyltransferase knockdown.

    Plazas-Mayorca MD, Bloom JS, Zeissler U, Leroy G, Young NL, DiMaggio PA, Krugylak L, Schneider R, Garcia BA.

    Mol Biosyst Sep 2010 ; 6:1719-29 .

  • What an epigenome remembers.

    Lange UC, Schneider R.

    Bioessays Aug 2010 ; 32:659-68 .

  See all publications=>

• Job opportunities