Dynamics and Function of Chromatin Structure
Among the decisive features that distinguish eukaryotic cells from their prokaryotic relatives is the nucleosome core particle, the basic building block of chromatin structure. The core particle consists of 147 base pairs of DNA wrapped around an octamer of histone proteins very much like the thread of a spool. Reminiscent to beads on a string, core particles form in regular intervals on the DNA. The string of nucleosomes fold up to higher levels of compaction driven, at least in part, by the formation of internucleosomal contacts. Stimulated by extra- or intracellular signals, cells locally unfold their chromatin to provide entry points for RNA polymerase. The mechanisms of chromatin unfolding and its relevance for the gene regulatory process are the focus of our research. We were able to demonstrate that the signal-induced unfolding of chromatin structure over promoter elements entails the disassembly of nucleosomes. The stochastic features of such chromatin structure transitions and their relation to the stochastic properties of gene expression are the focus of present research.

Present research focuses on the relation between the stochastic properties of gene expression and the stochastic features of chromatin structure transitions that are part of the gene regulatory mechanisms.