Epigenome: a Network of Excellence to advance epigenetic research

DNA is not the only vehicle by which heritable traits are transmitted from generation to generation. In eurkaryotic cells, genomic DNA is packaged into a dynamic polymer called chromatin, whose structure and composition can be altered by the action of enzymes. So while an individual’s cells all share the same linear sequence of DNA nucleotides – the genome – the epigenome, or chromatin ‘flavour’, can vary between cell types. This epigenome defines the characteristic function of each cell type, and ensures that the memory of that function is maintained through cell division.

“There may even be an epigenetic code that can determine patterns of gene expression over many cell generations,” says Thomas Jenuwein of the Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna, coordinator of the Epigenome Network of Excellence which is designed to integrate epigenetic research in Europe.

Studying the mechanisms behind epigenesis is important, not least because when this cellular memory breaks down it can disrupt development and lead to disease. Epigenetic regulation is highly complex, however, and its study involves many different techniques and approaches, including developmental biology, advanced imaging, proteomics and mathematical analysis – not to mention comparative studies in different organisms.

Epigenome, which got under way in June 2004, has brought together a ‘virtual core centre’ of 25 teams working in the field. But this core will gradually expand until a coherent European Research Area (ERA) on epigenetic research exists.

Net gains

The project is unusual among EU networks in that, besides spending half of its grant on research, it will spend another quarter on developing this ERA through its newly established teams (NET) programme, which provides funding for recently independent European researchers on a competitive basis.

“We have already integrated 12 NETs in a first round, which was highly successful as we were able to attract 55 applications from 17 countries and selected some very promising scientists,” says Epigenome research manager, Stefan Grunert, also of the IMP in Vienna. “The NET programme has proved an excellent stimulus for the activities of, and the interactions between, network members.”

The Epigenome partners have also initiated a European epigenomic mapping consortium whose goal is to establish high-quality and standardised mapping tools and protocols. The consortium is currently negotiating with suppliers of gene microarrays, for instance, to select those most suited to its purposes. And it will also develop standards for the management of data so that results can be easily shared within the epigenetic community.

Encouraging basic research is an important goal of the network, and the first year has already produced some scientific highlights. For instance, Wolf Reik’s group at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge and Joern Walter’s group of the University of the Saarland, Germany, both consortium members, collaborated to produce crucial evidence that histone methylation contributes to the transmission of epigenetic information. Histones, along with non-histone proteins, are responsible for packaging genomic DNA into chromatin. This important finding was published in Nature Genetics in December 2004.

Epigenome

Coordinator:
Thomas JENUWEIN
Forschungsinstitute für Molekulare Pathologie GmbH
Dr. Bohr-Gasse 7, Vienna 1030, Austria
Tel: + 43179730474
Fax: + 4317987153
EC Funding: €12.500.000
Duration: 5 years

www.epigenome-noe.net/