Description:

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Departmental Seminar Series presents:

Jacques Cote, PhD
Full professor, Dept Mol Biol, Med Biochem and Pathology, School of Medicine, Laval University
Senior Investigator, Laval University Cancer Res Ctr
Canada Research Chair in Chromatin Biology and Molecular Epigenetics

Acetylation of lysine residues on histones within chromatin has been well characterized in the process of gene activation and transcription. More recently, its roles in the repair of DNA lesions and during DNA replication has been described. Histone acetyltransferases are part of large multisubunit complexes that contain reader domains that recognize other histone marks enabling intricate epigenetic cross-talk. In some cases, they also contain additional enzymatic activities like chromatin remodelers. These stable molecular assemblies are truly multi-functional and implicated in most DNA-based mechanisms. Our work on the NuA4/TIP60 complex highlighted these functional characteristics and I will present some recent data on its action during gene expression, DNA repair and oncogenic mechanisms. Finally, acetylation of non-histone targets in these processes will also be discussed.