Chu, Diana - San Francisco State University

个人简介

We use the model organism C. elegans to understand how chromosome architecture and dynamics influence gene expression and male fertility.

研究领域

Project 1: Histones are proteins that package DNA. We've identified a histone H2A variant in C. elegans we have named HTAS-1. Our initial analysis has revealed that HTAS-1 is a sperm-specific histone H2A variant. We are using genetic analysis to determine if worms with a mutant htas-1gene are infertile. We've shown that HTAS-1 is indeed required for optimal fertility and are now currently investigating the role of HTAS-1 in chromosome compaction by fluorescence microscopy. Because histone H2A variants in other organisms are important for gene expression, we are also determining if HTAS-1 is important for regulating gene expression during sperm formation. Initial DNA microarray data has indeed identified many genes whose expression is changed in the htas-1 mutant. We are now investigating the role of HTAS-1 in regulating these genes. In addition, because HTAS-1 protein differs from canonical H2A proteins in the sequence of the N-terminal tail region (which is known to be post-translationally modified), we are characterizing post-translational modifications that occur on this sperm-specific histone H2A variant. Project 2: Chromosome segregation during sperm meiosis differs from that of oocyte meiosis and mitosis. We are interesting in defining how these differences are implemented. We have identified a set of phosphatase proteins we call GSP-3 and GSP-4 that play roles in sperm chromosome segregation. We are characterizing the role of GSP-3 and GSP-4 using genetic mutant analysis and immunostaining. In order to differentiate how the sperm-specific phosphatases (GSP-3 and GSP-4) differ in function from phosphatases found in oocyte meiosis and mitosis (GSP-1 and GSP-2), and characterizing how GSP-1 and GSP-2 function in sperm meiosis. We are also initiating efforts to look for proteins that interact directly with GSP-3 and GSP-4 by coimmunprecipitation.

近期论文

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Han T., Manorhan A.P., Harkins T.T., Bouffard P., Fitzpatrick C., Chu D.S., Theirry-Mieg D., Thierry-Mieg J., Kim J.K. Germline-generated 26G endo-siRNAs regulate spermatogenic and zygotic gene expression in C. elegans Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Nov 3;106(44):18674-9. Epub 2009 Oct 21. Shakes D.C., Wu J., Sadler P.L., LaPrade K., Moore L.L., Noritake A., Chu D.S. Spermatogenesis-specific features of the meiotic program in Caenorhabditis elegans PLoS Genetics 2009 Aug;5(8):e1000611. Epub 2009 Aug 21. Wu T.F., Chu D.S. Sperm chromatin: fertile grounds for proteomic discovery of clinical tools. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2008 Oct;7(10):1876-86 Wu T.F., Chu D.S. Epigenetic processes implemented during spermatogenesis distinguish the paternal pronucleus in the embryo. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2008 Jan;16(1):13-22 Chu D.S., Liu, H., Nix, P., Wu. T.F., Ralston E.J., Yates, J.R., and Meyer B.J. Sperm chromatin proteomics identifies evolutionarily conserved fertility factors. Nature. 2006 Sep 7, 443(7107):101-5 Chu D.S., Dawes H.E., Lieb J.D., Chan R.C., Kuo A.F., and Meyer B.J. A molecular link between gene-specific and chromosome-wide transcriptional repression. Genes and Development 2002 Apr 1, 16(7): 796-805