Bionanoscience (BN) seminar by prof.dr. Joost Gribnau (Erasmus MC, Rotterdam) on "Development of a molecular time machine to map the history of enhancer and gene activity in development and stem cell differentiation". The talk will start at 12:45h, and lunch is provided from 12:30h.
Abstract:
The development of more than 400 cell types present in our body requires the action of complex molecular mechanisms. These involve activation of signal transduction pathways that instruct transcription factor networks and the epigenetic landscape to generate the gene expression programs that dictate the cell state. The development of the iPS technology provides a unique opportunity to drive differentiated cell types back in development and generate embryonic stem cells of virtually every patient, to study developmental control, homeostasis, and model disease. Unfortunately, robust and efficient protocols to differentiate these iPSCs to a specific cell type are lacking, and therefore increased knowledge of the mechanisms directing embryonic development is key to be able to establish proper in vitro differentiation models systems. In my lecture I will provide an overview of research conducted at the department of Developmental Biology at the Erasmus MC aimed at addressing this problem. In addition, I will introduce the DCM-time-machine (DCM-TM) technology we developed to establish gene and enhancer activity maps of the past, and will highlight the opportunities of application of DCM-TM to follow cell differentiation, embryonic development and tissue regeneration, identifying temporal maps of transcription factor networks and signal transduction pathways that can be used to improve stem cell expansion and cell differentiation models.
This seminar is combined with a Hot Topics session with the speaker, right before the seminar (14-15h). These Hot Topics sessions allow PhDs and Postdocs to have more in-depth discussions with the speaker. More information and registration can be found here.