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SUMMARY:Chromatin\, nuclear mechanics and the cytoskeleton - Dr Megan King
 \, Yale\, USA
DTSTART:20110920T090000Z
DTEND:20110920T092500Z
UID:TALK31859@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Duncan Simpson
DESCRIPTION:Complexes that physically bridge the two membrane bilayers of 
 the nuclear envelope\, termed LINC complexes\, mechanically couple chromat
 in within the nucleus to the cytoplasmic cytoskeleton. Through these physi
 cal connections\, the cytoskeleton has the ability to affect chromatin dyn
 amics and deliver force onto attached chromatin regions. At the same time\
 , the chromatin acts as a critical physical buffer and anchor point for th
 e cytoskeleton to productively drive nuclear movement without disrupting n
 uclear structure. Using fission yeast as our model system\, we focus on tw
 o areas: investigating how the cytoskeleton acts as an input to chromatin 
 biology and defining how chromatin contributes to nuclear mechanics. Recen
 tly\, we found that persistent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are recruit
 ed to the LINC complex. Our data suggests that association of DSBs with th
 e LINC complex facilitates the homology search during repair by homologous
  recombination\, likely by altering the dynamics of DSBs within the nucleu
 s. To complement our in vivo studies\, we are developing an in vitro assay
  to investigate nuclear mechanics using force spectroscopy. Ultimately\, u
 sing the combination of these approaches\, we hope to gain a mechanistic u
 nderstanding of the interplay between chromatin and the cytoplasmic cytosk
 eleton.\n\nhttp://medicine.yale.edu/labs/king/\n
LOCATION:MR2\, Centre for Mathematical Sciences\, Wilberforce Road\, Cambr
 idge
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