# Epigenetic Regulation of Germ Cell Differentiation from a Stem Cell Lineage

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $342,959

## Abstract

Title: Epigenetic Regulation of Germ Cell Differentiation from a Stem Cell Lineage
Project Summary:
 Many human diseases are caused by imbalances between self-renewal/proliferation versus
differentiation of adult stem cells. Therefore, it is critical to characterize the molecular and cellular mechanisms
that regulate stem cell function to understand the diseases such as cancers and tissue degeneration. Additionally,
to utilize stem cells in therapeutic applications, it is critical to understand the mechanisms that maintain stem
cells, regulate proper proliferation of progenitor cells and program cellular differentiation in stem cell lineages.
Stem cell-based regenerative medicine also holds promise for diseases such as cancers, neurodegeneration,
muscle dystrophy, diabetes, and infertility.
 A broad definition of epigenetic mechanisms refers to DNA-associated factors that change gene
expression without altering the primary DNA sequences. Epigenetic mechanisms play crucial roles in defining
stem cell identity and regulating stem cell activity. Among known epigenetic regulators, the Polycomb group
(PcG) transcriptional repressive proteins have critical functions in multiple stem cell lineages across different
species from Drosophila to mammals. In addition to their well-characterized functions in silencing gene
expression, studies from many labs have shown other roles of PcG in areas such as DNA replication and cell
cycle progression.
 My lab uses the Drosophila male germline stem cell (GSC) lineage as a model system to investigate
how epigenetic mechanisms regulate stem cell maintenance, proliferation, differentiation, and dedifferentiation.
Our previous studies have shed light on epigenetic mechanisms in regulating multiple events in GSC lineage
including GSC maintenance and germ cell differentiation. Our recent work reveals under-appreciated functions
of DNA replication and potentially new roles of epigenetic regulators such as Polycomb (Pc). We propose to
use well-established and newly developed methods in molecular genetics, cell biology, biophysics and
genomics to provide an in-depth and systematic understanding of how key epigenetic players regulate stem cells
in vivo. Successful completion of the proposed studies will have a broad impact on stem cell biology, germ cell
biology, DNA replication, chromatin biology, cancer biology, reproductive biology, and regenerative medicine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10033955
- **Project number:** 1R01HD102474-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Xin Chen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $342,959
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-10 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10033955

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10033955, Epigenetic Regulation of Germ Cell Differentiation from a Stem Cell Lineage (1R01HD102474-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10033955. Licensed CC0.

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