# Study epigenetic inheritance during development and across generations using  multiple model organisms

> **NIH NIH R35** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $11,430

## Abstract

Epigenetics refers to effects on gene expression or function that are inheritable through mitosis or meiosis without altering
the primary DNA sequences. Epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in regulating cell identity and activity. Failure
to appropriately regulate epigenetic activity leads to abnormal behavior of cells, which underlies many diseases such as
diabetes, muscular dystrophy, neurodegenerative disease, infertility, and many forms of cancer. One important, yet poorly
understood aspect of epigenetics is how epigenetic information is partitioned in asymmetrically dividing adult stem cells.
Many types of stem cells undergo asymmetric cell divisions to give rise to two daughter cells with distinct cell fates: a
self-renewed stem cell and a differentiating daughter cell. We found that during the asymmetric division of Drosophila
male germline stem cells (GSCs), the preexisting histone 3 (H3) are selectively segregated to the GSC whereas newly
synthesized H3 are enriched in the differentiating daughter cell1. Our studies provide the first direct evidence that stem
cells retain preexisting histones during asymmetric cell divisions in vivo, which may contribute to maintain their unique
epigenetic memory. These unprecedented discoveries have placed us at a unique position to solve a long-standing
question regarding whether and how cells maintain their epigenetic memories through many cell divisions and across
generations. We propose to use molecular genetics, cell biology, genomic, and biophysical approaches in our research,
which will have far-reaching impact on a broad range of fields, including stem cell biology, chromatin biology,
developmental biology, and reproductive biology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10141892
- **Project number:** 3R35GM127075-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Xin Chen
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $11,430
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10141892

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10141892, Study epigenetic inheritance during development and across generations using  multiple model organisms (3R35GM127075-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10141892. Licensed CC0.

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