# Structural studies of chromatin complexes

> **NIH NIH R35** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · 2021 · $570,425

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The post-translational modification of histone proteins is now established as an important mechanism for
regulating gene expression in eukaryotic cells. However, a structural and mechanistic understanding of how
the histone modification enzymes function on their nucleosome substrate is lacking. This shortcoming limits
interpretation of the wealth of genetic, genomic and biochemical data available, and it hampers development of
new therapeutics that target the many chromatin enzymes associated with human diseases including cancer.
We are focused on addressing these deficiencies through structure determination of histone modification
enzymes bound to their physiological nucleosome substrate. We propose to determine X-ray crystal structures
of histone modification enzymes associated with human diseases in complex with the nucleosome, using
established and novel approaches to crystallize these complicated, multicomponent protein/DNA complexes.
We will complement our crystallographic efforts with use of cryoelectron microscopy for three-dimensional
structure determination of chromatin enzyme/nucleosome complexes. We also plan to use cryoelectron
microscopy to tackle structure determination of native, megadalton sized histone modification enzyme
complexes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10263200
- **Project number:** 5R35GM127034-04
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** SONG TAN
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $570,425
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10263200

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10263200, Structural studies of chromatin complexes (5R35GM127034-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10263200. Licensed CC0.

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