# The effect of histone post-translational modification on transcriptional bursting during development

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $58,715

## Abstract

Title: The effect of histone post-translational modification on transcriptional bursting during development
In all eukaryotes studied, transcription at individual gene loci exhibits random oscillations between active and
inactive states, a phenomenon known as transcription bursting, which fundamentally impacts the synchrony
and robustness of cell fate specification during embryonic development. To understand how transcription
controls development, it is necessary to uncover the molecular determinants that control the duration of bursts
and the rates at which bursts occur. Eukaryotic transcription is requires chromatin remodelers to change the
chromatin state at enhancers and promoters. It is unclear what effect chromatin remodeling has on
transcription burst lengths and frequencies. Here, I will knock down an array of chromatin remodelers, histone
methyltransferases, and histone acetylases during Drosophila oocyte development and determined their effect
on early axis patterning. For those that effect patterning, I will determine how transcriptional burst lengths and
frequencies are modified in target genes. I will identify target genes using RNA-seq and CHIP-seq. To querry
changes in transcriptional bursting, I will employ single mRNA FISH and live nascent site imaging. To
quantitatively describe state transitions using these assays, I will use a 2-state mathematical model of
transcription states. Together, these experiments show how changes in chromatin states change
transcriptional bursting dynamics in target genes. I am requesting an additional nine months to complete my
work from June 1st, 2021 through March 31st, 2022.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401153
- **Project number:** 3F32GM133162-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph M Zinski
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $58,715
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401153

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401153, The effect of histone post-translational modification on transcriptional bursting during development (3F32GM133162-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401153. Licensed CC0.

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