# ATP-dependent and independent mechanisms of regulating chromatin states

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $796,333

## Abstract

Abstract
The segregation of genetic material into actively transcribed (euchromatin) and heritably repressed
(heterochromatin) chromatin states is essential for the maintenance of cell identity. These chromatin
states are maintained and rearranged by the combined action of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling
motors and specific chromatin binding proteins. The proposed work is aimed at studying the core
mechanisms of these chromatin regulators to achieve a better understanding of how their activities are
regulated in vivo. Using a variety of biophysical approaches we have found that chromatin
remodeling ATPases take advantage of unexpected plasticity within the smallest unit of chromatin, a
nucleosome. A plastic nucleosome suggests the presence of additional regulatory roles for chromatin.
We have also uncovered phase-separation behavior in HP1 proteins, which are core components of
heterochromatin. These results suggest that some of the repressive functions of heterochromatin may
arise from physical sequestration of chromatin in phase-separated bodies. Here we will build on these
new discoveries to ask the following questions:
1. How do chromatin remodeling motors couple ATP hydrolysis to changes in nucleosome conformation?
2. What are the differences in mechanism between remodelers from different classes?
3. What is the role of phase-separation in heterochromatin regulation?

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9908103
- **Project number:** 5R35GM127020-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** GEETA J NARLIKAR
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $796,333
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9908103

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9908103, ATP-dependent and independent mechanisms of regulating chromatin states (5R35GM127020-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9908103. Licensed CC0.

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