# Quantifying Gene Regulation by Histone Modifications with High Spatiotemporal Resolution IN VIVO

> **NIH NIH R35** · COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $373,697

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Histone modifications are thought to regulate gene expression by altering the accessibility of DNA to the
transcription machinery. They are implicated in cell reprogramming, development, and disease, but it remains
unclear if they actively control gene expression, or simply go along for the ride. Our goal is to help answer this
important question by using technology we are developing to directly image histone modification dynamics in
single living cells and at single copy genes with record-breaking spatio-temporal resolution.
My lab at Colorado State University is well-prepared to use our new technology to tackle tough biological
questions. In particular, we have collected a substantial amount of preliminary data that demonstrates the
feasibility of our strategy. By combining the best of FabLEM (Fab based Live Endogenous Modification labeling)
and single molecule tracking, we have made a number of key innovations that together lay the foundation for
multiplexed imaging of histone modifications with super-resolved spatial resolution (<30 nm) and high-throughput.
Key questions we plan on addressing include: (1) How do histone modifications dynamically regulate the
transcriptional output of single-copy genes? (2) What is the timescale of histone modification turnover and does
this impact cell inheritance? and (3) How do histone modifications interact with specific oncogenes and their
targets? A theme that unifies our approach to all of these questions is the pre-marking of genes together with
high-resolution imaging of specific histone modifications. This ability gives us a unique advantage and allows us
to directly attack our questions with direct imaging not possible before.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9938626
- **Project number:** 5R35GM119728-05
- **Recipient organization:** COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy Stasevich
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $373,697
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9938626

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9938626, Quantifying Gene Regulation by Histone Modifications with High Spatiotemporal Resolution IN VIVO (5R35GM119728-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9938626. Licensed CC0.

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