Duronio, McKay, Matera, Strahl noted for development of histone research tool

The following article, highlighting the work of Robert Duronio, PhD; Daniel McKay, PhD; Greg Matera, PhD; Brian Strahl, PhD., appeared in the February 12, 2015 edition of UNC Health Care and UNC School of Medicine’s Vital Signs newsletter.

Epigenetic Breakthrough: A first of its kind tool to study the histone code

Robert Duronio, PhD; Daniel McKay, PhD; Greg Matera, PhD; Brian Strahl, PhD., Photo courtesy of UNC Health Care/School of Medicine News.

Robert Duronio, PhD; Daniel McKay, PhD; Greg Matera, PhD; Brian Strahl, PhD., Photo courtesy of UNC Health Care/School of Medicine News.

University of North Carolina scientists have created a new research tool, based on the fruit fly, to help crack the histone code. This research tool can be used to better understand the function of histone proteins, which play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression in animals and plants.

 

This work, published in the journal Developmental Cell, opens the door to experiments that are expected to uncover new biology important for a host of conditions, such as neurological diseases, diabetes, obesity, and especially cancer, which has become a hotbed of epigenetic research.

 

Read the full article here