MOF histone acetyl transferase containing NSL complex linking epigenetics and metabolism
By Prof. Asifa Akhtar, Director, Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics
Hosted by Prof. Wolfgang Fischle, KAUST
Monday, May 18, 2020
4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Zoom
Abstract:
Our lab is studying the chromatin and epigenetic mechanisms regulated by histone acetylation using evolutionary conserved complexes associated with MOF, a MYST family of histone acetyl transferase which is responsible for histone H4 lysine 16 acetylation in flies and mammals. MOF is associated with the MSL and NSL complexes, which are important regulators of gene expression. In flies the MSL complex is well known for regulation of the X chromosome by the process of dosage compensation, while the NSL complex regulates expression of house-keeping genes. In an effort to understand the role of these proteins in mammals, we have recently discovered that components of the NSL complex also reside in mitochondria and are important for regulating mitochondrial respiration. Our recent progress in the exciting area of connecting epigenetic regulation and metabolic control will be presented.
Bio:
Asifa Akhtar obtained her BA in biology at the University College London in 1993, and her Ph.D. at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, in 1998, studying transcription regulation in Richard Treisman’s laboratory. She continued in the field of chromatin regulation as a postdoc in Peter Becker’s laboratory at EMBL Heidelberg and the Adolf Butenandt Institute, Munich. In 2001, she became a group leader at EMBL. In 2009, her laboratory moved to the Max-Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg (MPI-IE). Since 2013, Asifa Akhtar is a director at the MPI-IE heading the department of chromatin regulation. Her laboratory primarily studies chromatin and epigenetic mechanisms, especially focusing on the regulation of the X-chromosome by the phenomenon of dosage compensation in Drosophila melanogaster. From 2015 to 2017, Asifa Akhtar was the Managing Director of the MPI-IE. In 2008, she received the ELSO award for significant contribution in the field, in 2013, she was elected EMBO member, in 2017, she received the prestigious Feldberg Prize.