Mechanisms of How Histone Marks Are Propagated
Official title: Mechanism of Heterochromatin Assembly and epigenetic inheritance
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11389482 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientific team is studying how chemical tweaks to histone proteins control gene activity and are passed on when cells divide, using yeast as a model to understand similar processes in humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $439,416 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM126910-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389482 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation in this basic science project; findings may inform human health in the long term.
✕Less likely to help
The grant itself does not involve patient participation or direct treatment.
What this research studies
This project uses fission yeast to explore how different histone modifications coordinate to turn genes on or off and how those states are inherited during cell division. Researchers focus on how H3K9 methylation and H3K14 ubiquitylation work together to shape heterochromatin and genome stability. By analyzing how parental histone marks are copied onto new DNA during S phase, the work aims to illuminate fundamental mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance that could relate to human developmental disorders. The project combines genetic, biochemical, and genomic approaches to map these modification interactions in a living system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these basic mechanisms could inform strategies to address diseases linked to epigenetic misregulation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has demonstrated that histone modifications influence gene expression and inheritance, supporting the potential impact of this line of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jia, Songtao — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Jia, Songtao
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.