BATS

Date/Time:

Mar 24, 2017 - 12:00 PM

Location:

Hosts:

Bevin P. Engelward

Speaker:

Title:

Discovery and Characterization of an Epigenomic Signature of Late-stage Cellular Differentiation

Abstract:

Epigenetic markers, such as histone modifications, are linked to the regulation of DNA organization and help define gene expression programs. We have found that a signature of cellular differentiation across multiple cell type groups is the decreasing abundance of regions marked by a particular combination of histone modifications (H3K9me3 and H3K36me3). The location of these changing regions varies by cell type group. I will discuss what we have learned about which regions are likely to change and the effect of these epigenetic changes.

Speaker:

Title:

Liposomal MRI Contrast Agents: A Novel Architecture for Neurotransmitter Sensors

Abstract:

High-Field MRI allows for non-invasive whole brain imaging with spatial and temporal resolution not possible using traditional approaches. We have demonstrated the ability to observe molecular-level events with MRI by employing neurotransmitter sensors. However, current sensors suffer from low signal change and significant neurotransmitter buffering. Here I present a novel MRI sensor architecture to address these shortcomings that utilizes liposomal lipid bilayers as ligand-gated water barriers.