The Gurdon Institute

Epigenetic programme is essential for normal development

The Surani lab’s new paper describes how the loss of a maternally inherited epigenetic modifier, G9a, leads to establishment of an aberrant regulatory network in preimplantation embryos, developmental delay and destabilisation of cell-fate choices. These results highlight the importance of epigenetic programming at the onset of development.

New target for increasing lifespan in premature ageing syndromes

The Jackson lab's new paper identifies the enzyme NAT10 as a target for therapeutic approaches to treating Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. Using a mouse model of the disease they found that chemical inhibition or genetic deregulation of NAT10 significantly improved the health and extended the lifespan of the mice. These results open up the possibility of treating sufferers of this and other accelerated ageing syndromes.

Method for identifying drug targets and predicting resistance mechanisms

A new protocol published by the Jackson lab details a genome-wide screening approach to detecting suppressor mutations in yeast or haploid mammalian cells. They use it to identify chemical-genetic suppressors of sensitivity to two drugs interacting with DNA damage repair pathways, camptothecin and olaparib, and to provide insights into functionally relevant protein domains targeted by these compounds.

Finding the genes required for 'hairy' cells

Ciliated cells are necessary to help clear the airways of particles and debris. The Rawlins lab describe an in vitro assay using explants of embryonic mouse trachea that enabled them to identify two genes, Fank1 and Jazf1, as novel regulators of stem cell differentiation into ciliated cells. The paper's first author Jo-Anne Johnson is interviewed about her work in the same issue of Biology Open.

New type of stem cell identified in brain

Otsuki and Brand's 'Science' paper reports their discovery in the brain of a new type of quiescent stem cell (known as a ‘G2 quiescent stem cell’) with higher regenerative potential than quiescent stem cells identified previously. Importantly, G2 quiescent stem cells awaken to make neurons and glia much faster than known quiescent stem cells, making them attractive targets for therapeutic design.

Do neurons in a culture dish think?

David Blandy's video 'The Borked Brain' is the output from his collaboration with scientists in the Livesey lab, as part of our project curated through Kettle's Yard, Experiments in Art & Science. Watch and consider with David whether skin cells reprogrammed into neurons to grow and make connections in a culture dish may be generating thoughts, like a whole brain...

Success in renewing our AS Bronze

We are very pleased to announce that our application to renew our Athena SWAN Bronze Award, first granted in 2014, has been successful. Thanks go to the Equality Working Group for implementing practices and collecting data to provide evidence on the improvements we've made in equality, diversity and a supportive environment for all our members.