The functioning of the cells that make up our bodies is directed by genes. Genes can be thought of as “instructions” written in DNA, but whether these instructions are read or not is largely determined by a substance called chromatin, which is a combination of DNA and histone proteins. Chromatin changes its structure according to the type of cell and its developmental stage, controlling whether genes are turned on or off.

However, the process by which our bodies differentiate into a wide variety of cells and how chromatin is involved in this process is not yet fully understood. Our research focuses on the role that chromatin plays in determining the “fate” of cells. Specifically, we are studying how various factors, such as chemical changes in histones, the spatial arrangement of DNA, and the distance between enhancers and promoters (which act as genetic switches), combine to alter the structure of chromatin and guide cells in a specific direction.

We refer to this complex process as the “epicode,” viewing it as a postnatal “code” that influences cell differentiation and organismal development. Our goal is to decipher this code, and through a new understanding of chromatin, to bring about a major transformation in life sciences, or in other words, a paradigm shift.

Head

Makoto Tachibana
Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University