Luciano Di Croce's Biography

Luciano Di Croce, Group Leader, Center for Genomic Regulation

Luciano Di Croce obtained his PhD at the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Rome. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Marburg. Afterwards he became Senior Investigator at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan. In 2003 he joined the CRG as a Group Leader. Research in his lab focuses on understanding the basic mechanisms of gene regulation and the importance of epigenetic marks in chromatin dynamics, with particular emphasis on gene silencing in cancer.

Chromatin Mechanisms in Epigenetics

Thursday, 17 October 2013 at 16:15

Add to Calendar ▼2013-10-17 16:15:002013-10-17 17:15:00Europe/LondonChromatin Mechanisms in EpigeneticsSELECTBIOenquiries@selectbiosciences.com

Polycomb group proteins have long been linked to the occurrence of different forms of cancer. Polycomb proteins form at least two distinct complexes: the Polycomb-repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2). Some of the PRC complex subunits have been found to be over-expressed in a variety of different tumors. Epigenetic perturbations are likely to be the cause for transcriptional misregulation of certain cell fates and of tumor suppressor genes. It is especially critical for stem cells that their potential to self-renewal and to differentiate is tightly controlled and properly orchestrated. Misregulation of Polycomb protein levels often leads to either a block or an unscheduled activation of developmental pathways, and thus to an enhanced capability to proliferate. The consequences of this misregulation have been linked to the establishment of cancer stem cells, which can produce tumors through the combination of an increase in self-renewal with a lack of complete cellular differentiation. Cancer stem cells are believed to persist within tumors and to elicit relapse and metastasis. I will discuss how Polycomb proteins impact on cancer, and their role in stem cell biology.

Add to Calendar ▼2013-10-16 00:00:002013-10-17 00:00:00Europe/LondonEpigenetics, microRNAs and non Coding RNAs in DiseaseSELECTBIOenquiries@selectbiosciences.com

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