Structural and Functional Organization of Chromosomes

The laboratory is studying the domain and spatial organization of the genome of higher eukaryotes. Special attention is paid to epigenetic mechanisms operating at the level of the three-dimensional organization of the genome. We use a wide arsenal of the so-called C-methods, which allow the detection of spatial contacts between distant genomic elements. We study the mechanisms underlying formation of the 3D genome in various groups of organisms and the role of spatial contacts between distant genomic elements in the formation of regulatory modules. The resent work is focused on characterization of the 3D genome in individual cells and search of low molecular weight agents that alter the 3D organization of the genome, which could be used as “epigenetic” drugs.