“A person’s genetic makeup, inherited from their parents, remains constant in every
cell of the body. While our genes are fixed, lifestyle factors such as diet, environment, and stress
can influence the epigenetic states of our cells. These chromatin modifications serve as a
molecular memory, directing cells on which genes to activate or silence. Understanding how
these modifications are established could pave the way for targeted therapies that reverse the
molecular signatures of metabolic diseases, aging, and cancer. The Akhtar lab has focused on
the roles of lysine acetyltransferases, uncovering previously unrecognized functions of these
epigenetic enzymes, especially their connections to human diseases. Notably, the lab has
elucidated how the acetyltransferase MOF, within the MSL complex, regulates X chromosome
gene dosage, along with long non-coding RNAs that direct the MSL complex specifically to the
X chromosome. Through studies on MOF, the Akhtar lab identified the NSL complex as a
critical regulator of genome-wide expression and uncovered its essential role in mitochondrial
gene expression and metabolism. The latest advancements in this work will be presented.”
to be decided