Biology Weekly Seminar - Iva Zovkic
Room: 0153
Histone variants: Novel epigenetic regulators of learning and memory
Formation of long-lasting memories is a complex multi-stage process that relies heavily on transient and stable changes in epigenetic marks. Dr. Zovkic recently discovered that histone variant exchange is a novel epigenetic regulator of memory. Specifically, Zovkic’s lab has shown that histone H2A.Z is actively removed from memory-related genes during learning and that virally-mediated H2A.Z depletion enhances memory formation. Dr. Zovkic will discuss how H2A.Z is regulated during learning and how learning-induced changes in H2A.Z mediate behavioural outcomes in mouse models.