Engineers part of $9 million project studying cell context of genes

-Office of University Communications

Photo by Ashley Washburn. A $9 million grant from Nebraska's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research will allow Joseph Turner, chair and professor of engineering mechanics, to develop nanotechnology tools to help biologists study gene expression and regulation. He will be working with plant scientist Sally Mackenzie, who is leading the team of biologists working on the research.

December 12, 2007 -- Nebraska's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research has received a three-year, $9 million grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct research to better understand gene expression and regulation.

The new Nano-enhanced Epigenetics Research project will build Nebraska's research capabilities on chromatin -- a dynamic network of interacting DNA, RNA and protein in the nuclei of cells. Fundamental questions about chromatin's role in defining gene expression networks and the direct modulation of these processes by cellular factors, represent key unknowns of complex biological systems.

Two University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers will head teams of 15 other biological and biomedical scientists and engineers who will collaborate to create a research niche for Nebraska in epigenetics research, which is the study of changes in inherited gene functions not associated with changes in DNA sequences.

The $9 million Research Infrastructure Improvement grant will enhance computing capacity and resources to develop gene networking and systems biology databases; fund development and testing of nanoresearch techniques and devices to study chromatin; acquire an environmental scanning microscope, and develop and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and student education and research.

Directing the project is F. Fred Choobineh, head of Nebraska EPSCoR, which is headquartered on the UNL campus. The grant includes cooperation and collaboration among UNL, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University.

"This kind of grant funds the type of research that represents the future of 'big science,' work that is collaborative in nature, crosses disciplines and in this case, helps answer fundamental questions about the nature of complex genetics at the cellular level," said Harvey Perlman, UNL chancellor. "Building on the strength we have at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and on the City Campus, this grant help UNL remain the nation's leader in transgenic crop testing and builds faculty and infrastructure that can support the future development of agriculture as well as other industries."

Choobineh said Nebraska has research strengths in areas that provide opportunities to pursue new, large-scale systems biology research focused on chromatin function, structure and targeted manipulation. The grant will support research to better understand global gene regulatory processes that define a species, its variegated cell types and its responses to environmental stimuli.

UNL faculty coordinating the research are plant scientist Sally Mackenzie, the Ralph and Alice Raikes professor in horticulture and agronomy, and engineer Joseph A. Turner, chair and professor of engineering mechanics.

Mackenzie, who coordinates the chromatin team, said the research will improve understanding of the cellular context in which genes are expressed.

"We understand how individual genes might influence particular features, such as eye color or predisposition to disease, but we don't fully understand how suites of genes are coordinated to influence processes of development or an organism's response to its environment," Mackenzie said. "Understanding these complex genetic processes could help us, for example, to enhance a plant's ability to adapt to environmental changes or to influence an animal's aging process."

Turner, who coordinates the engineering team, said engineers will develop nanoscale tools to assist biologists.

"The project's engineering aspects are focused on understanding the force-displacement behavior of plant and mammalian cell walls to design a nanodevice that can insert short strings of RNA into plant and mammalian cells in a reliable manner. We need a clear understanding of the penetration process, the development of new methods of insertion via nanofiber manufacturing and integration of the two for building functioning nanodevices."

The grant also continues, broadens and strengthens science education and outreach, faculty development, and economic development and technology transfer.

EPSCoR assists Nebraska educational institutions in enhancing their science, technology, engineering, mathematics and biomedical research; helps educational infrastructures increase research and development competitiveness; and fosters economic development through support of technology transfer. Since 1991, Nebraska institutions have attracted more than $180 million in

EPSCoR funds to support research in four general clusters -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In addition, EPSCoR works to enhance Nebraska's competitiveness in research in biomedical sciences, promote collaboration among state institutions and researchers, increase diversity among students and researchers, provide seed funding and facilitate knowledge and technology transfer to industry.

EPSCoR research projects also aim to enhance economic development.

"This NSF grant for our EPSCoR program is an exciting opportunity for Nebraska to continue building its research capacity and enhancing our collaborative culture," said Prem Paul, UNL vice chancellor for research. "Strong multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to addressing complex problems and that's what this project is all about. In the long run, discoveries from this work could translate into economic development opportunities for Nebraska."