Segregation of chromatin features in a single cell lineage – GenChroSeg

Asymmetric cell division is a prerequisite for cellular differentiation and stem cell maintenance. Phenotypic transformation during differentiation is a poorly understood epigenetic phenomenon, in which chromatin, as a transcriptional regulator, theoretically plays a role. The underlying assumption that chromatin components segregate asymmetrically in asymmetric divisions has however not been systematically tested. Budding yeast also undergoes asymmetric divisions producing mother and daughter cells. The mother can generate 20-30 daughters during its replicative lifespan, and most of the factors that determine the phenotypic identity of the mother cell are unknown. The high conservation of chromatin components among eukaryotes and the availability of powerful genetic tools, make S.Cerevisiae an ideal system for identifying chromatin components involved in asymmetric division and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms, using whole genome and single cell approaches.