Dr Altaf Bhats group at the Department of Biotechnology has identified Lem2-Nur1 protein complex as essential for heterochromatin gene silencing.

Team of researchers led byDr. Altaf Bhat at the Department of Biotechnology have identified Lem2-Nur1 protein complex as essential for heterochromatin gene silencing.          

Understanding the mechanisms of heterochromatic gene silencing has important implications for human health and disease, as defects in these processes are often associated with cancer and other physiological disorders. Many cancer cells appear to have defects in heterochromatin, suggesting inappropriate reactivation of silenced genes. The study was published in highly prestigious The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Journal “Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2016.