Distinguished Lecture on “Gene regulatory networks and chromatin dynamics regulating cellular differentiation” at the University of Hyderabad

Hyderabad|India|February'2011: Under the Distinguished Lecture series of the University of Hyderabad, Dr.Harinder Singh, who is a senior Director at Genentech, San Francisco and also an eminent molecular biologist, working in the field of developmental biology of the immune cells gave a lecture to a packed audience in Sir C V Raman Auditorium on the topic "Gene regulatory networks and chromatin dynamics regulating cellular differentiation" on 23rd February 2011.

Dr. Singh's talk provided an insight into the Gene regulatory network that controls the development of innate and adaptive immune cells. The network involved numerous synergistic and antagonistic interactions between various transcription factors whose expression is tightly regulated in a stage-dependent manner during the course of their development from the hematopoietic stem cells. The talk focused on the transcription factor PU.1 which is a key, tissue-specific transcription factor for determining the alternate lymphoid and myeloid cell fate choices. In the later part of his talk, Dr. Singh explained the co-relation between the chromatin conformation status vs. gene expression and how the chromatin dynamics regulate the differentiation of the progenitors into B immune cells.

The talk was followed by an interactive session which provided a platform for the audience to enhance their understanding of the topic. Prof. V Kannan, Pro Vice Chancellor, UoH presided over the lecture.