Uncovering the link between chromatin organization and global transcriptional regulation

Abstract: The goal of the proposed research is to identify and develop mathematical formulations that will enhance our mechanistic and quantitative understanding of how cell types and their idiosyncratic states can be maintained or can evolve over time or in response to stimuli. We will use experimental data to construct the multiple interaction layers — from transcript factor regulation to chromatin accessibility — regulating gene expression and will use a multiplex network formalism to model different cellular states. Our modeling will enable us to understand the processes by which, for example, a cancer state deregulates gene expression.