SMCHD1 and epigenetic regulation of ACE2

National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences

Investigators

Abstract

We confirmed increased ACE2 mRNA and protein expression and functional activity (via a fluorometric assay) in SMCHD1 KO human placode cells. We are now conducting molecular and genomic studies, including RNA-seq, Hi-C, and SMCHD1 ChIP-seq, studies to investigate the precise mechanism underlying epigenetic repression of ACE2 by SMCHD1 and to identify novel SMCHD1 binding partners that participate in transcriptional repression. These studies will be complemented by a structural biology approach harnessing cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and NMR.