Justin M O'Sullivan

Research

My research interests centre on the role that inter and intra-chromosomal gene loops (genome conformation) have in controlling gene expression. By regulating the shape of its genome, a eukaryotic organism can overcome the problems associated with molecular crowding in the nucleus. Hence, the presence or absence of inter- and intra-chromosomal DNA loops has a significant role in the regulation of transcription initiation and re-initiation rates. Furthermore, the conformation of a eukaryotic genome also determines which genes can be switched on under any one set of conditions. Hence understanding the role that DNA looping plays in regulating gene expression will be a significant step towards understanding how cells differentiate