Laboratory
Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease
William Frans is a Master's student committed to advancing our understanding of pancreatic endocrine function through epigenetic research. His work focuses on the regulation of somatostatin and glucagon genes, which play critical roles in diabetes and endocrine cell dysfunction. Through his research into how EZH1 and EZH2 regulate chromatin states, William aims to contribute to more precise human-based therapies and enhance our knowledge of human endocrine identity.
William's research centres on the epigenetic regulation of pancreatic endocrine hormone expression, with particular emphasis on understanding how EZH1 and EZH2 influence the chromatin states that control gene expression. His current investigations examine how inhibition of these enzymes alters the epigenetic landscape of pancreatic endocrine cells, specifically targeting the regulation of somatostatin and glucagon-related genes.
His methodical approach involves inhibiting EZH1 and EZH2 using Valemetostat and Tazemetostat, then identifying changes in SST, GCG, INS, and PP gene sites. William employs Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to analyse modifications in repressive histone marks, particularly H3K27me3, and their effects on transcriptional activity and cell identity. Through these molecular and genomic approaches, his work explores how changing epigenetic modifications influence pancreatic endocrine cell function and gene expression patterns.
