Titas Sengupta, PhD

Histones are proteins that provide structural support for chromosomes, and modifications of histones impact gene expression without altering DNA sequence (i.e., epigenetically). Histone modifications play essential roles in normal physiology and are dramatically altered in cancer across tissue types, including the nervous system. Dr. Sengupta is investigating how histone modifications in neurons regulate neuronal functions such as learning and memory. For example, she has discovered a mechanism in the roundworm nervous system by which gene expression changes rapidly to impact short-term memory, demonstrating that even short-term memory is influenced by dynamic gene expression rather than pre-existing proteins. Dr. Sengupta’s work aims to uncover how histone modifications are regulated, targeted to specific genes, and influenced by external and internal cell states, in order to better understand mechanisms of epigenetic dysregulation of gene expression in cancer.