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Sepideh  Khorasanizadeh
Degree(s): Ph.D.
Graduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Primary Appointment: Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Research Interests:
Biophysical Characterization of Epigenetic Signaling

Email Address: sk3u@virginia.edu
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program(s)
  • Structural, Computational Biology and Biophysics
  • Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Molecular Medicine
    • Research Description

    Our laboratory studies the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of proteins and protein complexes using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. We use the knowledge of structure and dynamics at atomic resolution, combined with other biophysical studies, to elucidate function of biological molecules. Suitable samples for such studies are prepared in our laboratory by implementing tools of molecular biology and biochemistry. We are currently focusing on characterizing chromatin methylation as it is a critical machinery for epigenetic regulation of the mammalian genome. Chromatin is the physiological template of the genetic information in eukaryotes, and is subject to distinct post-translational modifications that occur on histone tails and DNA. Such chemical modifications such as lysine methylation, lysine acetylation and serine phosphorylation at key residues on histone tails regulate access to the underlying DNA for transcription, repair, replication or recombination. Our following selected publications have delineated the structure and mechanism of an enzyme that can methylate histones and diverse chromodomains that can be recruited to methyllysine-containing histones.

    Selected Publications
  • J. F. Flanagan, L-Z Mi, M. Chruszcz, M. Cymborowski, K. L. Clines, Y. Kim, W. Minor, F. Rastinejad & S. Khorasanizadeh (2005) Double Chromodomains cooperate to recognize the methylated Histone H3 Tail. Nature 438, 1181-1185.
  • A. M. Lindroth, D. Shultis, Z. Jasencakova, J. Fuchs, L. Johnson, D. Schubert, D. Patnaik, S. Pradhan, J. Goodrich, I. Schubert, T. Jenuwein, S. Khorasanizadeh & S. E. Jacobsen (2004) Dual histone H3 methylation marks at lysines 9 and 27 required for interaction with CHROMOMETHYLASE3. EMBO Journal 23, 4146-55.
  • W. Fischle, Y. Wang, S. A. Jacobs, Y. Kim, C. D. Allis & S. Khorasanizadeh (2003) Molecular basis for the discrimination of repressive methyl-lysine marks in histone H3 by Polycomb and HP1 chromodomains. Genes & Development 17, 1870-1881.
  • S.A. Jacobs & S. Khorasanizadeh (2002) Structure of HP1 chromodomain bound to a lysine 9-methylated histone H3 tail. Science 295, 2080-2083.
  • PubMed Listings for this Faculty Member
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    Contact Information
      Office Address: PO Box 800733, Jordan Hall, 6042, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-243-4817
      Fax Phone: +1 434-924-5069
      Web Site: http://faculty.virginia.edu/khorasan/

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