Frederic Chedin
Assistant Professor
flchedin@ucdavis.edu

Molecular & Cellular Biology

Office
332 BRIGGS HALL
530-752-1800

Lab
530-752-8224


Picture of Frederic Chedin
 
Degrees:
1995 PhD University of Paris - France DNA recombination in Bacteria
1991 MS University of Paris - France DNA repair and recombination
Research Interests:

Molecular mechanisms of epigenetic gene regulation. Mammalian DNA methyltransferases catalyze the addition of methyl groups to the carbon 5 of the cytosine ring located within CG dinucleotides. DNA methylation, particularly when applied to CG-rich promoter sequences, has been shown to silence gene expression in a heritable manner. The transcriptional silencing associated with 5-methylcytosine is required for fundamental physiological processes such as embryonic development, protection against intragenomic parasites, X-inactivation and genomic imprinting. In addition, aberrant promoter methylation and inappropriate silencing of tumor suppressor genes has recently emerged as a major cause leading to cancer. We are using a combination of approaches (biochemistry, structural biology, mammalian cell culture) to study the function of DNA methyltransferases in mammalian cells.
Awards:
Excellence in Research PhD award - INRA, 1991-1995
NATO post doctoral fellowship - 1996-1998
Basil O'Connor Starter Research Scholar Award - March of dimes foundation - 2005-2007
CONquer CancER Now Award - Concern Foundation - 2006-2008
Department and Center Affiliations:

 Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Professional Societies:
DNA Methylation Society
CBS Graduate Group Affiliations:
Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology  
Genetics  
Publications: Last updated 9/22/2009
  • Kareta M. S., Botello Z., Ennis J. E., Chou C. and Chedin F. (2006) Reconstitution and mechanism of the stimulation of de novo methylation by human DNMT3L. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281:25893-25902.
  • Chen Z., Mann J.R., Hsieh C.L., Riggs A.D. and Chedin F. (2005). Physical and functional interactions between the human DNMT3L protein and members of the de novo methyltransferase family. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. 95: 902-917
  • Nady N., Min J., Kareta M.S., Chedin F. and Arrowsmith C.H. (2008) A SPOT on the chromatin landscape? Histone peptide arrays as a tool for epigenetic research. Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 33(7):305-313.
  • El-Maarri O., Becker T., Mikeska T., Kareta M. S., Junen J., Diaz-Lacava A., Wienker T., Waha A., Oldenburg J, and Chedin F. (2009) A systematic search for polymorphisms in DNA methyltransferase genes reveals a rare DNMT3L variant associated with telomeric hypomethylation. Human Molecular Genetics, 18(10):1755-1768.
Laboratory Personnel:
Chedin Lab - 332 Briggs Hall
http://www.mcb.ucdavis.edu/faculty-labs/chedin/index.htm
Mike Kareta, BMB graduate student / Bethany Wienholz, Genetics graduate student / Amir Moarefi, CDB graduate student / Catherine Gordon, Genetics graduate student / Duncan Johnston, Technician / Undergrads: Alex Arzeno, Yoong Wearm Lim, Madeline Nguyen, Nicole Sadler

Courses:
MCB 162 Human Genetics Fall
BMB 290 Mammalian Epigenetics Spring
Key Words:
Epigenetics, silencing, DNA methylation, imprinting, R-loop