Title: Investigating epigenetic and metabolic crosstalk in cardiac ageing.

Abstract: This project was based on our novel discovery that the repressive epigenetic mark on histone 3 lysine 27 tri-methylation (H3K27me3) is significantly elevated in the aged mouse and human myocardium. In addition, our studies indicated that elevation in myocardial H3K27me3 led to impaired cardiomyocyte autophagy and metabolic reprogramming, which are key processes causatively associated with myocardial dysfunction. Therefore, the role of H3K27me3 in cardiac aging was further defined using powerful, but well-established metabolic, epigenetic and molecular techniques. In addition, a dietary supplement was identified that lowered H3K27me3 in aged mice and led to a pronounced improvement in cardiac function measured using echocardiography.

Speaker: Cassy Le

Speaker bio: Cassy Le began her BSc in Biomedical Sciences at King’s College London in 2017. During her studies, she spent a year in Arne Klungland’s lab at the Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital. There, she worked on projects involving the regulation of epitranscriptomic N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications, focusing on the roles of demethylases ALKBH3, ALKBH5, and the methyltransferase METTL4 in various disease models.

After completing her BSc, Cassy joined Dr. Joseph Burgoyne’s lab at St Thomas’ Hospital, King’s College London for her PhD in October 2021. Her research investigates the regulation of H3K27me3 during cardiac ageing, its impact on metabolic processes and autophagy, and explores how modulating this modification could potentially reverse age-associated decline in myocardial function.

Association: SCMMS Southbank, Joe Burgoyne’s group

Hosts: Anna Zoccarato and Giancarlo Forte

This event is hybrid i.e. in person (in the Large Seminar Room, James Black Centre, Denmark Hill) and online.