John Van Noort

Biography

Chromatin is the ubiquitous protein-DNA complex that forms the structural basis of DNA condensation in all eukaryotic organisms. Packaging and depackaging of chromatin, called chromatin remodeling, plays a central role in all cellular processes that involve chromosomes such as transcription, replication, recombination and repair. Detailed knowledge of the principles and mechanisms underlying this control of DNA condensation is thus vital for understanding many diseases, including neurological disorders and cancer. The physical mechanisms governing these processes however, are still largely unknown. I am interested in developing and using modern biophysical techniques to unravel the physics behind DNA condensation and its role in transcription regulation. Chromatin is the ubiquitous protein-DNA complex that forms the structural basis of DNA condensation in all eukaryotic organisms. Packaging and depackaging of chromatin, called chromatin remodeling, plays a central role in all cellular processes that involve chromosomes such as transcription, replication, recombination and repair. Detailed knowledge of the principles and mechanisms underlying this control of DNA condensation is thus vital for understanding many diseases, including neurological disorders and cancer. The physical mechanisms governing these processes however, are still largely unknown. I am interested in developing and using modern biophysical techniques to unravel the physics behind DNA condensation and its role in transcription regulation.

Research Interest

Biophysics