Dr Erika Mancini explains the role of chromatin in the regulation of gene transcription. Chromatin, the physical packaging of DNA within the nucleus, plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. All our cells contain the same set of genes, but only some of them are transcribed at any point in a particular tissue. The movement of nucleosomes, packing and unpacking DNA, is governed by chromatin remodelling ATPases. Malfunctions in chromatin structure regulation often leads to complex multi-system diseases and cancer, notably leukemia. Dr Erika Mancini is interested in the role of chromatin in the regulation of gene transcription.