This project aims to characterize the mechanisms, molecular targets and functional relevance of the epigenetic regulation of puberty.
Special emphasis will be paid to elucidate the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the control of expression of essential puberty-activating genes, such as Kiss1 and NKB, and their eventual interaction with members of the
Polycomb group of transcriptional silencers, whose role in puberty has
been recently proposed. In addition, a multi-disciplinary approach will be implemented to define the role of
epigenetic changes in the metabolic control of puberty, with attention to conditions of precocious puberty due to early-onset obesity.

The group UCO is the coordinator of this Project. The research fellow associated to this project will conduct part of his activities at the UCO group (during the return phase of his fellowship), where he will continue his physiologic studies on the epigenetic regulation of puberty and its contribution to the metabolic control of puberty onset.

Implementation of this project may allow unraveling completely new information of the molecular mechanisms involved in the timing of puberty, including the contribution of epigenetic regulatory phenomena in the control of pubertal timing by metabolic and nutritional cues. This information would set the grounds for the rational design of novel protocols for the management of different reproductive alterations, which have attracted
interest and concern not only of the scientific community but also of the lay public.

This project will provide new insights into the mechanisms controlling the initiation of mammalian puberty, helping also to enhance our understanding of human syndromes of idiopathic precocious and delayed puberty of central origin by raising awareness of the potential contribution of epigenetics to these disorders. These studies will establish the concept that the pubertal process is not only dependent on genetic determinants, but also on developmentally regulated changes in epigenetic information.

Balance Energético y Función Reproductora,

Code PAIDI: BIO-310

Manuel Tena Sempere. Coordinator. 

Universidad de Córdoba

Budget of Andalusian group: € 158,513.40

• Universidad de Córdoba
• Oregon Health and Science University