Iron is critical for red blood cell development as well as every other tissue in the body. Absorption and distribution of iron is regulated by the liver-derived hormone, hepcidin. We have found that hepcidin expression is affected by gene-locus specific chromatin state and regulated by HDAC3.

This project will use cutting edge genetic tools and epigenetic assays to establish the role of epigenetic regulation in systemic iron homeostasis, potentially opening new opportunities for treatments of patients with iron disorders.