How cells keep genomic hitchhikers under control

Much of the genome is made up of repetitive DNA sequences that trace back to ancient mobile elements, many of which have lost their ability to copy themselves into new locations but can still cause pr...

fmi.ch

ChAHP silences SINE retrotransposons by inhibiting TFIIIB recruitment

SINEs are short transposable elements that make up large fractions of mammalian genomes. Known to be transcribed by RNA polymerase III, their regulation has remained largely unexplored. Schnabl-Baumga...

cell.com

biorxiv.org

Postdoctoral Researcher (ERC-funded project)

biozentrum.unibas.ch

Remodeling Activity of ChAHP Restricts Transcription Factor Access to Chromatin

Transcription in eukaryotes is regulated by chromatin-based mechanisms that control nucleosome occupancy, chromatin modifications, and transcription factor binding. We have previously shown that the transcription factor ADNP forms the ChAHP complex with the chromatin remodeler CHD4 and HP1 proteins, acting as a site-specific regulator of transcription and antagonist of CTCF binding. However, the molecular basis of these functions remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the CHD4 subunit is essential to antagonize CTCF and silence transcription of transposons, while HP1 proteins are dispensable. Although the remodeling activity of CHD4 is not required for ChAHP chromatin association, it is critical for both transposon repression and CTCF antagonism. Our findings support a model wherein ADNP recruits chromatin remodeling activity in a sequence-specific manner, enabling transcriptional control and local modulation of chromatin architecture. ### Competing Interest Statement The Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) receives significant financial contributions from the Novartis Research Foundation. Published research reagents from the FMI are shared with the academic community under a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) having terms and conditions corresponding to those of the UBMTA (Uniform Biological Material Transfer Agreement). Novartis Research Foundation, n.a. Swiss National Science Foundation, grant 310030_188835

biorxiv.org

A comprehensive Schizosaccharomyces pombe atlas of physical transcription factor interactions with proteins and chromatin

Transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of gene expression, yet many of their targets and modes of action remain unknown. In Schizosaccharomyce…

sciencedirect.com

FMI TFexplorer

TFexplorer is a web application that can be used to explore experimentally determined interactions of transcription factors with proteins and DNA.

data.fmi.ch

Nitrogen signaling factor triggers a respiration-like gene expression program in fission yeast | The EMBO Journal

imageimageChemical cell-to-cell communication in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is essential for adaption to environmental changes in nutrient availability. This study uncovers that the e...

embopress.org