Finding your place: Transcription factors as sensors and modifiers of chromatin

Abstract: Transcription factors only bind a minority of their motifs in large mammalian genomes. One potential explanation is that many motifs are not accessible for binding due to the action of chromatin and DNA methylation. We are using mammalian stem cell models to understand this important interplay between gene regulation, chromatin structure and DNA methylation. We study the dynamics of the epigenome and test regulatory models in cellular models by genetic perturbation and genome editing approaches. I will discuss our recent efforts in understanding how the sensitivity to DNA methylation can limit transcription factor binding in the context of the cell, the identification of a novel, strong activating factor and how transcripton factors rely on specific chromatin remodelers for access to their binding sites.

biochemistrycancer biologychemical biologycell biologydevelopmental biologydrug discoveryevolutiongeneticsimmunologymolecular biologymicrobiologyneuroscienceplant sciencessystems biologybiotechnologybiological techniquesbiophysics

Audience: researchers in the discipline

( video )

Comments: Organizers can be contacted at m.tariq@lums.edu.pk or 22100032@lums.edu.pk for the zoom link

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Colloquium zooming Molecular & Cellular Biology LUMS

Series comments: Zooming Molecular & Cellular Biology Colloquium was initiated on July 28th, 2020 by the Biology department at Syed Babar Ali School of Science & Engineering (SBASSE), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The series follows through various topics which come under the ambit of Molecular and Cellular Biology and we’ve had the pleasure and honor of hosting some of the most knowledgeable scientists from around the globe. Organizers can be reached out at 24100162@lums.edu.pk or 24100001@lums.edu.pk for the Zoom link of individual talks. All lectures are LIVE streamed on SBASSE's official Facebook page.

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