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Signaling decoded in ENhanCEr states – a molecular basis for plasticity in devel...
Signaling decoded in ENhanCEr states – a molecular basis for plasticity in development and differentiation
Transcription is regulated by transcription factors (TFs) bound at enhancer elements located long-distances from the genes they regulate. How does this account for dynamic responses to the environment via signaling? Canonical view...
Transcription is regulated by transcription factors (TFs) bound at enhancer elements located long-distances from the genes they regulate. How does this account for dynamic responses to the environment via signaling? Canonical views invoke signal induced changes in TF expression/modification or cofactor localization, but here we suggest that TF occupancy could be present before and after the signal, establishing competence, ensuring plasticity and blocking premature commitment. For ERK signaling, a central regulator of embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation, we found enhancers were regulated via selective recruitment of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) and associated cofactors. In this case, TFs do not play a direct role in enhancer regulation, but safeguard future activation in response to changes in signaling. In the context of developmental biology this paradigm could explain the dynamic nature of cell specification in the early mammalian embryo. In this proposal, we seek to understand enhancer specific regulation by ERK, exploit our ability to manipulate ERK to disentangle mechanism and focus on preimplantation development to explore how these phenomena explain plasticity. To circumvent heterogeneity created by feedback inhibition we developed a unique ESC line for cell intrinsic and synchronous ERK induction. We combine these ESCs with rapid TF degradation mutants to isolate homogeneous cell states that can be exploited to generate unique datasets and identify key factors within ERK response. We address how coactivator phosphorylation promotes selective recruitment of Mediator/RNAPII, explore the fundamental nature of enhancer activity and ask how uncoupling of transcriptional regulation from TF binding underpins developmental plasticity. By exploiting our capacity to modulate enhancer activity via signaling, we not only address how signaling regulates transcription to drive differentiation choices, but how enhancers themselves regulate gene expression.
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Duración del proyecto: 61 meses
Fecha Inicio: 2023-11-06
Fecha Fin: 2028-12-31
Fecha Fin: 2028-12-31
Línea de financiación: concedida
El organismo HORIZON EUROPE notifico la concesión del proyecto el día 2023-11-06
Línea de financiación objetivo
El proyecto se financió a través de la siguiente ayuda:
ERC-2022-ADG:
ERC ADVANCED GRANTS
Cerrada
hace 2 años
Presupuesto
El presupuesto total del proyecto asciende a
3M€
Líder del proyecto
KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
No se ha especificado una descripción o un objeto social para esta compañía.
Perfil tecnológico
TRL
4-5
Perfil tecnológico
TRL
4-5