Project description:Despite great advances in sequencing capacity, generating functional information for non-model organisms remains a challenge. One solution lies in an improved ability to predict genetic circuits based on primary DNA sequence combined with the characterization of regulatory molecules from model species. Here, we focus on the LEAFY (LFY) transcription factor, a conserved master regulator of floral development. Starting with biochemical and structural information, we built a biophysical model describing LFY DNA binding specificity in vitro that accurately predicts in vivo LFY binding sites in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. Extending the model to other species, we show that it can correctly identify functional homologs of known LFY targets from Arabidopsis thaliana in other angiosperms, even if a functional shift between orthologs and paralogs has occurred. Moreover, this model demonstrates the evolutionary fluidity of the link between LFY and one of its target genes, underlining how this regulatory interaction can be conserved despite changes in position, sequence and affinity of the LFY binding sites. Our study shows that the cis-element fluidity recently illustrated in animals also exists in plants, and that it can be detected without any experimental work in each individual species, using a biophysical transcription factor model. A. thaliana LEAFY ChIP-seq w control, 2 replicates
Project description:Despite great advances in sequencing capacity, generating functional information for non-model organisms remains a challenge. One solution lies in an improved ability to predict genetic circuits based on primary DNA sequence combined with the characterization of regulatory molecules from model species. Here, we focus on the LEAFY (LFY) transcription factor, a conserved master regulator of floral development. Starting with biochemical and structural information, we built a biophysical model describing LFY DNA binding specificity in vitro that accurately predicts in vivo LFY binding sites in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. Extending the model to other species, we show that it can correctly identify functional homologs of known LFY targets from Arabidopsis thaliana in other angiosperms, even if a functional shift between orthologs and paralogs has occurred. Moreover, this model demonstrates the evolutionary fluidity of the link between LFY and one of its target genes, underlining how this regulatory interaction can be conserved despite changes in position, sequence and affinity of the LFY binding sites. Our study shows that the cis-element fluidity recently illustrated in animals also exists in plants, and that it can be detected without any experimental work in each individual species, using a biophysical transcription factor model.
Project description:FUSCA3 (FUS3) is a B3 domain transcription factor that is a member of the LEAFY COTYLEDON (LEC) group of genes. The LEC genes encode proteins that also include LEC2, a B3 domain factor related to FUS3, and LEC1, a CCAAT box binding factor. LEC1, LEC2 and FUS3 are essential for plant embryo development. We report ChIP-chip experiments using the Affymetrix tiling array to globally map binding sites for FUS3. Fangfang Wang and Sharyn E. Perry (2013) Plant Physiology preview
Project description:Average hydroxymethylation levels on transcription factor binding sites obtained from ENCODE (ChIP-sequencing of GM12878 lymphoblastoid cell line). Data from 6 individuals at different time points.
Project description:The Androgen Receptor plays in general an important role in Prostate Cancer biology. The Androgen Receptor orchestrates as transcription factor the activity of AR-regulated genes at destinct genomic regions by binding to specific sequences (known as Androgen Responsive Elements - ARE). However, the biophysical nature of the Androgen Receptor at these binding sites on the DNA are not well characterized. In order to investigate the biophysical properties of these molecules at AR binding sites by super resolution microscopy in living cells, we performed a AR-ChIP sequencing for the PC346C target cell line. Based on the sequencing results, we selected certain target regions based on relative AR-enrichment for further studying the local AR dynamics in these target regions.
