Recent NEWS
May 19, 2023
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Congratulations to Hun-Goo et al.! We are excited to present a method of correcting the Fragile X defect by recruiting cellular repair mechanisms via R-loops:
Lee HG, Imaichi S, Kraeutler E, Aguilar R, Lee YW, Sheridan SD, Lee JT. 2023. Site-specific R-loops induce CGG repeat contraction and fragile X gene reactivation. Cell, in press. May 16:S0092-8674(23)00469-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.035. |
May 13, 2022
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Yu-Ting passes PQE#1 in Systems Biology! Congratulations to our newest graduate student.
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May 4, 2022
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Our X-reactivation platform was selected as one of the "Disruptive Dozen" technologies at the 2022 World Medical Innovation Forum! (click here for video)
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March 30, 2022
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Thrilled that our Xist-small molecule paper is published!
Congratulations to Rodrigo Aguilar, the Merck Team, and the Patel Team!! A big team effort that also included Kerrie Spencer, Elliot Nickbarg, Barry Kesner, Noreen F. Rizvi, Maulik Badmalia, Tyler Mrozowich, Jonathan D. Mortison, Carlos Rivera, Graham F. Smith, Julja Burchard, and Peter Dandliker. Aguilar R, Spencer KB, Kesner B, Rizvi NF, Badmalia MD, Mrozowich T, Mortison JD, Rivera C, Smith GF, Burchard J, Dandliker PJ, Patel TR, Nickbarg EB, and Lee JT. 2022. Targeting Xist with compounds that disrupt RNA structure and X inactivation. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04537-z. Read |
March 23, 2022
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Congratulations to Carlos Rivera and Hungoo Lee on an outstanding collaboration with the Andres Group! We found that RCOR1/HDAC associated with and represses active genes by (1) erasing histone modifications and (2) de-acetylating POL-II's CTD to inhibit elongation -- a surprising non-canonical mechanism.
Rivera C †, Lee HG †, Lappala A, Wang D, Noches V, Olivares-Costa M, Sjoberg-Herrera M, Lee JT *, and Andres ME *. 2022. Unveiling RCOR1 as a rheostat at transcriptionally permissive chromatin. Nat Commun 13, 1550. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29261-0. Read. |
March 3, 2022
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Excited to share our Review on methods of treating Rett syndrome, written with PhD student, Niklas Grimm!
Grimm NB and Lee JT. 2022. Selective Xi reactivation and alternative methods to restore MECP2 function in Rett syndrome. Trends in Genetics. Read |
Dec. 20, 2021
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We sadly say goodbye to Lu, who will join Arrakis Therapeutics. Congratulations and farewell!
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Dec. 1, 2021
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Congratulations to Hyun Jung on her monumental paper!
Oh HJ, Aguilar R, Kesner B, Lee HG, Kriz AJ, Chu H.-P., and Lee JT. 2021. Jpx RNA regulates CTCF anchor site selection and formation of chromosome loops. Cell doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.012. Read |
Nov. 24, 2021
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Carlos' 1st PhD paper is published!
Rivera C, Verbel-Vergara D, Arancibia D, Lappala A, González M, Guzmán F, Merello G, Lee JT* , Andrés ME* . 2021. Revealing RCOR2 as a regulatory component of nuclear speckles. Epigenetics Chromatin. 14(1):51. Read |
Oct. 15, 2021
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See the Xi in 4D!
Our wonderful collaboration with Anna Lappala & Karissa Sanbonmatsu: Lappala A, Wang CY, Kriz A, Michalk H, Tan K, Lee JT*, Sanbonmatsu KY*. 2021. Four-dimensional chromosome reconstruction elucidates the spatiotemporal reorganization of the mammalian X chromosome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 118(42):e2107092118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2107092118. Read |
Sept. 29, 2021
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Two protocols for the RNA biologist:
(1) Rosenberg M, Levy V, Maier VK, Kesner B, Blum R, and Lee JT. 2021. Denaturing cross-linking immunoprecipitation to identify footprints for RNA-binding proteins. STAR Protoc. 2021 Sep 16;2(4):100819. (2) Chu HP, Minajigi A, Chen Y, Morris R, Guh C-Y, Yu HH, Boukhali M, Haas W, and Lee JT. 2021. iDRiP for the systematic discovery of proteins bound directly to noncoding RNA. Nature Protocols doi: 10.1038/s41596-021-00555-9. |
May 3, 2021
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Clarifying Polycomb targeting during XCI:
Colognori D, Sunwoo H, Wang D, Wang CY, Lee JT. 2021. Xist Repeat A contributes to early recruitment of Polycomb complexes during X-chromosome inactivation. Dev Cell 56(9):1236-1237. Read |
March 15, 2021
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Honored to receive the 2020 Cozzarelli Prize for the discovery that B2 and ALU RNAs are SELF-CLEAVING RIBOZYMES! Congratulations to all coauthors!
Hernandez AJ, Zovoilis A, Cifuentes-Rojas C, Han L, Bujisic B, Lee JT. 2019. B2 and ALU retrotransposons are self-cleaving ribozymes whose activity is enhanced by EZH2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Dec 23. pii: 201917190. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1917190117. Read. |
March 15, 2021
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PhD student Andrea Kriz shows us how to create megadomains and superloops on the active X (Xa) — and get away with it !
Kriz AJ, Colognori D, Sunwoo H, Nabet B, Lee JT. 2021. Balancing cohesin eviction and retention prevents aberrant chromosomal interactions, Polycomb-mediated repression, and X-inactivation. Molecular Cell 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.02.031. Read |
Jan 4, 2021
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Michael and Roy publish their breakthrough understanding of RNA's interaction with Polycomb! -- resolving the mystery of why RNA-PRC2 complexes occur within active genes, and how specificity is achieved.
Rosenberg M†, Blum R†, Kesner B, Aeby E, Garant J-M, Szanto A, and Lee JT. 2021. Motif-driven interactions between RNA and PRC2 are rheostats that regulate transcription elongation. Nature Struct Mol Biol. 10.1038/s41594-020-00535-9. Read News coverage: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/mgh-srl010421.php |
Dec 18, 2020
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Congratulations to our PEW Latin American Fellow, Rodrigo, on becoming Assistant Professor at Andres Bello University, Chile! He is starting with funding both the Pew Foundation and the Chilean government.
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Aug 30, 2020
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Farewell to Tom Dial !!
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Aug 17, 2020
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X chromosomes play TAG --> YOU'RE IT !! See how sex chromosomes decide who will stay 'ON' through PAIRING, an RNA decapping enzyme, and CTCF:
Aeby E, Lee H-G †, Lee Y-W †, Kriz A, del Rosario BC, Oh HJ, Boukhali M, Haas W, and Lee JT. 2020. Decapping enzyme 1A breaks X-chromosome symmetry by controlling Tsix elongation and RNA turnover. Nature Cell Biology, doi.org/10.1038/s41556-020-0558-0. Read for free Congrats to Eric Aeby et al. !! |
June 11, 2020
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Congrats to David and Hongjae on another outstanding collaboration! Be confused no more about the relationship between Xist, Polycomb recruitment, and gene silencing:
Colognori D, Sunwoo H, Wang D, Wang CY, Lee JT. 2020. Xist Repeats A and B Account for Two Distinct Phases of X Inactivation Establishment. Dev Cell. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.05.021. Read |
Feb. 10, 2020
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Excited to share an important finding for the X reactivation community: Surprising tolerance to increased X chromosome dosage in multiple tissues. Read.
Yang L, Yildirm E, Kirby JE, Press W, and Lee JT. 2020. Widespread organ tolerance of Xist loss and X reactivation except under chronic stress in the gut. PNAS 117: 4262-4272. |
Dec. 26, 2019
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We publish our surprising conclusion: SINE retrotransposons, B2 and ALU, are SELF-CLEAVING RIBOZYMES!
Hernandez AJ, Zovoilis A, Cifuentes-Rojas C, Han L, Bujisic B, Lee JT. 2019. B2 and ALU retrotransposons are self-cleaving ribozymes whose activity is enhanced by EZH2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Dec 23. pii: 201917190. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1917190117. Read. |
Sept. 13, 2019
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Really excited about our collaboration with Roy Perlis, Steve Sheridan et al. First publication now online:
Jagtap S, Thanos JM, Fu T, Wang J, Lalonde J, Dial TO, Feiglin A, Chen J, Kohane I, Lee JT, Sheridan SD, Perlis RH. (2019) Aberrant mitochondrial function in patient-derived neural cells from CDKL5 deficiency disorder and Rett Syndrome. Hum Mol Genet. 2019 Sep 13. pii: ddz208. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddz208. Read |
Aug 16, 2019
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Chen-Yu is unstoppable. Publication #3! Wang CY, Brand H, Shaw ND, Talkowski ME, and Lee JT. (2019) Role of the Chromosome Architectural Factor SMCHD1 in X Chromosome Inactivation, Gene Regulation, and Disease in Humans. Genetics ePub doi: 10.1534/genetics.119.302600.
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July 11, 2019
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Congratulations to Andrea on an NIH predoctoral award! She is now anointed by both NSF and NIH. Great start to a scientific career!
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July 3, 2019
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Another of Chen-Yu's masterpieces! A chromosome-folding pathway that enables Xist RNA to spread: (1) Xist recruits Polycomb PRC1, (2) PRC1 fuses A/B compartments, (3) SMCHD1 merges the resulting S1/S2 structures, (4) and then Xist spreads across the X without getting "stuck".
Read here: https://rdcu.be/bIriO |
Wang CY, Colognori D†, Sunwoo H†, Wang D, and Lee JT. (2019) PRC1 collaborates with SMCHD1 to fold the X-chromosome and spread Xist RNA between chromosome compartments. Nat Communications 10:2950. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10755
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April 24, 2019
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Our iBiology Lectures on X-chromosome inactivation are now online!
3 Lectures for the general public and interested students. Watch here. |
Feb. 28, 2019
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Congratulations to David and Hongjae on a great finding: Although Xist recruits Polycomb complexes, Xist also depends on Polycomb complexes to continue to spread along the Xi.
Colognori D †, Sunwoo H †, Kriz A, Wang C-Y, and Lee JT. (2019) Xist deletional analysis reveals an interdependency between Xist RNA and Polycomb complexes for spreading along the inactive X. Molecular Cell 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.01.015. Read |
Jan. 24, 2019
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Brian and Andrea have just published a novel CTCF modification!
Del Rosario BC †, Kriz AJ †, Del Rosario AM, Anselmo A, Fry CJ, White FM, Sadreyev RI, Lee JT. (2019) Exploration of CTCF post-translation modifications uncovers Serine-224 phosphorylation by PLK1 at pericentric regions during the G2/M transition. Elife. 2019 Jan 24;8. pii: e42341. doi: 10.7554/eLife.42341. Pre-proof PDF here. |
Jan. 21, 2019
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The 2 faces of Xist RNA: (1) Attractant for silencers, and (2) Repellant for activators. Our new paper shows how it repels SWI/SNF-BRG1 from the inactive X. Congratulations to Teddy and Roy!! To read for free, click here.
Jegu, T. †, Blum R. †, Cochraine, J.C., Yang, L., Wang, C.Y., Gilles, M.-E., Colognori, D., Szanto, A., Marr, S.K., Kingston, R.E., and Lee, J.T. (2019) Xist RNA antagonizes the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler, BRG1, on the inactive X chromosome. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 10.1038/s41594-018-0176-8. |
Jan. 11, 2019
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Our Rett Syndrome work has been featured in the Atlas of Science. Click here to read it!
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Dec. 1, 2018
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We welcome Uri Weissbein (postdoc) to the lab.
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Nov. 27, 2018
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Our BioRxiv paper is now published! Froberg JE, Pinter SF, Kriz AJ, Jegu T, and Lee JT. (2018) Megadomains and superloops form dynamically but are dispensable for X chromosome inactivation and gene escape. Nature Communications 9, 5004.
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Oct. 1, 2018
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We welcome Lu Han (postdoc) and Carlos Rivera (student) to the lab.
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Sept. 30, 2018
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Our Rett Syndrome expert, Lieselot Carrette, becomes a Visiting Scientist at Scripps, La Jolla.
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Sept. 5, 2018
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Our worm paper is published - Congrats to Arneet! Multiple Histone Methyl-Lysine Readers Ensure Robust Development and Germline Immortality in Caenorhabditis elegans. Saltzman AL, Soo MW, Aram R, Lee JT. Genetics. 2018 Sep 5.
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July 23, 2018
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Congrats to postdoctoral fellow, Lieselot Carrette, on a new publication!
Tsix–Mecp2 female mouse model for Rett syndrome reveals that low-level MECP2 expression extends life and improves neuromotor function. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/07/17/1800931115 … |
July 22, 2018
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We have a new website!
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July 9, 2018
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Check out John Froberg's work:
X-Chromosome without Borders: Firre(d) up about Dxz4! . .. and our lab's 1st pre-print in BioRxiv! www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/07/08/364893 |
June 7, 2018
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Chen Yu Wang's paper is now published!
Folded like Origami - is the Inactive X chromosome by SMCHD1: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(18)30584-1 |