Tuesday, November 19, at 15:00 in Air and Fire

Mayra Furlan-Magaril

Molecular Genetics Department. Cellular Physiology Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM-IFC)

I am a junior group leader at the Institute of Cellular Physiology at the UNAM in Mexico City. The main goal of my lab is to dissect the molecular mechanisms organizing the genome in 3D and their impact on different transcriptional states.
– Current position: Junior Group leader at the Institute of Cellular Physiology, at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City.
– Postdoctoral training at the Nuclear Dynamics Programme at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge UK.
– PhD in Biochemical Sciences at the UNAM.

Title of the talk: Circadian gene promoter chromatin contacts around the clock

Circadian gene expression is essential for organisms to adjust to daily changes in their environment. How circadian oscillations in gene transcription are influenced by chromatin conformation is still poorly characterized. Here, we measured and analysed 3D chromatin dynamics in mouse liver using Promoter Capture-HiC providing a high-resolution view of genomic contacts throughout the day.

Genome contact measurements revealed circadian promoters are engaged in both constant and dynamic long-range contacts throughout a circadian cycle. Notably circadian gene promoters reach the maximum number of contacts at their transcriptional peak. Also, we found circadian gene promoters significantly contact enhancer elements with shared transcriptional phase. DNA motif analysis showed that nuclear receptors expressed in the liver are enriched at the anchors of circadian chromatin loops suggesting them as central molecular components shaping circadian chromatin 3D structure. Together our results provide evidence of genome architecture dynamics coupled with transcriptional fluctuations over the 24 hours.

Read more about Mayra Furlan-Magaril´s research

Host: Phil Ewels