News - IGMM

Open positions for junior or established group leaders in the field of innovative biology

Openings for Group Leaders in Innovative Biology Institute of Molecular Genetics, Montpellier, France The Montpellier Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGMM) – a CNRS centre for basic research – has openings for junior or established group leaders. IGMM currently hosts 18 teams working on RNA biogenesis, epigenetic regulation, chromatin biology, cell cycle, cancer, cell death, gene expression, virology and immune cell … Continue reading Open positions for junior or established group leaders in the field of innovative biology

Machine learning to probe transcription factor combinatorics

Transcription factors (TFs) act in a combinatorial manner competing and collaborating to regulate their target genes. Several questions remain regarding the conservation of these combinations among different gene classes, regulatory regions and cell types. Here we propose a new machine learning approach able to infer these combinations of TFs. This approach demonstrates that TF combinatorics are conserved for different gene … Continue reading Machine learning to probe transcription factor combinatorics

Temporal control of gene expression by the pioneer factor Zelda through transient interactions in hubs

Pioneer transcription factors can engage nucleosomal DNA, which leads to local chromatin remodeling and to the establishment of transcriptional competence

Identification of a pathway regulating α-synuclein expression that could be used to develop new therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease.

In this work, published in Cell Reports, Lassot et al. (« Molecular Mechanisms of Apoptosis Regulation»; Solange Desagher) describe a pathway regulating α-synuclein expression with in vivo and pathological relevance. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Although most cases of PD are sporadic, over 10% are associated with mutations in genes. SNCA, which encodes α-synuclein, … Continue reading Identification of a pathway regulating α-synuclein expression that could be used to develop new therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease.

Two TRIM proteins control the degradation and the anti-apoptotic activity of BCL2A1 in melanoma cells.

Failure to eliminate cancer cells by apoptosis is crucial in tumor development. Therefore, the key approach to achieving successful antitumor response is to harness strategies allowing the elimination of pro-survival factors to the tumor. BCL2A1 is involved in chemoresistance of melanoma and is not targeted by BH3-mimetic inhibitors. In this study Lionnard et al reveal that TRIM28 and TRIM17 are … Continue reading Two TRIM proteins control the degradation and the anti-apoptotic activity of BCL2A1 in melanoma cells.

HRS-seq : a new genomic method reveals the importance of nuclear bodies in organizing the active chromosomal compartment

In a work published in Genome Research, Marie-Odile Baudement and its colleagues (team « Genome organization and epigenetic control » led by Thierry Forné), have developed the HRS-seq, a new straightforward genome-wide approach whereby they isolated and sequenced genomic regions associated with nuclear bodies and other membrane-less nuclear organelles which are made insoluble through high-salt treatments (HRS – High-salt Recovered … Continue reading HRS-seq : a new genomic method reveals the importance of nuclear bodies in organizing the active chromosomal compartment

A growing toolbox to image gene expression in single cells: sensitive approaches for demanding challenges

This review looks both backward and forward to summarize the available imaging techniques to monitor gene expression at single molecule resolution, in fixed and living cells and embryos

R2TP and R2SP are co-chaperones involved in the assembly of macro-molecular complexes

In a Nature Communications publication, Chloé Maurizy and colleagues (E. Bertrand’s team and 3 other teams from ANR consortium snoRNPASSEMBLY) have discovered a novel co-chaperone, called R2SP. It was known that macromolecular complex assembly requires dedicated machinery working with Hsp90. We and others have shown that R2TP/Hsp90 is involved in assembly of essential complexes such as snoRNPs, snRNPs, RNA polymerases … Continue reading R2TP and R2SP are co-chaperones involved in the assembly of macro-molecular complexes

Neutrophils are essential for induction of vaccine-like effects by antiviral monoclonal antibody immunotherapies.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are the largest class of biomedicines. Administered to neutralize and eliminate pathogens, they can also induce a lasting immune response, such as vaccination. The work of Mar Naranjo-Gomez et al., In the team “Oncogenesis and Immunotherapy” has demonstrated an unexpected role of a type of leukocytes, neutrophils, in the therapeutic efficacy of mAbs. These cells of the … Continue reading Neutrophils are essential for induction of vaccine-like effects by antiviral monoclonal antibody immunotherapies.

Targeting SUMO to improve the efficiency of differentiation therapies in Acute Myeloid Leukemias

Acute Myeloid Leukemias (AML) are very aggressive hematological malignancies, which treatment is mostly based on intensive chemotherapies. This treatment has not significantly changed in the past 40 years and is characterized by a high relapse rate. Differentiation therapies, in particular those using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) are an alternative to chemotherapies. They aim at restoring the differentiation of AML cells … Continue reading Targeting SUMO to improve the efficiency of differentiation therapies in Acute Myeloid Leukemias