Miguel Branco
@brancolab.bsky.social
📤 1835
📥 1047
📝 129
Transposons and epigenetics.
https://brancolaboratory.com/
reposted by
Miguel Branco
European Research Council (ERC)
2 days ago
📣 Meet the new ERC Synergy Grant awardees! Sixty-six research teams have been selected for funding, bringing together 239 scientists. Congratulations to all! ➡️
buff.ly/PSn3bi9
#EUfunded
#HorizonEurope
#ERCSyG
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Transposable elements drive species-specific and tissue-specific transcriptomes in human development - PubMed
Our results characterize the global profile of TE-initiated transcription and enhance our understanding of TE contribution to the primate-specific gene regulatory networks in human development.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41188927/
3 days ago
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ERV3-MLT1 provides cis-regulatory elements for human placental functioning and are commonly dysregulated in human-specific preeclampsia - PubMed
We conclude that ERV3-MLT1functions as a trophoblast-specific CRE for several human genes and may be dysregulated in preeclampsia. As EPS8L1 has a form in maternal circulation, it may have utility in diagnostics.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41188995/
3 days ago
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Transposon invasion of primate genomes shaped human inflammatory enhancers and susceptibility to inflammatory diseases - PubMed
Human inflammatory response reflects adaptive alteration of immune-cell regulatory elements during human evolution. Yet the impact of the deeper evolutionary history of these elements, within primate genomes reshaped by transposon expansions, remains unclear. Tracing sequence changes in human immune …
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41184288/
4 days ago
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Comparative analysis of rhesus macaque and human placental organoids highlights evolutionary differences in placentation - PubMed
Throughout evolution, the placenta has diversified in structure and composition while maintaining its essential role in supporting fetal development. Trophoblasts, cells responsible for nutrient exchange and immune modulation, are a conserved feature of all placentas. Although primate placentas shar …
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41173003/
5 days ago
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The Chromosome 19 miRNA cluster guards trophoblasts against overacting innate immunity - PubMed
To maintain pregnancy health, the human placenta delicately balances protection of the developing fetus from invading pathogens with suppression of excessive inflammation that could lead to fetal and neonatal autoimmune disorders. Previous research, including our own, has shown that small RNA produc …
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41168437/
8 days ago
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N6-methyladenosine on L1PA governs the trans-silencing of LTRs and restrains totipotency in naive human embryonic stem cells - PubMed
Transposable elements (TEs) occupy nearly half of the genome and drive developmental innovation, yet the mechanisms of silencing long terminal repeats (LTRs) remain incompletely understood. We demonstrate that methyltransferase-like 3 deficiency reverts naive human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to a …
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41167193/
8 days ago
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Young KRAB-zinc finger gene clusters are highly dynamic incubators of ERV-driven genetic heterogeneity in mice - PubMed
KRAB-zinc finger proteins (KZFPs) comprise the largest family of mammalian transcription factors, rapidly evolving within and between species. Most KZFPs in human and mice have been found to repress endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and other retrotransposons, with KZFP gene numbers correlating with th …
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41168166/
8 days ago
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Miguel Branco
Helen Rowe @RoweLab
10 days ago
How do pluripotent stem cells resist harmful interferon responses to safeguard development? Through total epigenetic lockdown of ligands, sensors and effectors of IFN-I. In our preprint, James Holt shares his PhD discoveries on the ground state of immune evasion 😊:
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
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Epigenetic lockdown of type I interferon sensing and signalling in human pluripotent cells.
The Human Silencing Hub (HUSH) complex safeguards genome integrity in human somatic cells by repressing transposable elements and regulating type I interferon (IFN-I) induction. In early development, ...
https://www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2025.10.27.684762v1
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Miguel Branco
Maxim Greenberg
11 days ago
Spread the word! There is a professor position opening at our University
@upcite.bsky.social
. There are several possible (great) labs to join, but if you are interested in DNA methylation and epigenetics in mammals, don't hesitate to contact me directly!
add a skeleton here at some point
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Miguel Branco
ASAP Team Jakobsson
10 days ago
📣 New preprint from the Jakobsson lab! We describe a detailed protocol to inhibit the expression of transposable elements in human pluripotent stem cells, developed thanks to
@asapresearch.parkinsonsroadmap.org
funding. Special shoutout to
@anitaada.bsky.social
!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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A framework for efficient CRISPRi-mediated silencing of retrotransposons in human pluripotent stem cells
This protocol describes the workflow for transcriptional silencing of transposable elements (TEs) in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The protocol illustrates how to design gRNAs to targ...
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.24.684366v1
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Miguel Branco
12 days ago
For those interested in GRN evolution, please join us!
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Miguel Branco
Robert Seaborne
about 1 month ago
🚨Hiring a 2yr postdoc in the lab work on muscle biology, genomics & ALS. Expertise in the above advantageous, but work ethic, desire to learn/develop and being a good scientist/person more important Good collab with
@droch.bsky.social
so travel to CPH involved as well
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/126245-...
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Postdoctoral Research Associate in Muscle Biology and Genomics | King's College London
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/126245-postdoctoral-research-associate-in-muscle-biology-and-genomics
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Activity of the SWI/SNF complex is indispensable for syncytiotrophoblast formation - PubMed
Developmental transitions are characterized by coordinated changes in lineage-specific gene expression programs and chromatin states. Yet, how these shifts in cell fate occur during placental development remains largely unknown. Here, we used human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs), genetic depletion, …
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41123510/
15 days ago
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Miguel Branco
The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research
about 1 month ago
Looking to pursue cutting-edge research in early development, maternal-fetal interaction, or placental biology? See 👇 - Funded PhD
www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/phd-students...
- Next Generation Fellowship
www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/next-generat...
- MPhil
www.mphil.bio.cam.ac.uk/mphil-pathwa...
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Miguel Branco
Rob Klose
22 days ago
Come join us in Geneva for everything epigenetics and gene regulation. It will be a great meeting! Please repost!
www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/...
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Epigenetics and Gene Regulation in Health and Disease: Linking Basic Mechanisms with Therapeutic Opportunities | Keystone Symposia
Join us at the Keystone Symposia on Epigenetics and Gene Regulation in Health and Disease: Linking Basic Mechanisms with Therapeutic Opportunities, March 2026, in Geneva, with field leaders!
https://www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/conference-listing/meeting/C12026
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Miguel Branco
Rob Klose
22 days ago
We are recuiting two new Associate Professors here in Oxford Biochemistry. Come join us! Reach out to me if you have any questions. Please repost!
tinyurl.com/mr3m7bd3
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A TE insertion controls throat colour in wheatears. The gene involved (ASIP) is the same one that is epigenetically affected by an IAP insertion the famous Avy mice. As if we needed more reasons to love TEs.
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A mosaic of modular variation at a single gene underpins convergent plumage coloration
The reshuffling of genomic variation from multiple origins is an important contributor to phenotypic diversification, yet insights into the evolutionary trajectories of this combinatorial process and ...
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado8005
22 days ago
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A histone methyltransferase-independent function of PRC2 controls small RNA dynamics during programmed DNA elimination in Paramecium - PubMed
To limit transposable element (TE) mobilization, most eukaryotes have evolved small RNAs to silence TE activity via homology-dependent mechanisms. Small RNAs, 20-30 nucleotides in length, bind to PIWI...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41099712/
22 days ago
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An SVA insertion explains 0.5% cases of Lynch syndrome, apparently.
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Lynch syndrome caused by SINE-VNTR-Alu-F retrotransposon insert in MSH6 confirmed after 20 years of testing: a case report and literature review - PubMed
Although RTs insertions do not seem to be a common cause of Lynch syndrome, the number might be underestimated because of the difficulties in detecting these variants with well-established methods lik...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41088395/
24 days ago
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Miguel Branco
The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research
26 days ago
Fully-funded 4-year PhD studentships for home or overseas students, applications open till 4 November. 🔗 Please like and share to spread the word!
www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/phd-students...
Take a look at projects for 2025/26
www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/opportunitie...
#PhD
,
#PhDPosition
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Miguel Branco
The Francis Crick Institute
about 1 month ago
We're now recruiting early career group leaders at the Crick to lead ambitious research programmes and explore bold scientific questions. Hear our Director, Edith Heard, explain why the Crick is a unique place for curiosity-driven research. Apply now ➡️
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
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Check out these amazing opportunities from the Loke CTR in Cambridge (UK). I greatly benefited from a Next Generation Fellowship as a crucial stepping stone to independence.
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about 1 month ago
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Miguel Branco
Janelia Research Campus
2 months ago
📢We're
#hiring
Group Leaders! Apply to lead a lab at Janelia & advance biology using theory, computational modeling & machine learning. 🔹5-year renewable appointment 🔹Pioneer new tools & approaches 🔹Collaborate across disciplines Apply by Nov. 4👉
https://janelia.link/groupleader
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Miguel Branco
James Briscoe
about 1 month ago
Very sad news, John Gurdon has died. A developmental biologist's developmental biologist, Nobel prize winner His work is the foundation of much of today's dev & stem cell bio. An inspiration to many, including me. Always asking questions & wanting the answers
www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...
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Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS (1933-2025) | Magdalene College
Magdalene College is deeply saddened to announce the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS, who served as Master of the College from 1995 to 2002.
https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/professor-sir-john-gurdon-frs-1933-2025
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Miguel Branco
the Node
about 1 month ago
Applications are open for 10 ECR funded places at The Company of Biologists Workshop on 'Novelty, Co-option and Divergence During Gene Network Evolution', organised by James Hombría and Antónia Monteiro. 📅 Deadline: Friday 5 December Further information:
www.biologists.com/workshops/ju...
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Miguel Branco
IRB Barcelona
about 1 month ago
🧪 We are
#hiring!
▫️
#Postdoc
fellows ▫️
#Talent
& Development Section Head ▫️Talent Technician (temporary) ▫️Health, Safety and Quality Section Head ▫️Health & Safety Technician (temporary) ▫️Competitive Funding Officer ▫️Engineering Officer & more! ➡️ bit.ly/3MR4wO8
#IRBJobs
#Jobs
#ScienceJobs
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Miguel Branco
John Innes Centre
about 1 month ago
VACANCY - We have an opportunity for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group, working to develop computational models of epigenetic dynamics in the Polycomb system.
www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...
Closing date - 9 November 2025 Salary - £37,500 - £45,350 Contract - 36 months, full-time
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Postdoctoral Researcher (Howard Group) | John Innes Centre
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Computational and Systems Biology.
https://www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/postdoctoral-researcher-howard-group-5/
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Miguel Branco
Tung Le
about 1 month ago
Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions at the John Innes Centre. Repost = nice. Thank you very much!!!
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Stable Maintenance of Two-Cell-Like Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells Reveals Chromatin and Super Enhancer Regulation of MERVL Elements
Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) occasionally transit into a rare two-cell-like (2C) state characterized by transient activation of endogenous retroviruses such as MERVL and expression of 2C-specific...
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.25.678376v1
about 1 month ago
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Miguel Branco
PLOS Biology
about 1 month ago
Join
@embl.org
for this conference exploring genetic and physiological impacts of transposable elements. Virtual registration is open until October 28. Learn more at
plos.io/4nuqeZA
.
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Miguel Branco
Raquel Fueyo
about 1 month ago
Today in
@nature.com
, we present our work leveraging functional genomics and human blastoids to uncover a human-specific mechanism in preimplantation development driven by the endogenous retrovirus HERVK. Special thanks to the reviewers whose comments improved our manuscript a lot!
rdcu.be/eI3tD
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A human-specific regulatory mechanism revealed in a pre-implantation model
Nature - Genetic manipulation of blastoids reveals the role of recently emerged transposable elements and genes in human development.
https://rdcu.be/eI3tD
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Miguel Branco
QMUL Centre for Epigenetics
about 1 month ago
Our next guest seminar is happening on Friday, October 10th at 3.30pm GMT in the QM Innovation Centre, Clark-Kennedy LT. This will be a joint seminar with Oxford Nanopore
@nanoporetech.com
and QMUL. Please book your place here:
nanoporetech.swoogo.com/QMUL_Epigene...
or scan the QR code below.
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Another neurodegenerative disease caused by an SVA insertion. Not intron retention as seen in XPD, but aberrant splicing.
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Deep Intronic SVA_E Insertion Identified as the Most Common Pathogenic Variant Associated With Canavan Disease | Neurology Genetics
Background and ObjectivesCanavan disease (CD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which biallelic pathogenic variants in ASPA result in spongiform degeneration of the cerebral white matter, leading to ...
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/NXG.0000000000200291
about 1 month ago
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Miguel Branco
Cedric Feschotte
about 2 months ago
📣 Our department is hiring an Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Cell and Molecular Biology to join the
@weillinstitute.bsky.social
PLS spread the word!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30607
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Cornell University, Molecular Biology & Genetics
Job #AJO30607, WDR-00055221 Assistant Professor, Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, US
https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30607
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Miguel Branco
Aris Katzourakis
about 2 months ago
Three jobs in our shiny new building:
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Miguel Branco
Artem Ilin
about 2 months ago
Kicked off a series on
#Drosophila
TE discovery and naming. The first post covers elements that predate the term "mobile element", and more.
artemilin.dev/posts/te_nam...
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Drosophila TE name origins, Part 1 – Postdoc Postpunk
https://artemilin.dev/posts/te_names_1/
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Miguel Branco
Rebecca Mosher
about 2 months ago
Three Associate Professor (or Professor) positions available at Oxford Biology. Come be my colleague!
www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/we-a...
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We are hiring! Oxford biology has three associate professorships available as we move to new state-of-the-art facilities
https://www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/we-are-hiring
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Alex de Mendoza
about 2 months ago
Very happy to have contributed to this review on "non-CG"
#methylation
in animals now out in
@natgenet.nature.com
. Working again with
@obog.bsky.social
and Tirsa is always a pleasure. We think this not so well studied form of methylation should be more widely considered, please read:
rdcu.be/eFAEk
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Non-CG DNA methylation in animal genomes
Nature Genetics - This Review discusses noncanonical DNA methylation (mCH) in animal genomes and highlights the remaining need to clarify whether mCH represents a conserved regulatory layer or a...
https://rdcu.be/eFAEk
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Miguel Branco
The Dunn School, Oxford
about 2 months ago
We're hiring (again)! We are looking for an associate professor in cell and molecular biology, with a particular focus on immunology (defined broadly) If you have a great record and exciting plans, consider joining our thriving and welcoming department
www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...
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Miguel Branco
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
2 months ago
This, from
@anthonymoser.com
, is outstanding. (H/t
@lecagle.bsky.social
.) "The makers of AI aren’t damned by their failures, they’re damned by their goals."
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I Am An AI Hater
I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.
https://anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/haterdom/2025/08/26/i-am-an-ai-hater.html
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Miguel Branco
Maxim Greenberg
2 months ago
🚨 🐜 is there a Bluesky starter pack for researchers who don’t study ants but who get lightheaded every time there’s an awesome ant paper? CC
@mariusw.bsky.social
@jrichardalbert.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants - Nature
In a case of obligate cross-species cloning, female ants of Messor ibericus need to clone males of Messor structor to obtain sperm for producing the worker caste, resulting in males from the same moth...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09425-w
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Miguel Branco
Iqbal Dulloo
2 months ago
Having spent significant time here, the environment and support are truly amazing, and in my opinion, the best you can have in Oxford.
add a skeleton here at some point
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Miguel Branco
Transposon and Cancer Epigenetics Group
2 months ago
Our new review is out in Trends in Cancer. We had fund writing this :) We discuss the roles of retrotransposons in immune modulation in normal and malignant hematopoiesis.
www.cell.com/trends/cance...
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Reawakening retrotransposons: immune modulation in normal and malignant hematopoiesis
Retrotransposons are mobile repetitive elements that constitute around 43% of the human genome. Normally silenced through epigenetic mechanisms, retrotransposons can become reactivated in response to ...
https://www.cell.com/trends/cancer/fulltext/S2405-8033(25)00187-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2405803325001876%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
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Miguel Branco
Alex Eve
2 months ago
If you've had a half-finished Node post draft in the back of your mind for a while, now there's some incentive to get it finished & out there for the community. Remember that the Node is for all
#devbio
&
#stemcell
researchers. Register & you're free to post anything relevant without intervention.
add a skeleton here at some point
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Miguel Branco
Stefan Schoenfelder
5 months ago
Delighted & excited to share our latest preprint on non-canonical enhancers in human pluripotent stem cells, the result of a fantastic and fun collaboration with
@guenesdoganlab.bsky.social
:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵 below
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Non-canonical enhancers control gene expression and cell fate in human pluripotent stem cells
Enhancers are key gene regulatory elements that ensure the precise spatiotemporal execution of developmental gene expression programmes. However recent findings indicate that approaches to identify en...
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.01.657118v1
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New paper from Bin Cao, showing that placenta-specific KO of ADAR1 is embryonic lethal.
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ADAR1 as a Placental Innate Immune Rheostat Sustaining the Homeostatic Balance of Intrinsic Interferon Response at the Maternal‐Fetal Interface
This study reveals that ADAR1, an RNA-editing enzyme, fine-tunes immune responses in the placenta by preventing the accumulation of immunogenic double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) from interferon-stimulate...
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202505491#
3 months ago
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Miguel Branco
Stylianos Lefkopoulos (he/him)
3 months ago
🥂Congrats to Gao, Li & co for their new
@natcellbio.nature.com
study: they derive
#trophectoderm
stem cells from 32-cell mouse
#embryos
. These cells represent an early trophectoderm state, develop into
#placenta
cells and organoids and contribute to blastoid generation.
rdcu.be/eAKzp
bit.ly/4fyZ9Sg
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Mouse trophectoderm stem cells generated with morula signalling inducers capture an early trophectoderm state - Nature Cell Biology
Gao, Li and colleagues derive trophectoderm stem cells from 32-cell mouse embryos. These cells represent an early trophectoderm state and are capable of developing into placenta cells, forming placent...
https://bit.ly/4fyZ9Sg
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Miguel Branco
Manuel Irimia
4 months ago
🚨🚨🚨 Please RT! We're looking for a postdoc to join an exciting joint project between our lab
@upf.edu
&
@crg.eu
(Barcelona) and the Sander lab
@mdc-berlin.bsky.social
(Berlin) investigating how alternative splicing and microexons influences the maturation of pancreatic islets. Deadline: 30/09/25👇
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https://www.upf.edu/documents/2869130/0/Informal_ad-LaCaixa-Irimia.pdf
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Miguel Branco
Alex de Mendoza
3 months ago
Happy to see our latest work out in
@molbioevol.bsky.social
. We revisit the evolution of 5-methylcytosine across neglected eukaryotic supergroups, establishing an ancestral repressive role silencing genome invaders, both transposons and viral elements👾:
academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
🧵 1/7
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Repressive cytosine methylation is a marker of viral gene transfer across divergent eukaryotes
Abstract. Cytosine DNA methylation patterns vary widely across eukaryotes, with its ancestral roles being understood to have included both transposable ele
https://academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-article/doi/10.1093/molbev/msaf176/8213644
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