Publications by authors named "Andrew S Earl"

Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) control gene expression and are dynamic in their structure and function, reflecting changes in the composition of diverse effector proteins over time. However, methods for measuring the organization of effector proteins at CREs across the genome are limited, hampering efforts to connect CRE structure to their function in cell fate and disease. Here we developed PRINT, a computational method that identifies footprints of DNA-protein interactions from bulk and single-cell chromatin accessibility data across multiple scales of protein size.

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Article Synopsis
  • Microscopy and genomics both help in studying cell functions, but they struggle to connect insights at a detailed level within the cell nucleus.
  • A new technology called expansion in situ genome sequencing (ExIGS) allows for detailed sequencing of genomic DNA and precise localization of nuclear proteins in single cells.
  • Using ExIGS on fibroblast cells from a person with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome revealed that abnormalities in a protein called lamin are linked to unusual chromatin organization, potentially destabilizing cell identity and altering gene regulation in various diseases.
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In biological systems, spatial organization and function are interconnected. Here we present photoselective sequencing, a new method for genomic and epigenomic profiling within morphologically distinct regions. Starting with an intact biological specimen, photoselective sequencing uses targeted illumination to selectively unblock a photocaged fragment library, restricting the sequencing-based readout to microscopically identified spatial regions.

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-regulatory elements control gene expression and are dynamic in their structure, reflecting changes to the composition of diverse effector proteins over time. Here we sought to connect the structural changes at regulatory elements to alterations in cellular fate and function. To do this we developed PRINT, a computational method that uses deep learning to correct sequence bias in chromatin accessibility data and identifies multi-scale footprints of DNA-protein interactions.

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The state and behaviour of a cell can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. In particular, tumour progression is determined by underlying genetic aberrations as well as the makeup of the tumour microenvironment. Quantifying the contributions of these factors requires new technologies that can accurately measure the spatial location of genomic sequence together with phenotypic readouts.

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The most basic level of eukaryotic gene regulation is the presence or absence of nucleosomes on DNA regulatory elements. In an effort to elucidate in vivo nucleosome patterns, in vitro studies are frequently used. In vitro, short DNA fragments are more favorable for nucleosome formation, increasing the likelihood of nucleosome occupancy.

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Understanding genome organization requires integration of DNA sequence and three-dimensional spatial context; however, existing genome-wide methods lack either base pair sequence resolution or direct spatial localization. Here, we describe in situ genome sequencing (IGS), a method for simultaneously sequencing and imaging genomes within intact biological samples. We applied IGS to human fibroblasts and early mouse embryos, spatially localizing thousands of genomic loci in individual nuclei.

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Cell differentiation and function are regulated across multiple layers of gene regulation, including modulation of gene expression by changes in chromatin accessibility. However, differentiation is an asynchronous process precluding a temporal understanding of regulatory events leading to cell fate commitment. Here we developed simultaneous high-throughput ATAC and RNA expression with sequencing (SHARE-seq), a highly scalable approach for measurement of chromatin accessibility and gene expression in the same single cell, applicable to different tissues.

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Article Synopsis
  • During stress, global protein translation decreases, but certain mRNAs are still actively produced, with mechanisms behind this selectivity remaining unclear.
  • METL-5 is identified as a key player that methylates a specific site on ribosomal RNA, which enhances the translation of certain mRNAs, like CYP-29A3, that produce important stress-related molecules.
  • Worms with mutations in METL-5 show reduced eicosanoids and increased stress resistance, indicating that methylation of ribosomal RNA plays a crucial role in the stress response by modulating the translation of specific mRNAs.
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