Uncovering the functions and mechanisms of regulatory elements-associated non-coding RNAs.

Over the past decade, regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) produced by RNA Pol II have been revealed as meaningful players in various essential cellular functions. In particular, thousands of ncRNAs are produced at transcriptional regulatory elements such as enhancers and promoters, where they may exert multiple functions to regulate proper development, cellular programming, transcription or genomic stability. Here, we review the mechanisms involving these regulatory element-associated ncRNAs, and particularly enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) and PROMoter uPstream Transcripts (PROMPTs).

Crosstalk between chromatin and Shavenbaby defines transcriptional output along the Drosophila intestinal stem cell lineage.

The transcription factor Shavenbaby (Svb), the only member of the OvoL family in , controls the fate of various epithelial embryonic cells and adult stem cells. Post-translational modification of Svb produces two protein isoforms, Svb-ACT and Svb-REP, which promote adult intestinal stem cell renewal or differentiation, respectively. To define Svb mode of action, we used engineered cell lines and develop an unbiased method to identify Svb target genes across different contexts.

Condensin positioning at telomeres by shelterin proteins drives sister-telomere disjunction in anaphase.

The localization of condensin along chromosomes is crucial for their accurate segregation in anaphase. Condensin is enriched at telomeres but how and for what purpose had remained elusive. Here, we show that fission yeast condensin accumulates at telomere repeats through the balancing acts of Taz1, a core component of the shelterin complex that ensures telomeric functions, and Mit1, a nucleosome remodeler associated with shelterin.

POLE3 is a repressor of unintegrated HIV-1 DNA required for efficient virus integration and escape from innate immune sensing.

Unintegrated retroviral DNA is transcriptionally silenced by host chromatin silencing factors. Here, we used the proteomics of isolated chromatin segments method to reveal viral and host factors associated with unintegrated HIV-1DNA involved in its silencing. By gene silencing using siRNAs, 46 factors were identified as potential repressors of unintegrated HIV-1DNA.

PAPγ associates with PAXT nuclear exosome to control the abundance of PROMPT ncRNAs.

Pervasive transcription of the human genome generates an abundance of RNAs that must be processed and degraded. The nuclear RNA exosome is the main RNA degradation machinery in the nucleus. However, nuclear exosome must be recruited to its substrates by targeting complexes, such as NEXT or PAXT.