How DNA loops, chromatin packing, and RNAs work together in cells
Cross-regulation between loop extrusion, chromatin fiber structure and chromatin-associated RNAs
This research looks at how DNA loop-forming proteins, the way DNA is packaged, and RNAs attached to chromatin interact in cells to better understand changes seen in cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11014656 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, the team will use advanced lab methods to watch how the cohesin protein makes loops in DNA and how that movement changes the local packaging of DNA. They will alter proteins that control loop formation (like CTCF, NIPBL, and WAPL) and components of chromatin such as linker histones to see effects at both very small and very large genomic scales. The researchers will also study RNAs that stick to chromatin to learn whether these RNAs influence looping and gene activity. Together these approaches aim to link microscopic chromatin structure to the gene interactions that can go wrong in cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not directly enroll patients, but its results will be most relevant to people with cancers involving mutations or disruptions in cohesin or other chromatin-regulating proteins.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are driven by factors unrelated to chromatin architecture or gene regulatory machinery are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal fundamental mechanisms that lead to misregulated genes in cancer and point to new targets or biomarkers for diagnosis or therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier laboratory studies showed cohesin can extrude loops on naked DNA, but applying those findings to chromatin-packed genomes and chromatin-associated RNAs is new and less established.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Risca, Viviana I — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Risca, Viviana I
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.