How gene-control proteins bind DNA in different cell and chromatin environments
Sequence, chromatin, and cellular contexts of transcription factor- DNA interaction and function
This project looks at how proteins that control genes stick to DNA under different sequence and cell conditions to help understand diseases like cancer and developmental disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11331489 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use the plant Arabidopsis thaliana as a tractable lab system to study how transcription factor proteins and DNA sequences interact across different cell types and chromatin states. They will combine laboratory experiments (including CRISPR-based perturbations and molecular assays) with advanced AI-based models that read protein and DNA sequence information. The team will focus on the bZIP family of gene-regulating proteins and map how changes in protein sequence, DNA sites, and chromatin accessibility reshape gene networks. Results will link molecular findings in the model system to mechanisms relevant to human diseases driven by misregulated gene control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or genetic developmental disorders tied to gene-regulatory defects would be the long-term group most likely to benefit and could be future candidates for related translational studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or those with conditions unrelated to gene-regulation mechanisms are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve understanding of how gene regulation breaks down in cancers and developmental disorders and guide future diagnostics or therapies targeting regulatory mechanisms.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have mapped transcription factor binding and used computational models, but combining AI language models with plant genetics, chromatin context, and protein variation is a more novel and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Shao-Shan Carol — New York University
- Study coordinator: Huang, Shao-Shan Carol
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.