How master 'pioneer' proteins read DNA and shape cell identity
Official title: Mechanisms for DNA Recognition, Scanning and Nucleosome Mechanical Actions by Pioneer Transcription Factors and their Role in Cell Fate Decisions
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-11474543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how special 'pioneer' proteins read DNA inside cells to guide development and how those processes relate to cancer and regenerative medicine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | February 21, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $123,039 |
| NIH project number | 3R01GM152623-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11474543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The project is lab-based and does not recruit patients, but it is most relevant to people with cancers linked to gene-regulation errors or to those who would consider donating tissue for basic research.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatment improvements or those with conditions unrelated to gene regulation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
Researchers will use high-resolution biophysical lab experiments to see how pioneer transcription factors recognize DNA both when it is free and when it is wrapped in nucleosomes. They will focus on two model proteins, Engrailed and Wor1, to map how these factors bind clusters of imperfect DNA motifs and how that binding can mechanically open chromatin. The team will combine molecular measurements and physical analyses to trace the step-by-step mechanics of binding and nucleosome unwrapping. Results are intended to clarify how cell identities are established in development and how misregulation can contribute to cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help scientists develop better regenerative therapies and improve understanding of cancers caused by faulty gene regulation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows pioneer factors can bind chromatin and affect cell fate, but the precise mechanical steps remain unclear and this project applies new high-resolution approaches to fill that gap.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Munoz, Victor — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Munoz, Victor
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HOME: Smart, compassionate AI helpers for aging at home
A research project is developing an AI-powered, multimodal system to help older adults stay safe and healthy at home while supporting busy caregivers.
-
Engineering vCCI to change how it binds chemokines
Researchers will study a viral protein called vCCI that can calm inflammation and explore how to tweak its binding to inflammation signals to potentially help conditions like arthritis and asthma.
-
How stem cells renew tissues and cancer development, using planarians
A scientist team at UC Merced studies how stem cells renew tissues and how DNA damage can lead to cancer, using a planarian model to understand early changes.
-
Understanding how blood vessels and endothelial cells help the thymus heal after intensive cancer therapy
This NIH grant explores how blood vessels and their lining cells help the thymus recover after chemotherapy, aiming to support better immune recovery in adults.
-
Understanding how enzyme shapes and movements control their activity
This grant explores how temperature-driven changes in enzyme shapes affect their activity, with the goal of finding hidden states that could help drug discovery.
-
Wildfire smoke and pregnancy health: protecting moms and babies
A study from UC Merced will look at how wildfire smoke affects pregnant people and newborns and test practical ways to reduce exposure and health risks.
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.