Molecular mechanisms of cell fate decisions revealed on the single-molecule level
Pioneer transcription factors are dynamic protein molecules that regulate genomic architecture and transcription of genes. We study how the structure and dynamics of pioneer transcription factors allow them to navigate and modulate the genome, and how they enable cell fate decisions to be made. We are particularly invested in deciphering the activity of pioneer transcription factors that are key drivers of cell reprogramming and applying rational or AI-guided design to harness these factors for efficient cell fate control.
We use an integrative approach by combining single-molecule and ensemble techniques, biochemistry, and computer simulations, to obtain a microscopic molecular view of pioneer transcription factor function.
Funding
Our lab is part of the Section for Biomolecular Sciences at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen. We are integrated in the Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory (SBiNLab) and we are part of the NNF Challenge Centre REPIN. We are also affiliated with the Science Institute and the Biomedical Center, both within the University of Iceland. Our research is funded by grants from the European Research Council (ERC), the Lundbeck Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís), University of Copenhagen, University of Iceland, and the Icelandic Cancer Society.
