Team 15: Evolutionary Epigenomics and Genetic Conflicts
Access to genetic information is organized by epigenetic modifications and chromatin pathways. These mechanisms predate the last common ancestor to all eukaryotes and are hypothesized to perform conserved functions. Nevertheless, we find that they are subject to diversification in mammals (see publications). Genetic conflicts are well known to drive genome diversification, however their impact on epigenome evolution is poorly understood. Our team uses phylogenetics to identify chromatin pathways with evolutionary signatures of genetic conflicts, and test their function on the epigenome in vivo.
Recherche soutenue par: FRM Amorçage de Jeunes Équipes (AJE201912009932) 2020-2022; ANR Jeune Chercheur/Chercheuse (SHAMAN) 2023-2027; ANR Partner (MomDad) 2022-2025.
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Research
Currently, we use mouse models, mammalian cell culture and comparative epigenomics to answer the following questions:
1) What are the functions of protein domains subject to diversification in chromatin modifying enzymes?
2) Which evolutionary forces drive short histone H2A variants diversification in mammals?
3) How do short H2As imprint parental epigenomes during mammalian reproduction?
4) How does epigenome evolution shape normal development and disease progression in humans?
Press and other highlights of our work
Unususal Histones Mediate Parental Conflicts in Mammals (Fragile Nucleosome Seminar Series, 2021, Youtube)
The Secret Role Histones Played in Complex Cell Evolution (Wired, 2021, by Viviane Callier)
Fundamental proteins that guide embryo development are co-opted by cancer (Fred Hutch News, 2021, by Sabrina Richards)
The team
October 2022
March 2022
Summer 2021
Research thematics
People
Last Name | First Name | Position | Contact | |
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FRAISSE | Marine | Assistant Engineer | |
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KARAM | Germaine | Assistant Engineer | |
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MOLARO | Antoine | Principal Investigator | |
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MORDIER | Joris | Assistant Engineer |
Publications
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2022
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“Distinct evolutionary trajectories of SARS-CoV-2-interacting proteins in bats and primates identify important host determinants of COVID-19.”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., vol. 119 (35) , pp. e2206610119, 2022.
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“Histone renegades: Unusual H2A histone variants in plants and animals.”, Seminars in cell & developmental biology, 2022.
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“Novel Classes and Evolutionary Turnover of Histone H2B Variants in the Mammalian Germline.”, Molecular biology and evolution, vol. 39 (2) , 2022.
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2021
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“Short H2A histone variants are expressed in cancer.”, Nature communications, vol. 12 (1) , pp. 490, 2021.
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2020
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“Biparental contributions of the H2A.B histone variant control embryonic development in mice.”, PLoS biology, vol. 18 (12) , pp. e3001001, 2020.
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“Sex and suicide: The curious case of Toll-like receptors.”, PLoS biology, vol. 18 (3) , pp. e3000663, 2020.
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“Dynamic evolution of de novo DNA methyltransferases in rodent and primate genomes.”, Molecular biology and evolution, 2020.
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2018
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“Evolutionary origins and diversification of testis-specific short histone H2A variants in mammals.”, Genome Res., vol. 28 (4) , pp. 460–473, 2018.
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“Evolutionary expansion of DNA hypomethylation in the mammalian germline genome.”, Genome Res., vol. 28 (2) , pp. 145–158, 2018.
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“Studying the Evolution of Histone Variants Using Phylogeny.”, Meth. Mol. Biol., vol. 1832 , pp. 273–291, 2018.
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2017
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“Culture shock.”, eLife, vol. 6 , 2017.
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2016
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“Hide and seek: how chromatin-based pathways silence retroelements in the mammalian germline.”, Current opinion in genetics & development, vol. 37 , pp. 51–58, 2016.
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2014
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“Two waves of de novo methylation during mouse germ cell development.”, Genes Dev., vol. 28 (14) , pp. 1544–9, 2014.
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2013
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“DNA methylation dynamics during intestinal stem cell differentiation reveals enhancers driving gene expression in the villus.”, Genome biology, vol. 14 (5) , pp. R50, 2013.
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2012
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“Genomic landscape of human allele-specific DNA methylation.”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., vol. 109 (19) , pp. 7332–7, 2012.
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“Production of artificial piRNAs in flies and mice.”, RNA, vol. 18 (1) , pp. 42–52, 2012.
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2011
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“Directional DNA methylation changes and complex intermediate states accompany lineage specificity in the adult hematopoietic compartment.”, Molecular cell, vol. 44 (1) , pp. 17–28, 2011.
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“Sperm methylation profiles reveal features of epigenetic inheritance and evolution in primates.”, Cell, vol. 146 (6) , pp. 1029–41, 2011.
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