Organització 3D de la cromatina
IJC Building, Campus ICO-Germans Trias i Pujol
Ctra de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n
08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
Tel: (+34) 935 572 800 extn 4160
Webpage javierreLab.com @JavierreLab
Directions
Summary
Genetics and epigenetics of normal and malignant haematopoiesis in space and time
We are a group of passionate scientists with an insatiable thirst for learning about spatiotemporal architecture of the genome and its role in cell differentiation and function in health and disease. Our group combines cutting-edge experimental and bioinformatics approaches to understand the dynamic and specific 3D chromatin organization of normal and malignant haematopoiesis and its interaction with non-coding determinants and trans-regulatory elements. Our long-term goal is to keep making progress in the fight against cancer. We will not stop until a cure is found.
Research
Enhancers are critical modulators of gene transcription through physical interactions with target promoters that often locate distally in the genome. The physical proximity between enhancers and promoters is ultimately enabled and determined by the three-dimensional folding of the chromatin within the nucleus. Although enhancers can be defined through well-characterized features, predicting their target genes at distal location remains challenging due to the high complexity of studying enhancer-promoter interactions, and the large variability according to cell-type and state. This gap of knowledge is particularly problematic for understanding the molecular mechanisms associated to inherited and de novo acquired mutations and epimutations involved in common human diseases, which are all highly enriched at regulatory elements
To overcome these critical limitations, we have recently developed a low input cost-effective method to robustly map and compare promoter interactomes at high resolution in rare cell populations previously unmeasurable. This new method broadens the capacity for studying organism developments, in vivo cell commitment, cellular response to a wide range of external stimulus and disease pathogenesis.
Our goals
Our lab’s main research goals, which are motivated by this gap in the knowledge, are as follows:
1. To define the cell type-specific 3D chromatin organization in human haematopoietic cells. Human haematopoietic differentiation dogma is currently a subject of debate. All blood cells originate from haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which represent the apex of a differentiation cascade of progenitor cell types that gives rise to billions of new differentiated cells every day. HSC differentiation, which progresses through stepwise hierarchical restriction of lineage potential, has been extensively characterized at epigenetic, transcriptional and functional levels. However, the contribution of genome architecture in regulating haematopoiesis remains unexplored.
Motivated by this gap of knowledge, we aim to investigate whether the dynamic changes in chromatin interactions between gene promoters and regulatory elements can shape transcription decisions controlling haematopoiesis and blood cell function. These insights can lead to improvements in regenerative medicine strategies, especially bone marrow transplants, which represent one of the most promising approaches to treating many diseases, including blood cancer.
2. To identify the altered DNA topology in blood cancer. The genome architecture plays a key role in genome expression regulation and DNA repair. Chromatin interactions are therefore crucial for cellular health, and errors in these interactions can give rise to the development of a broad range of diseases, including blood cancer. Research into these altered 3D structures can help improve knowledge of the tumour process, thereby providing new opportunities for the development of novel treatment approaches and diagnostic strategies.
3. To prioritize new candidate genes and pathways related to leukemias and lymphomas. During the previous years, thousands of determinants associated with blood cancer have been identified. However, most of them remains unexplored because of these target non-coding regions, frequently enhancers and other distal regulatory elements. Genetic and epigenetic alterations at distal regulatory elements have the potential to alter the regulatory properties and ultimately lead to quantitative changes in expression of distal target genes with pathological outcome. However, in most of the cases, the target genes area unknown. By studying the physical interactions between gene promoters and regulatory elements, we connect blood cancer cis and trans determinants to putative target genes, thereby prioritizing new candidate genes and pathways and offering an insight into the genomic regulatory mechanisms underlying cancer. In addition, the interpretation of the non-coding regions altered in disease will also help us improve patient outcome prediction and allow us to design better, more personalized treatments.
Our challenges:
Through our research, we hope to answer the following questions:
- Can the dynamic changes in chromatin interactions shape the transcription decisions controlling haematopoiesis and blood cell function?
- Which are the blood cell-type specific key factors orchestrating genome architecture?
- How does the altered genome architecture drive malignant transformation?
- What is the role of non-coding determinants in cancer predisposition, development and relapse?
Why our research matters
Blood cancers, including leukemias and lymphomas, are a leading cause of mortality in paediatric and adult patients worldwide. We aim to provided fundamental understanding of blood cancer development and relapse to identify new biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets to ultimately improve patient survival.
Keywords
Genome architecture, spatial-temporal chromatin organization, haematopoiesis, blood cancer, cis non-coding determinants, enhancer-promoter interactions
Social media
- ORCID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-8682-6748
- ResearcherID: A-2974-2017
- Website of the 3D Chromatin Organization Research Group:
- Twitter: @JavierreLab @BiolaMJavierre
- ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Biola_Javierre
Awards
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2019 Top 10 Female Scientific Leaders in Spain and Top 100 Female Leaders in Spain Awards, Mujeres&Cia Foundation, which identifies the 10 best female scientists and the 100 best female leaders in Spain.
2019 L'Oréal-UNESCO International Rising Talents Award 2019, which recognizes the 15 most promising young female scientists worldwide from four disciplines (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering and Formal Sciences).
2019-2022 Plan Nacional Grant (RTI2018-094788-A-I00).
2019-2022 La Caixa Junior Leader Fellowship. 2019-2022 Deutsche Leukämie-Stiftung Grant, in collaboration with Björ Chapuy (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Harvard Medical School, USA, and University Medical Centre Göttingen, Germany).
2018 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Research Award, L'Oréal Foundation, Spain.
2018-2023 Ramón y Cajal Fellowship (RYC-2016-19665), Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University. The Spanish Ramón y Cajal Programme recruits outstanding researchers for R&D centres on five-year contracts through a highly competitive process to select candidates based on scientific excellence criteria.
2017 LIBRA Career Development Compass fellowship for female scientists. LIBRA is a Coordination and Support Action project of the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 framework programme.
People
Nom | Rol | Correu electrònic | |
---|---|---|---|
Biola M Javierre | ![]() | Group Leader | bmjavierre@carrerasresearch.org |
François José Serra | ![]() | Postdoctoral Researcher | fserra@carrerasresearch.org |
Lucía Fanlo | ![]() | Postdoctoral Researcher | lfanlo@carrerasresearch.org |
Mónica Cabrera | ![]() | PhD Student | mcabrera@carrerasresearch.org |
Paula López | ![]() | PhD Student | plopez@carrerasresearch.org |
Llorenç Rovirosa | ![]() | PhD Student | lrovirosa@carrerasresearch.org |
Laureano Tomás | ![]() | PhD Student | ltomas@carrerasresearch.org |
Blanca Urmeneta | ![]() | PhD Student | burmeneta@carrerasresearch.org |
Blanca Valero | ![]() | PhD Student | bvalero@carrerasresearch.org |
Álvaro Alcalde | ![]() | Estudiant Investigador | aalcalde@carrerasresearch.org |
Sandra Cabanillas Ruiz | ![]() | Technician | scabanillas@carrerasresearch.org |
Ainoa Planas-Riverola | Postdoctoral Researcher | aplanas@carrerasresearch.org |
Selected publications
Variation in PU.1 binding and chromatin looping at neutrophil enhancers influences autoimmune disease susceptibility
Nat Commun (Under revision) 2020, .From Loops to Looks: Transcription Factors and Chromatin Organization Shaping Terminal B Cell Differentiation.
Trends Immunol. 7 Des 2019, . Epub 7 Des 2019Dynamic Rewiring of Promoter-Anchored Chromatin Loops during Adipocyte Differentiation.
Mol. Cell 4 Mai 2017, 66 (3) 420-435.e5.Platelet function is modified by common sequence variation in megakaryocyte super enhancers.
Nat Commun 13 Jul 2017, 8 16058. Epub 13 Jul 2017Chromosome contacts in activated T cells identify autoimmune disease candidate genes.
Genome Biol. 4 Set 2017, 18 (1) 165. Epub 4 Set 2017Lineage-Specific Genome Architecture Links Enhancers and Non-coding Disease Variants to Target Gene Promoters.
Cell 17 Nov 2016, 167 (5) 1369-1384.e19.Polycomb repressive complex PRC1 spatially constrains the mouse embryonic stem cell genome.
Nat. Genet. Oct 2015, 47 (10) 1179-1186. Epub 31 Ago 2015Current projects
Instituto de Salut Carlos III - Miguel Servet Grant
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | CP22/00127 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/01/2023 |
Data de finalització: | 31/12/2027 |
Descifrando el papel y la regulación de la arquitectura del genoma espacio-temporal en la linfomagénesis de células B
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | PID2021-125277OB-I00 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/09/2022 |
Data de finalització: | 31/08/2025 |
Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, LAB AECC 2021
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | LABAE21981JAVI |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/12/2021 |
Data de finalització: | 30/11/2024 |
Wellcome Leap, Human Organs, Physiology, and Engineering (HOPE) Grant, in collaboration with Roser Vento-Tormo (UK), Kyung-Ho Roh (USA) (Australia) and Leonardo Morsut (USA)
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | HOPE-2021-2754490174 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/04/2021 |
Data de finalització: | 03/03/2024 |
2019 European Hematology Association, EHA Advanced Research Grant. Dissecting the role of non-coding genome in B-precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia under the THREE-DIMENTIONAL genome architecture point of view [ALL-3D]
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | 4823998 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/09/2021 |
Data de finalització: | 31/08/2023 |
Deciphering the Oncogenic Role of the PRC1 Complexes Through Integration of Functional and Spatial Genomics in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | 08R/2019 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/06/2020 |
Data de finalització: | 28/02/2023 |
Previous projects
Ayudas para contratos Ramón y Cajal (RYC)
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | RYC-2016-19655 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/03/2018 |
Data de finalització: | 30/09/2019 |
“La Caixa” Foundation Postdoctoral Junior Leadership-Retaining. Dynamic 3D Chromatin Organization in Human Hematopoiesis: revealing the contributions of non-coding genetic variants and mutations in blood malignancies with the aim of identifying novel disease-associated genes
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | LCF/BQ/PI19/11690001 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 30/09/2019 |
Data de finalització: | 29/09/2022 |
Dynamic 3D organization of chromatin in human haematopoiesis: description of new genes associated with haematological diseases
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | RTI2018-094788-A-I00 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/01/2019 |
Data de finalització: | 31/12/2021 |
Pharmacological stabilization of therapeutically-useful stem cells.
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Codi: | CMBR 2020 |
Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 01/02/2020 |
Data de finalització: | 01/02/2021 |
2018 L'Oréal España, L'ORÉAL-UNESCO for Woman in Science International Rising Talents
Responsable: | Biola M Javierre |
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Financiadors: | |
Data d'inici: | 14/03/2019 |
Data de finalització: | 13/03/2020 |