3D chromatin organization
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
We are a group of passionate scientists with an insatiable thirst for learning about spatio-temporal organization of the DNA.
Our group combines cutting-edge experimental and bioinformatics approaches to understand the specific 3D chromatin organization of haematopoietic cells and its alteration in blood cancers. Our long-term goal is to keep taking steps forwards in the fight against cancer. We will be unstoppable until we cure it. To do so, we have established a close collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (https://www.bsc.es/) and we have the privilege of using the MareNostrum supercomputer.
We are currently seeking enthusiastic new members; so if you are interested in studying chromatin organization, please contact us.
Research
Every cell in our body has about 2 metres of linear DNA containing the genes that shape our being. This DNA, which is the same in every cell, is not-randomly packed into the nucleus of a few microns diameter, and the manner in which it is wrapped plays a fundamental role in regulating genome function. In some cases it does this by putting regulatory elements, such as enhancer, and target gene promoters into physical contact. In fact, this can partially explain how cells encoding the same genetic information are phenotypically and functionally different.It has been estimated that the genome harbours around one million regulatory elements, some of these are cell-type specific, but the vast majority of interactions between these elements and the corresponding regulated gene are uncharted, constituting a major missing link in understanding genome control.
Chromatin interactions are crucial for cellular health due to their main role in genome expression regulation and errors in these interactions give rise to the development of a broad range of diseases including blood cancer. The investigation of these altered 3D structures can help us to improve our knowledge of the tumour process, providing new opportunities for the development of novel treatment approaches and diagnostic strategies.
Additionally, genetic studies have identified thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms and mutations associated with blood cancer, but most of them expand non-coding regions, which makes them difficult to interpret. Interestingly these non-coding genetic variants cluster on DNA hypersensitivity sites, which are the hallmark of a regulatory element, pointing to a potential role for these genetic variants in the deregulation of target genes. By studying the physical interactions between gene promoter and regulatory elements we are able to connect blood cancer genetic alterations to putative target genes, prioritizing new disease-candidate genes and pathways, and revealing insights into genomic regulatory mechanisms underlying cancer. The interpretation of non-coding variation will also help us to improve the prediction of patient outcome as well as allowing us to design better and more personalized treatments.
The main research goals of our lab are:
- Defining the cell type-specific 3D chromatin organization in human haematopoietic cells
- Identifying the altered DNA topology in blood cancer
- Prioritizing new candidate genes and pathways related to blood cancer
3D Chromatin Organization Research Group's webpage: https://www.javierrelab.com/
Twitter: @JavierreLab
Awards
Spanish National Prize L’ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science 2018/2019. L'Oréal_UNESCO International Rising Talent Award for Women in Science. 2019/2020. |
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People
Name | Position | ||
---|---|---|---|
Biola M Javierre | ![]() | Group Leader | bmjavierre@carrerasresearch.org |
François José Serra | ![]() | Postdoctoral Investigator | fserra@carrerasresearch.org |
Lucía Fanlo | ![]() | Postdoctoral Investigator | 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 | ![]() | Research Student | aalcalde@carrerasresearch.org |
Sandra Cabanillas Ruiz | ![]() | Technician | scabanillas@carrerasresearch.org |
Selected publications
From Loops to Looks: Transcription Factors and Chromatin Organization Shaping Terminal B Cell Differentiation.
Trends Immunol. 7 Dec 2019, . Epub 7 Dec 2019Dynamic Rewiring of Promoter-Anchored Chromatin Loops during Adipocyte Differentiation.
Mol. Cell 4 May 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 Sep 2017, 18 (1) 165. Epub 4 Sep 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 Aug 2015Current projects
Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, LAB AECC 2021
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | LABAE21981JAVI |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/12/2021 |
End date: | 30/11/2024 |
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades , Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formacion de doctores (FPI)
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | PRE2019-088005 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/08/2020 |
End date: | 31/07/2024 |
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)
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | HOPE-2021-2754490174 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/04/2021 |
End date: | 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]
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | 4823998 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/09/2021 |
End date: | 31/08/2023 |
Deciphering the Oncogenic Role of the PRC1 Complexes Through Integration of Functional and Spatial Genomics in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | 08R/2019 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/06/2020 |
End date: | 28/02/2023 |
“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.
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | LCF/BQ/PI19/11690001 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 30/09/2019 |
End date: | 29/09/2022 |
Dynamic 3D organization of chromatin in human haematopoiesis: description of new genes associated with haematological diseases
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | RTI2018-094788-A-I00 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/01/2019 |
End date: | 31/12/2021 |
Previous projects
Grants for Ramón y Cajal (RYC) Contracts
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | RYC-2016-19655 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/03/2018 |
End date: | 30/09/2019 |
Pharmacological stabilization of therapeutically-useful stem cells.
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Code: | CMBR 2020 |
Funding: | |
Start date: | 01/02/2020 |
End date: | 01/02/2021 |
2018 L'Oréal España, L'ORÉAL-UNESCO for Woman in Science International Rising Talents
Project leader: | Biola M Javierre |
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Funding: | |
Start date: | 14/03/2019 |
End date: | 13/03/2020 |