Projects
Rational discovery of drug compounds targeting the chromatin-reading function of LEDGF/p75 towards the treatment for acute MLL-rearranged leukemia KU Leuven
Mixed-lineage leukemia rearranged (MLL-r) is an acute leukemia mostly affecting children and associated with poor survival. The disease is caused by rearrangements in the MLL gene resulting in malignant fusion proteins. LEDGF/p75 serves as an epigenetic reader and tethers transcription complexes containing MLL to chromatin via its PWWP domain. Recent studies demonstrated that this process is essential for the onset of MLL-r leukemia, yet it ...
Transcriptional and epigenomic logic of X chromosome reactivation during factor-induced pluripotency. KU Leuven
In this thesis, I aimed to define the dynamics and the mechanisms that orchestrate the reversal of stable gene silencing during reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). I used X chromosome reactivation as a paradigm to better understand the reversal of silent chromatin. In addition, my goal was also to define the gene regulatory logic of mammalian pre- implantation development and reprogramming, as well as ...
The use of cellular cofactors of HIV integrase as a basis for gene therapy. KU Leuven
Mapping (+)-jq1-chromatin interactions to characterize its ferroptosis-sensitizing effect. University of Antwerp
Integration of long read genome sequencing and single-cell multi-omics to identify genetic variation underlying Parkinson’s disease KU Leuven
In recent years, there have been major developments in ’omics technologies. Long read sequencing now produces highly accurate reads from single molecules with theoretically unlimited length. Long reads enable us to assemble whole human genomes de novo, study complex genomic regions and large structural variants, all of which are particularly difficult through conventional short read technologies. It also allows us to directly study DNA ...
Targeting the chromatin-reader function of LEDGF/p75 for the treatment of Mixed-Lineage-Leukemia (TReaT-MLL) KU Leuven
EXPLORING THE CODE OF LIFE: FROM DECODING TO DESIGNING CELL TYPE-SPECIFIC ENHANCERS WITH DEEP LEARNING KU Leuven
Cellular identity, which is defined by the activity of certain genes, is provided by the transcriptional enhancer code combined with differential and combinatorial expression of transcription factors. This code plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression. To understand the functional impact of noncoding genome variation and to develop cell type-specific drivers, decoding the code of enhancers is essential. Here in this thesis, ...
Mapping the epigenetic road to successful differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to fully functional hepatocytes. KU Leuven
Investigation of epigenetic stability and safety of assisted reproduction technologies Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The epigenome is less stable than the genome (Bennett-Baker et al., 2003). Epimutations (i.e. modifications of the chromatin configuration or the DNA methylation pattern, resulting in altered gene expression) occur mostly in a stochastic manner and their incidence is dependent on genetic and environmental influences. Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism characterised by parent-specific marks at several ...