DCB Seminar Series: Stavros Lomvardas

Dr. Stavros Lomvardas

Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor and Chair
Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Columbia University

“DNA-induced allostery as a solution for the genome specificity paradox”

Abstract: Tissue specific gene activation often requires assembly of long range genomic interactions between promoters and intergenic enhancers. An extreme version of these ultra long-range interactions is found in the olfactory system, whereby enhancers from multiple chromosomes assemble multi-enhancer hubs that activate one out of ~1000 olfactory receptor genes in a monoallelic fashion. These highly specific genomic interactions are orchestrated by transcription factor Lhx2 and architectural protein Ldb1, which are also bound in thousand of other sites in the genome, creating the paradox of genome interaction specificity without transcription factor binding exclusivity. Our biochemical and imaging experiments suggest the sequence of the interacting DNA elements may induce sequence-specific allosteric changes to Lhx2/Ldb1 complexes that account for this remarkable specificity.

For more info about Dr. Lomvardas’s work: https://lomvardaslab.zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu

Developmental & Cell Biology Fall 2024 Seminar Series

Each quarter the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology hosts a weekly seminar. The purpose of these seminars is to enable experts from around the country to share their newest discoveries and ideas with our students and faculty. Seminars are held on Thursdays at 11:00 a.m., in Natural Sciences II room 4201.

For questions about this event, please contact Mayra Rubio at mrubio3@uci.edu.