All cells in our body share the same DNA. Differential interpretation of this DNA by gene regulatory programs is fundamental for cellular specialization, health, and disease. All signals that impact gene expression must ultimately be integrated at the transcription start site (TSS), the place where RNA polymerase starts transcribing and thus bringing your genome to life. Capturing all momentarily active or “nascent” transcription start sites therefore not only provides a snapshot of the current state of a cell, but also reveals the underlying regulatory network(s).
Our lab specializes in capturing these momentarily active or nascent transcription start sites from fresh, frozen, or banked tissues or other samples (“nascent transcriptomics”) – indeed, anything where RNA can be isolated from. We’re fascinated by how gene regulatory programs differentially decode our DNA in distinct settings, and how these programs not only allow making a complex multicellular organism such as yourself but can also trigger different responses to medical treatment or environmental challenge such as viral infection. The goal of our research is to diagnose and better understand the molecular basis underlying differential outcomes: “Why do some of us get sick or respond a treatment why others don’t?” – to eventually further personalized treatment approaches for humans and animals.
Latest publications
- Dynamic activity in cis-regulatory elements of leukocytes identifies transcription factor activation and stratifies COVID-19 severity in ICU patients. Lam MTY, Duttke SH et al. Cell Reports Medicine. 2023, PMID: 36758547
- Glucocorticoid Receptor-Regulated Enhancers Play a Central Role in the Gene Regulatory Networks Underlying Drug Addiction. Duttke SH et al., Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2022, PMID: 35651629
- Decoding Transcription Regulatory Mechanisms Associated with Coccidioides immitis Phase Transition Using Total RNA. Duttke SH et al. mSystems. 2022, PMID: 35076277