Ben Martin

Mechanisms linking cytoplasmic decay of translation-defective mRNA to transcriptional adaptation Transcriptional adaptation (TA) is a genetic robustness mechanism through which mutant messenger RNA (mRNA) decay induces sequence-dependent up-regulation of so-called adapting genes. How cytoplasmica...

This is a fascinating paper that reveals defined and clear mechanism for a phenomenon that for some seemed unbelievable- the up regulation of genes paralogous to those with specific types of inactivating mutations. This is called transcriptional adaptation 1/ www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Tread -1- EpiSci - I am very proud to share with you our new study that you can access on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social (see link below)
"The Interaction with Nanotopographical Environment regulates nuclear mechanoresponse in mESCs via Histone Demethylase KDM3A.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

1/ Excited to share a new preprint from the lab! We identify NSD3 as a novel regulator of chromatin 3D structure. 🧵

🚨Preprint alert🚨 How does chromatin “architecture” form at CTCF sites? Our new preprint with @voslab.org and @andersshansen.bsky.social shows CTCF dimerization promotes nucleosome oligomerization on chromatin. tinyurl.com/CTCF-nucleos...

We've got two exciting chromatin talks coming up on Wednesday next week:

@epijenatics.bsky.social from @jbuenrostro.bsky.social's lab and @ambystoma22.bsky.social!

register and join us: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Please share this with your network: Postdoctoral position available in my group.

www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...

The chromatin remodeller CHD4 regulates transcription factor binding to both prevent activation of silent enhancers and maintain active regulatory elements CHD4 directly limits transcription factor binding to chromatin, which prevents activation of silent or cryptic enhancers but facilitates activity of active enhancers.

Final version of our paper now published.
elifesciences.org/articles/109...

Take homes:
CHD4/NuRD directly limits transcription factor residence times. At active enhancers this keeps them working efficiently. At inactive enhancers it prevents TFs from getting a foothold and causing activation. 1/n

Research Unit Director – IRCM Cancer Research Center Job reference code: IRCM-Cancer

Principal investigator job alert @ircm.bsky.social! We are recruiting a new junior faculty member working in the field of cancer. Apply before February 22nd. Contact me if you have more questions.

www.ircm.qc.ca/en/position-...

🧬📄 Preprint update (v2): We added new biochemical experiments that clarify how IWS1 associates with the transcription elongation complex and further define competition between IWS1 and RECQL5. 🧪⚙️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Structural model is already available in the PDB (9MLC).

New work from the lab by @eli-elder.bsky.social !! Tread to follow shortly...

SS18::SSX activates Polycomb target genes without BAF ❌
Instead, transcription relies on EP300 via the SS18 QPGY domain
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
➡️ Coactivator targeting emerges as a new therapeutic strategy in synovial sarcoma 🎯
Team work from @banitolab.bsky.social and @uoe-igc.bsky.social

#FragileNuclesome is back tomorrow! Join us to hear about exciting talks from:

- @au-ho-yu.bsky.social in @robklose.bsky.social's group about transcriptional control by SET1/MLL complexes

- @gcloner.bsky.social at @epicypher.bsky.social about the histone PTM landscape of the immune system

Question for the crowd :

Do you have any examples of subunits which have a function independent of the multiprotein complex to which they belong?

I am currently thinking about writing a review (focusing on the Mediator complex and examples of specific subunit functions, such as PMID: 41414671).

Come to hear Alan's great new story on SET1/MLL proteins and transcription next Wednesday. @fnucleosome.bsky.social

🥁 #FragileNucleosome is back on Jan 28! We are very excited to host @au-ho-yu.bsky.social and @gcloner.bsky.social as our first speakers of 2026!
📋Please don't forget to register for our 2026 seminar series: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

The Vlaming lab continues to grow!
It's an exciting time in the Vlaming lab: we've just had our 2nd PhD student join, and the 3rd is joining in February. Now, we're looking to recruit a postdoc!

Happy New Year!🎉 We hope everyone has enjoyed the holidays! If you have an exciting chromatin/transcription story, or if you know someone with one, please fill out the form or get in contact with us! 😉
forms.gle/TBi38UgYxPAB...

YouTube video by John Greally Epigenetics: History, Molecules, and Diseases -- Book overview

I finally got around to putting together a quick overview of what my book is all about.

youtu.be/xPt1xy4_i-o?...

#epigenetics #epigeneticsbook #epigenome

Prostate cancer cells converge to an inflammatory-like state upon metastatic dissemination - Nature Communications Understanding tumor heterogeneity and its impact on prostate cancer progression remains elusive. Here, single nucleus snATAC and snRNA sequencing of a multi-loci sampled cohort of advanced prostate ca...

Hot from the press: Using single-cell chromatin accessibility and gene expression across ~300,000 cells, we show that prostate cancer dissemination involves phenotypic plasticity over clonal selection, with malignant cells converging toward an inflammatory-like state during lymph node spread.

Stress-induced loss of CTCF reveals an alternative, promoter-based mode of cohesin looping Cells continually encounter environmental stressors that challenge homeostasis. How three-dimensional (3D) chromatin structure contributes to these stress responses, particularly under hyperosmotic co...

Excited to finally share what I’ve been working on during my PhD 😊 Best holiday gift EVER!

We just posted a new preprint from the @dphansti.bsky.social 👇

Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

🧵

Congrats!! Looking forward to reading this in detail!

DNA sequencing at 40: past, present and future - Nature The history and future potential of DNA sequencing, including the development of the underlying technologies and the expansion of its areas of application, are reviewed.

This review, from 2017, is great: www.nature.com/articles/nat...

Dynamic evolution of EZHIP, an inhibitor of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 in mammals The Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is an ancient, conserved chromatin-interacting complex that controls gene expression, facilitating differentiation and cellular identity during development. It...

@pravrutharaman.bsky.social got super intrigued about EZHIP/CATACOMB, previously identified as a histone H3K27M mimic of PRC2. You can read about her efforts here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... We hope these analyses will help spur more analyses in this very cool gene! 1/

Very excited to share our work on locus level transposable elements in development with the @fnucleosome.bsky.social community!

🧬🎉Join us on Dec 17th for our last session of 2025! 🎉🧬Two fantastic talks on transcriptional regulation:
🔬JB Lalanne on developmental enhancers (and starting a lab in 2025?)
🔬 @rberrens.bsky.social on transposable elements in development
📋Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

SET1/MLL complexes control transcription independently of H3K4me3 Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) at gene promoters is thought to play a central role in gene transcription. H3K4 methylation is deposited by the SET1 (A/B) and MLL (1-4) multi-protein comp...

An early Christmas present for those interested in chromatin and transcription! Fantastic work from @au-ho-yu.bsky.social and @aleksszczurek.bsky.social . Thanks to Inge and Michiel for their help. Please repost!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Confused by all the histones that are cropping up in organisms that are decidedly NOT eukaryotes? check out our review - fantastic work by team NucEvo in the #Lugerlab
The Expanding Histone Universe: Histone-Based DNA Organization in Noneukaryotic Organisms - www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

🔔Join us next Wednesday for #FragileNucleosome! 2 fantastic talks on chromatin regulation:🔬 @mariamafau.bsky.social on ZIC2's dual role in neural induction 🔬 @jhenninger.bsky.social on how RNA-binding proteins drive transcription
📋Register here for the entire series: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, which supports our work, has produced a short film about our research:

🚨 Multiple #PhD opportunities for lab or computational applicants. Do you want to understand the molecular basis of #epigenetic dysfunction in human disease?
Come work with our group at the fantastic, collaborative @uoe-igc.bsky.social in a beautiful, liveable city.
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Please repost 🙏