Regulation of gene expression can be accomplished "in cis " by several regulatory elements exerting their action on physically linked genes on the same chromosome. A " trans" regulation aspect of gene expression has also recently been brought to light by studies of the interactions and function of regulatory elements located on a chromosome different from the one that carries the regulated gene. Such regulatory elements include enhancers or locus control regions that are shown to be able to regulate the expression not only of cis linked genes but also of genes located on different chromosomes, in trans .

The main objective of our laboratory is to apply a combination of biocomputing, molecular, biochemical, imaging and genetic approaches in order to identify and characterize protein complexes that generate and/or maintain long range chromosomal interactions in cell populations of the innate and adaptive immune system. We aim to provide substantial information on how the genome is shaped as a whole and how the nuclear structure patterns in the context of distinct subnuclear microenvironments regulate global gene expression (3D epigenetics).

Selected Publications

Spilianakis C.G., Flavell R.A. (2007) Epigenetic regulation of Ifng expression. Nat Immunol. 8: 681-3.

Spilianakis C.G., Lalioti M., Town T., Lee GR., Flavell RA. (2005) Interchromosomal associations between alternatively expressed loci. Nature 435: 637-645.

Lee GR, Spilianakis C.G., Flavell RA. (2005) Hypersensitive site 7 of the TH2 locus control region is essential for expressing TH2 cytokine genes and for long-range intrachromosomal interactions. Nat Immunol. 6: 42-8.

Spilianakis C.G., Flavell RA. (2004) Long-range intrachromosomal interactions in the T helper type 2 cytokine locus. Nat Immunol. 5: 1017-27.

Spilianakis C.G., Kretsovali A., Agalioti T., Makatounakis T., Thanos D., Papamatheakis J. (2003) CIITA regulates transcription onset viaSer5-phosphorylation of RNA Pol II. EMBO J. 22: 5125-36.