Research project
 

Transcription Specificity

Simona SACCANI, Research Director, DR2 Inserm
 

The Saccani lab studies the molecular mechanisms which regulate gene expression, using the NF-kB family of transcription factors as a model system. A major focus is to understand how the activities of transcription factors can be controlled in promoter-specific and cell type-specific fashion.

The NF-kB family of transcription factors is crucial for the expression of multiple genes involved in cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and inflammation. The NF-kB pathway is broadly active in multiple cell types, yet many NF-kB target genes show a tightly-regulated pattern of expression, with stimulus-dependent activation restricted to a particular biological setting.  To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this, we focus on differences in the chromatin structure of target promoters and enhancers, and on co-factors which can regulate the recruitment and activity of NF-kB in specific cell-types.

Research teams