This study shows that KMT2C and KMT2D regulate skeletal development through epigenetic control of chondrogenesis, with redundancy in their function during bone formation.

Bone Research · Oct 27, 2026Peer-reviewedGenetics

Histone Chaperone HIRA regulates adiponectin expression and obesity-associated adipose expansion by facilitating Pol II pause release

Danyang Wan, Ji‐Eun Lee, Young-Kwon Park, Guojia Xie, Susanna K. Maisto, Christabelle Agyapong, Keiko Ozato, Oksana Gavrilova, Kai Ge

This study identifies HIRA as an epigenomic regulator of adipose tissue function, showing it promotes adiponectin and lipid metabolism gene expression by facilitating RNA polymerase II pause release.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Jul 6, 2026Peer-reviewedPhysiology

ISWI remodeler facilitates cBAF genomic binding to drive cell fate transition

Young-Kwon Park, Ji‐Eun Lee, Arthur I. Skoultchi, David J. Picketts, Weiqun Peng, Kai Ge

This study shows ISWI remodelers are essential for muscle and adipose development and link LDTF binding to cBAF recruitment during cell fate transition.

bioRxiv · May 12, 2026 · PreprintCell Biology

Chromatin modifiers KMT2D, BAF, and p300 are required for de novo binding of transcription factors on enhancers

Hieu T. Van, Young-Kwon Park, Chengyu Liu, Shamima Islam, Stefania Dell’Orso, Weiqun Peng, Vittorio Sartorelli, Ji‐Eun Lee, Kai Ge

The paper shows that chromatin modifiers KMT2D, BAF, and p300 are required for de novo TF binding on enhancers, revealing cooperative interactions rather than a strict hierarchy.

bioRxiv · Jan 29, 2026 · PreprintMolecular Biology

MLL3/MLL4 methyltransferase activities control early embryonic development and embryonic stem cell differentiation in a lineage-selective manner

Guojia Xie, Ji‐Eun Lee, Anna D. Senft, Young-Kwon Park, Younghoon Jang, Shreeta Chakraborty, Joyce J. Thompson, Kaitlin E. McKernan, Chengyu Liu, Todd S. Macfarlan, Pedro P. Rocha, Weiqun Peng, Kai Ge

This study shows that MLL3/MLL4 methyltransferase activities are essential for early embryonic development and stem cell differentiation, but their role is lineage-selective and not dependent on enhancer activation.

Nature Genetics · Apr 1, 2023Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology

Interplay of BAF and MLL4 promotes cell type-specific enhancer activation

Young-Kwon Park, Ji‐Eun Lee, Zhijiang Yan, Kaitlin E. McKernan, Tommy O’Haren, Weidong Wang, Weiqun Peng, Kai Ge

This study shows BAF and MLL4 work together to activate cell type-specific enhancers during adipogenesis, with BAF being essential for differentiation while PBAF is not.

Nature Communications · Mar 12, 2021Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology

MED1 is a lipogenesis coactivator required for postnatal adipose expansion

Younghoon Jang, Young-Kwon Park, Ji‐Eun Lee, Danyang Wan, Nhien Tran, Oksana Gavrilova, Kai Ge

This study shows MED1 is essential for postnatal adipose expansion and de novo lipogenesis gene induction in mice, but not for adipose development or early adipogenesis.

bioRxiv · Nov 16, 2020Developmental Biology

H3.3K4M destabilizes enhancer epigenomic writers MLL3/4 and impairs adipose tissue development

Younghoon Jang, Aaron Broun, Chaochen Wang, Young-Kwon Park, Lenan Zhuang, Ji‐Eun Lee, Eugene Froimchuk, Chengyu Liu, Kai Ge

This study shows that H3.3K4M destabilizes MLL3/4 proteins, preventing enhancer activation and impairing adipose tissue development.

Nucleic Acids Research · Oct 10, 2018Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology