Karmella Ann Haynes

Multivalent Scaffolding by XIST E-Repeats Tunes RNA Binding Protein Cooperativity and Lowers the Phase Separation Threshold

The paper characterizes the biophysical interactions between XIST E-Repeats and RNA-binding proteins, revealing cooperative binding and phase separation behavior that informs XIST's chromatin-modulating function.

Decoding Gene Responsiveness to Synthetic Chromatin Reader-Actuators with Multi-Modal Epigenomic Profiling

The paper uses synthetic reader-actuators to study how chromatin context influences gene inducibility in MCF7 cells, finding that SRA responsiveness depends on a chromatin signature beyond H3K27me3.

Early Epigenetic and Metabolic Responses to the Adipocyte Secretome Reveal Stress-Adaptive States in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

This study identifies how adipocyte secretome induces metabolic and epigenetic changes in TNBC cells, promoting stress-adaptive states through chromatin remodeling and metabolic reprogramming.

Tet Transgene Activation is Disrupted in Lipogenic Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

The paper shows that lipogenic metabolism in breast cancer cells disrupts Tet transgene activation by affecting chromatin remodeling substrates and cofactors.

A continuum reaction-diffusion model for spread of gene silencing in chromosomal inactivation

This paper develops a reaction-diffusion model to explain the spatial control of gene silencing during X chromosome inactivation, showing how feedback loops and chromatin modifications regulate the spread of silencing.

An engineered chromatin protein with enhanced preferential binding of H3K27me3 over H3K9me3

The paper describes engineered chromatin-binding proteins that preferentially bind H3K27me3 over H3K9me3, validated using a novel CHIA assay.

PIC recruitment by synthetic reader-actuators to polycomb-silenced genes blocks triple-negative breast cancer invasion

The paper develops a synthetic reader-actuator to activate silenced tumor suppressor genes in triple-negative breast cancer cells, reducing invasion and promoting apoptosis.

Targeted regulation of plasmid DNA expression in eukaryotic cells with a methylated-DNA-binding activator

The paper introduces a system to regulate plasmid DNA expression in eukaryotic cells by targeting methylated DNA using a fusion protein that binds to GATC motifs.

Delivery of cell-penetrating chromatin sensor-actuators to human osteosarcoma cells

This study delivers a cell-penetrating chromatin sensor-actuator to osteosarcoma cells, showing efficient uptake but limited gene expression impact compared to transgenic expression.

Components from the human c-myb transcriptional regulation system reactivate epigenetically repressed transgenes

The paper shows that components from the c-myb transcriptional system can reactivate epigenetically silenced transgenes using CRISPR activation in mammalian cells.

Engineered orthogonal quorum sensing systems for synthetic gene regulation

The paper identifies orthogonal HSL-synthase-regulator pairs that minimize crosstalk in synthetic gene regulation systems in E. coli.

The synthetic histone-binding regulator protein PcTF activates interferon genes in breast cancer cells

The paper identifies 19 interferon-related genes upregulated by PcTF in breast cancer cells, showing a chromatin-mediated transcriptional response.

Characterization of Diverse Homoserine Lactone Synthases in Escherichia coli

This study characterizes ten homoserine lactone synthases in E. coli, showing their compatibility with the Lux pathway and highlighting disposal risks of HSLs.

Histone modifications and active gene expression are associated with enhanced CRISPR activity in de-silenced chromatin

The paper shows that transcriptional activation of silenced chromatin enhances CRISPR activity by reducing histone trimethylation and increasing gene expression.

Tandem histone-binding domains enhance the activity of a synthetic chromatin effector

The paper demonstrates that adding tandem histone-binding domains to a synthetic chromatin effector enhances its activity in gene activation.