Catherine Naughton

Cross-chemistry single-nucleus RNA-seq identifies gene length and CpG-island promoters as determinants of transcriptional noise.

The paper compares two scRNA-seq platforms to quantify transcriptional noise and identifies gene length and CpG-island promoters as factors influencing noise levels.

CpG islands act as topological sinks for transcription-induced DNA supercoiling

The paper shows CpG islands act as topological sinks for transcription-induced DNA supercoiling by focusing torsional stress and promoting DNA melting.

CENP-B binds hairpin motifs in chromosome arms influencing gene expression

This study identifies a non-centromeric role for CENP-B in binding hairpin motifs in chromosome arms, leading to dysregulated gene expression upon depletion.

Coordinated control of genome-nuclear lamina interactions by Topoisomerase 2B and Lamin B receptor

The paper identifies TOP2B as a regulator of genome-nuclear lamina interactions, showing its role in partitioning genomic regions between the nuclear lamina and interior, with LBR playing a complementary role.

Gene structure heterogeneity drives transcription noise within human chromosomes

The paper uses simulations to link 3D gene structure with transcription noise in human chromosomes, showing structural heterogeneity drives gene expression variability.

Human centromere formation activates transcription and opens chromatin fibre structure

The paper investigates the chromatin structure changes during human centromere formation, finding that it involves active transcription and open chromatin, while surrounding regions become repressed and compact.

Common fragile sites are characterised by faulty condensin loading after replication stress

The paper shows that common fragile sites (CFSs) have faulty condensin loading leading to chromatin instability and mitotic DNA synthesis during replication stress.