Michela Maresca

Pervasive and programmed nucleosome distortion patterns on single mammalian chromatin fibers

The paper introduces IDLI, a method to map nucleosome structures and distortion patterns in mammalian chromatin, revealing widespread and regulated DNA accessibility across cell types.

ZNF143 is a transcriptional regulator of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes that acts independently of looping and CTCF

This study shows ZNF143 regulates nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes and is essential for development, without affecting chromatin looping or CTCF interactions.

BRAIN-MAGNET: A novel functional genomics atlas coupled with convolutional neural networks facilitates clinical interpretation of disease relevant variants in non-coding regulatory elements

The paper develops BRAIN-MAGNET, a convolutional neural network that predicts non-coding regulatory element activity and helps prioritize disease-causing variants in neurogenetic disorders.

Pioneer activity distinguishes activating from non-activating pluripotency transcription factor binding sites

The paper identifies that SOX2 maintains chromatin accessibility at regulatory sites that drive gene expression, distinguishing them from non-activating binding sites.

WAPL maintains dynamic cohesin to preserve lineage specific distal gene regulation

This study shows WAPL maintains dynamic cohesin at lineage-specific regulatory regions in mouse embryonic stem cells, which is essential for gene expression and pluripotency.