
Genome expression and repair
Members
Researchers
Post-doctoral fellows
PhD students
Engineers
Former members
- Dr Laurent Schaeffer, Director of Institut NeuroMyoGene
- Dr. Valentyn Oksenych, PI NTNU
- Dr. Pierre Chymkovitch, PI Oslo University Hospital
Genome expression and repair
Transcription, one of the key steps in gene expression in response to various stimuli in the body, such as stress or hormones, requires a combination of factors. The harmful action of chemical or physical agents that cause damage to DNA disrupts gene expression. If these lesions are not removed by effective repair systems, they will cause mutations that can lead to cancer or increase aging. TFIIH, a complex made up of ten subunits, plays a key role in both gene transcription and gene repair. Mutations in some of the TFIIH subunits are responsible for three genetic diseases, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), trichotyodystrophy (TTD) and Cockayne syndrome (CS), the phenotype of which results from defects in both DNA repair and gene expression. XP patients develop melanoma very early in life, while TTD and CS patients age prematurely. With the help of biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, we are studying the mechanisms of aging and cancer in various cell systems and animal models deficient in DNA repair and transcription. We are also developing a research axis on melanoma aimed in particular at establishing new therapeutic solutions against this cancer.
Current projects
Our objective is to improve our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes encoding proteins at the transcriptional level and their maintenance of their integrity. The growing amount of data shows that the expression and maintenance of the integrity of genetic information are intimately linked. Errors in each of these crucial cellular mechanisms lead to somatic or hereditary diseases like cancer, but are also involved in natural mechanisms like aging. Our team tries to answer the following questions :
- How do repair and transcription factors participate in the transactivation of specific genes? • How is transcription related to DNA repair?
- How do mutations found in genetic diseases affect the transcriptional program of a specific cell that causes somatic diseases such as cancer or hormonal dysfunction?
- How does the effectiveness of removing DNA damage play a role in cancer treatment or aging?
- Can we target DNA expression or repair to kill cancer cells?
- What are the transcriptional deregulations that predominate in cancer cells?
Collaborations and networks
- Dr. Poterszman, IGBMC: Structure/function of TFIIH
- Dr. Davidson, IGBMC: TFIIH and melanoma
- Dr. Ali Hamiche, IGBMC: Chromatine remodeling and histone variants
- Pr J. Kraemer, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA: XP, CS and TTD patients
- Pr. M. Zurita, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico: Drosophila models of XP, CS and TTD
- Dr. J. Svestrup, Clare Hall Laboratories, Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, UK: Gene expression
- Dr. P. Brousset, Université Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France: Biology of cancer
Funding and partners
ANR
Fondation ARC
INCA
Labélisation Ligue contre le Cancer
PharmaMar company
Awards and recognitions
- Prix scientifique - Comité Alsace de la Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM) - 2014
- Prix Olga Sain - La ligue contre le cancer - 2013
- Grand Prix - Fondation pour la recherche médicale (FRM) - 2012
- Prix Henry et Mary-Jane Mitjaville - Académie Nationale de Médecine - 2009
- Prix Duquesne - Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer de Paris - 2009
- Prix Charles-Louis de Saulses de Freycinet - Institut de France de l'Académie des Sciences - 2008
- ERC Advanced grant - European Research Council (ERC) - 2008
- Membre de l'Académie des sciences - Académie des sciences - 2006
- Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur - Etat français - 2006
- Grand Prix - Inserm - 2004
- Prix AGF/Athena - Institut de France de l'Académie des Sciences - 2002
- Prix Descartes - European Economic Community - 2000
- Membre de l'organisation européenne de biologie moléculaire (EMBO) - European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) - 1998
- Prix Européen Jeanne Loubaresse - Institut Curie - 1997
- Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite - Etat français - 1996
- Prix Tartois - Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM) - 1996
Publications
2023
Active mRNA degradation by EXD2 nuclease elicits recovery of transcription after genotoxic stress
- Jérémy Sandoz
- Max Cigrang
- Amélie Zachayus
- Philippe Catez
- Lise-Marie Donnio
- Clèmence Elly
- Jadwiga Nieminuszczy
- Pietro Berico
- Cathy Braun
- Sergey Alekseev
- Jean-Marc Egly
- Wojciech Niedzwiedz
- Giuseppina Giglia-Mari
- Emmanuel Compe
- Frédéric Coin
Nature Communications ; Volume: 14 ; Page: 341
2022
Phosphorylation of XPD drives its mitotic role independently of its DNA repair and transcription functions
- Emmanuel Compe
- Evanthia Pangou
- Nicolas Le May
- Clémence Elly
- Cathy Braun
- Ji-Hyun Hwang
- Frédéric Coin
- Izabela Sumara
- Kwang-Wook Choi
- Jean-Marc Egly
Science Advances ; Volume: 8
Phosphorylation of XPD drives its mitotic role independently of its DNA repair and transcription functions
- Emmanuel Compe
- Evanthia Pangou
- Nicolas Le May
- Clémence Elly
- Cathy Braun
- Ji-Hyun Hwang
- Frédéric Coin
- Izabela Sumara
- Kwang-Wook Choi
- Jean-Marc Egly
Science Advances ; Volume: 8
Promoters of ASCL1‐ and NEUROD1‐dependent genes are specific targets of lurbinectedin in SCLC cells
- Federico Costanzo
- Marta Martínez Diez
- Gema Santamaría Nuñez
- Juan Ignacio Díaz-Hernandéz
- Carlos Mario Genes Robles
- Javier Díez Pérez
- Emmanuel Compe
- Romeo Ricci
- Tsai‐kun Li
- Frédéric Coin
- Juan Fernando Martínez Leal
- Eva Maria Garrido-Martin
- Jean Marc Egly
EMBO Molecular Medicine ; Volume: 14
2021
CDK7 and MITF repress a transcription program involved in survival and drug tolerance in melanoma
- Pietro Berico
- Max Cigrang
- Guillaume Davidson
- Cathy Braun
- Jeremy Sandoz
- Stephanie Legras
- Bujamin Hektor Vokshi
- Nevena Slovic
- François Peyresaubes
- Carlos Mario Gene Robles
- Jean‐marc Egly
- Emmanuel Compe
- Irwin Davidson
- Frédéric Coin
EMBO Reports ; Volume: 22 ; Page: e51683
The Long Road to Understanding RNAPII Transcription Initiation and Related Syndromes
- Frédéric Coin
- Emmanuel Compe
- Jean-Marc Egly
Annual Review of Biochemistry ; Volume: 90 ; Page: 193-219
2020
Defective transcription of ATF3 responsive genes, a marker for Cockayne Syndrome
- Alexey Epanchintsev
- Marc-Alexander Rauschendorf
- Federico Costanzo
- Nadege Calmels
- Cathy Obringer
- Alain Sarasin
- Frédéric Coin
- Vincent Laugel
- Jean‐marc Egly
Scientific Reports ; Volume: 10 ; Page: 1105
Defective transcription of ATF3 responsive genes, a marker for Cockayne Syndrome
- Alexey Epanchintsev
- Marc-Alexander Rauschendorf
- Federico Costanzo
- Nadège Calmels
- Cathy Obringer
- Alain Sarasin
- Frédéric Coin
- Vincent Laugel
- Jean-Marc Egly
Scientific Reports ; Volume: 10 ; Page: 1105
A chromatin scaffold for DNA damage recognition: how histone methyltransferases prime nucleosomes for repair of ultraviolet light-induced lesions
- Corina Gsell
- Holger Richly
- Frédéric Coin
- Hanspeter Naegeli
Nucleic Acids Research ; Page: gkz1229
2019
SerpinB2 is involved in cellular response upon UV irradiation
- Hajnalka Majoros
- Zsuzsanna Ujfaludi
- Barbara Nikolett Borsos
- Viktória Vivien Hudacsek
- Zita Nagy
- Frédéric Coin
- Krisztina Buzas
- Ilona Kovács
- Tamás Bíró
- Imre Miklós Boros
- Tibor Pankotai
Scientific Reports ; Volume: 9 ; Page: 2753