NAISS
SUPR
NAISS Projects
SUPR
BEN-solo proteins in developmental patterning and gene regulation
Dnr:

NAISS 2026/3-642

Type:

NAISS Medium

Principal Investigator:

Qi Dai

Affiliation:

Stockholms universitet

Start Date:

2026-08-29

End Date:

2027-09-01

Primary Classification:

10609: Genetics and Genomics (Medical aspects at 30107 and agricultural at 40402)

Webpage:

Allocation

Abstract

Discrete chromatin domains emerge in parallel with zygotic genome activation (ZGA), establishing the regulatory landscape that guides subsequent developmental programs for embryonic patterning. The spatial organization of the genome is shaped by the interplay between euchromatin, heterochromatin, and boundary elements that insulate regulatory interactions. In Drosophila, the BEN‑solo proteins Insv and Elba function as chromatin insulators during the mid‑blastula transition, but how they contribute to the establishment and stabilization of chromatin domains remains unclear. In this study, we sought to define the role of BEN‑solo proteins in shaping chromatin organization during early embryogenesis. We have profiled genomic binding of these factors, along with chromatin state markers, transcriptomes in normal and mutant conditions. By integrating this data, we aim to identify novel mechanisms by which BEN-solo factors contribute to genome organization and animal development.