1/n) Excited to share our new preprint: Using high-res live embryo imaging we show that transcription factor hubs are localized to new genes when specific DNA binding is perturbed. Hub interaction kinetics at these new sites determine factor occupancy: https://t.co/ZkNklKMgTV

I'd like to welcome my (no longer twitter-less) co-author @FruitFlyFischer to the scienceverse! [8/7]

Finally, we note that in most cases these microenvironments only comprise 1–3% of a given nuclear protein and on average are enriched only ∼1.2–2x over the nuclear background. Though seemingly small, they represent significant features in the nuclear landscape [7/7]

We suggest that the physical properties of these microenvironments — such as size, persistence, and enrichment — are directly related to their function. Persistent microenvironments are linked to stable outcomes, such as gene repression [6/7]

We highlight how proteomic microenvironments can increase the frequency of short (seconds-long) protein-chromatin interactions by concentrating co-regulatory factors, in order to activate or repress genes [5/7]

We discuss how shared regulatory microenvironments could bridge the physical distance between enhancers and promoters and may resolve apparent contradictions in the literature, such as how enhancers can activate transcription at large physical distances [4/7]

Live imaging has revolutionized our understanding of gene regulation, showing that most protein-chromatin interactions and genomic contacts are not as stable as traditional models would suggest [3/7]

Note: we use ‘microenvironments’ to differentiate from ‘condensate’ (which implies specific physical characteristics), ‘hub’ (agnostic to physical properties but implies a functional role), & ‘cluster’ (which does not capture the complexity of nuclear microenvironments) [2/7]

Excited to share our new opinion article ( https://t.co/PFLoTFYtAr) on how "Dynamic microenvironments shape nuclear organization & gene expression" published in the Current Opinion in Genetics & Development co-authored by twitterless Matthew Fischer & @MustafaMir16! A thread [1/7]

Made some meme science Valentine's today for an excellent happy hour organized by @alexadigun3 for @MustafaMir16 lab - hope one of these might ~photoactivate~ your love for science!

Get yourself a PI who looks at you like @MustafaMir16 looks at @mukherja during his presentation at #BPS2024 #proudPI

Such a cool paper from @maureencetera - I loved getting to work on this project during my undergrad! A beautiful study on how molecular interactions generate macroscopic patterns

Fun labor day celebration with the lab and partners!

We had a great time hosting Penn OER summer students. Thanks to volunteers who taught them optics @entangledquanta @GHaywardLara, fly work @littlescholar_ , microscopy @mukherja , image segmentation @kaeli_mathias, regen. medicine @JuanAlvarezDom & @ALKFantauzzi for logistics

So fun to work with the next generation of scientists!

🧑‍🎓Preparing to apply to grad school this fall? Sign up for the Paths to PhD Programs in the Biomedical Sciences: https://t.co/iFqIpS3PVX Our series starts on 11/2!

Happy Halloween from our lab and the @CHOP_CCGM !

Please RT. We are looking for 2 postdocs to develop and apply advanced live imaging and single molecule tracking to study txn and nuclear organization. We have awesome microscopes, facilities, collaborators, funds, & are in a dynamic and affordable city! https://t.co/ZRVrPMAUKJ

Very happy to announce that our lab was awarded an NIH DP2 New Innovator Award! We are excited to continue pushing the frontiers of imaging technologies to study gene regulation. We are hiring 2 postdocs. Please get in touch! @NIH_CommonFund #NIHHighRisk @NICHD

So excited to explore new levels of imaging in the @MustafaMir16 lab!