(1/n) Excited to share our new preprint! We uncover that RNA actively promotes nucleation and function of pathogenic condensates, amplifying locus-specific oncogenic transcription and promoting tumorigenesis. #epigenetics #condensates #cancer #RNA

🎉 Congrats to @pennbgs graduate student Arushi Sahay on receiving an @NIH F31 award to support her research on epigenetic mechanisms in kidney development and tumorigenesis!

Kudos to co-first authors Krista Budinich, Xinyi Yao & Chujie Gong and all other co-authors! Thanks to our collaborators, and funding @NIH @AmericanCancer @pewtrusts @LLSusa @TheVFoundation @psscra @ASH_hematology

(7/n) We propose that pathogenic condensates exploit RNA to reinforce locus-specific nucleation and amplify transcriptional programs that drive disease. This may set them apart from normal condensates which may be more sensitive to RNA-mediated negative feedback.

(6/n) Does this matter functionally? In leukemogenesis models, ENLmut deficient in RNA binding fail to form condensate at and activate key oncogenic targets and cannot initiate leukemia in mice.

(5/n) Notably, RNA binding preferentially enhances ENL occupancy and transcriptional bursting at top-bound, condensate-permissive loci without affecting general chromatin binding property, thus amplifying locus-specific gene expression.

(4/n) Using a chemically inducible displacement + wash-off system, we visualize and quantitatively show that efficient re-nucleation of ENL condensates at the endogenous target HOXA requires both transcription (RNA synthesis) and RNA binding.

(3/n) We now show that ENL binds RNA via its YEATS domain. This interaction enhances condensate formation in vitro and across diverse cell types. Specifically disrupting RNA binding reduces ENLmut condensate formation and chromatin engagement at highly selective genomic targets.

(2/n) Motivation: Aberrant chromatin-associated condensates—such as those driven by ENL mutations—have emerged as drivers of transcriptional dysregulation in cancer. Yet how these structures are regulated remains poorly understood.

The power of a bipartisan America—that refuses to dismantle science, cares about patients, and understands that medical academic research is also an economic engine. Thank you to the senators who stood up for NIH and the future of American health. https://t.co/DIkuPFg2pO.

To all post-docs: The Genome Biology dept @embl has an Independent faculty position. Fantastic place to set up your lab, great package: core funding, fantastic PhD students, cutting edge core facilities & great colleagues https://t.co/suXvTWjVaP

Mechanisms Underlying Childhood Cancer: Charles Roberts, Mariella Filbin, and Liling Wan will address this topic in a plenary at the AACR Conference on Pediatric Cancer (Sept 25-28; Boston). https://t.co/ugiXKqL7io #AACRpediatric25 @TheRobertsLab1 @FilbinMariella @LilingWanLab

Looking forward to sharing our latest work this coming week at Social DNAing!

Thanks very much @psscra for supporting our work on dissecting how aberrant protein condensates disrupt 3D genome regulation in cancer. Grateful to my team at @LilingWanLab @PennMedicine @PennEpiInst and collaborators who make this research possible. Congrats to all awardees!

Thrilled to receive the Tony Hunter Award (Junior Investigator) from the Association of Chinese Americans in Cancer Research and to present our work alongside senior awardee Dr. Chuan He. Proud to be part of this amazing community! #immigrant #CancerResearch @PennMedCSO

Attending the #AACR25 Major Symposium on Biomolecular Condensates in Cancer? Read recent work by session chair @LilingWanLab showing that condensate-promoting mutations are drivers of tumorigenesis https://t.co/TACyW4jQc4

If you are at #aacr25 and interested in Bimolecular condensates and their roles in nuclear compartment, gene regulation, and cancer, come join our symposium on 4/30 focusing on the latest research and concepts on this topic!

looking forward to sharing our latest work this weekend in Chicago at this exciting symposium chaired by @Ckadoch & Greg Wang, featuring #chromatin #epigenetics in cancer @ASBMB #ASBMB25

Going to #AACR25 this April? I am excited to chair a Major Symposium on biomolecular condensates in cancer-from tools to mechanisms to therapeutics, with talks by Rick Young, Xiaokun Shu @shulab2010, and me. Don't miss it if you are around and interested!

Had a great time visiting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and sharing our work on chromatin mechanisms in cancer! Huge thanks to @JunQiLab for the invitation and generous hosting. So much fun reconnecting with mentor & old friends, making new ones, & a full day of amazing science!