Research interests
The spatial organisation of the genome within the nucleus plays an important role in regulating gene expression by facilitating regulatory interactions. Most studies of gene regulation have focused on interactions occurring in cis or within the same chromosome. In Drosophila, homologous chromosomes are extensively paired in somatic cells, enabling regulatory interactions to occur in trans between alleles. Pairing-sensitive gene regulation known as transvection, introduces an additional layer of regulatory complexity wherein the structural basis remains poorly understood. In my PhD project, I aim to investigate how the 3D genome architecture influences enhancer-promoter communication in both cis and trans using Drosophila hybrid cells and imaginal discs, in combination with super-resolution imaging approaches.
