Abstract
\r\nAround 30% of cancers are preceded by chronic inflammation which occurs at the site where tumors will develop. However, whether this oncogenic process, particularly observed in the intestine, can be initiated by a specific immune cell population remains unknown. We recently identified two distinct effector T cell populations capable to initiate the oncogenic transformation of a healthy intestinal epithelium (Fesneau et al., Nat Immunol. 2024; Brewer et al., Nat. Rev. Canc. 2024), as well as the factors controlling their differentiation. By revealing the presence of tumorigenic T cells, this work opens a new field in oncology and immunology that will be key for both our understanding of the early steps of carcinogenesis and the development of prophylactic therapies against cancer.
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We can build the perfect pedagogical tool. But will students actually use and benefit from it?
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\r\nThis session explores a question at the heart of the integration of new technology into education: How can a well-designed pedagogical tool be ideally leveraged to truly make a difference in student learning?
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\r\nFares Fawzi from the ML4ED lab at EPFL will present his development of a GenAI-powered formative feedback tool that is pedagogically aligned, contextually grounded, and interactive.
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\r\nDeployed during an in-class session as well as for exam preparation in a computer science course at EPFL, the tool performed as intended: responses were relevant, accurate, and aligned with pedagogical frameworks for feedback delivery.
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\r\nHowever, during this session, we want to invite you to look beyond the pedagogical sophistication of the tool itself, and ask how integration context shapes student engagement and beneficial learning impact.
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\r\nlunch&LEARN sessions are intended for anyone who teaches at EPFL.
\r\nThis session is hybrid and can be attended in person or followed via zoom.
\r\nMost sessions are recorded and can be found on the Center LEARN's YouTube channel.
\r\nTo get in touch with the team, to suggest a session or make inquiries, please send an email on lunchLEARN@groupes.epfl.ch
Chemical protein synthesis provides a powerful means to prepare novel, modified proteins with atomic-level precision, offering unprecedented opportunities to understand fundamental biological processes.1 Of particular interest is gene expression, which is controlled through interactions between transcription factors (TFs) and DNA. This presentation will highlight the power of combining total synthesis and late-stage transformations to generate complex, modified proteins for deciphering the molecular roles of post-translational modifications (PTMs) in TFs regulation. Specific examples will focus on the synthesis of site-specifically phosphorylated and acetylated TFs, such as the Myc/Max system.2, 3 Remarkably, these studies revealed that phosphorylation and acetylation patterns modulate Max–DNA interactions by altering DNA binding affinity and sequence specificity. Importantly, such mechanistic insights led to the development of novel bioactive miniproteins derived from Max (μMax), capable of inhibiting oncogene expression and cancer cell proliferation through antagonistic binding to target genes in cancer cells, paving the way for the development of new therapeutic proteins targeting oncogene expression.4-6
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\r\n1. O. Harel, M. Jbara, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023, 62, e202217716
\r\n2. R. Nithun, Y. Yao, X. Lin, S. Habiballah, A. Afek, M. Jbara, Angew. Chem. In. Ed., 2023, 62, e202310913
\r\n3. R. Nithun, Y. Yao, O. Harel, S. Habiballah, A. Afek, M. Jbara, ACS Central Science, 2024, 10, 1295–1303
\r\n4. X. Lin, S. Mandal, R. Nithun, R. Kolla, B. Bouri, H. Lashuel, M. Jbara, JACS, 2024, 146, 25788
\r\n5. X. Lin, O. Harel, M. Jbara, Angew. Chem. In. Ed., 2024, 63, e202317511
\r\n6. O. Harel, F. Nadal-Bufi, R. Nithun, Y. Yao, A. Afek, M. Vendrell, M. Jbara, JACS, 2025, 147, 46, 42647
Access to genetic information within the cell nucleus is regulated by the distribution of nucleosomes, which are the basic unit of chromatin. Local access to specific genomic regions is facilitated by repositioning nucleosomes to enable transcription and other nuclear processes. Nucleosome positioning is primarily regulated by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes (CRs) that belong to the Snf2-type helicase family. These enzymes disrupt histone-DNA contacts by consuming ATP. The functions of CRs can be redundant or essential, complicating their study in vivo. To address this, we employ a unique bottom-up approach, in which we reconstitute chromatin in vitro using purified proteins and a yeast genomic plasmid library. To elucidate the diverse remodeling functions of CRs, we add purified CRs in combination with various transcription factors to the in vitro reconstituted chromatin. The resulting changes in nucleosome positioning are monitored using MNase-seq. Depending on the type of CR used, we observe distinct nucleosome positioning patterns. Furthermore, we have expanded our in vitro reconstitution approach to explore the 3D genome organization of reconstituted chromatin, discovering a role for CRs in the 3D genome organization of S. cerevisiae.
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