Chromatin states encode epigenetic information and must be stably transmitted to daughter cells to maintain gene expression and cell identity. However, the molecular mechanism of how the parental histone (the epigenetic information carrier) transferred to replicating DNA and how the marks on parental H3-H4 are copied to new (H3-H4)2 tetramers is largely unknown, which hinders our understanding of transmission of epigenetic information into daughter cells. We will study molecular the mechanism ep...

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) drives the evolution of cancer cells. However, the functional significance of ecDNA and the molecular components involved in its replication and maintenance remain largely unknown. Here, using CRISPR-C technology, we generated ecDNA-carrying (ecDNA+) cell models. By leveraging these models alongside other well-established systems, we demonstrated that ecDNA can replicate and be maintained in ecDNA+ cells. The replication of ecDNA activates the ATM-mediated DNA damage...

Unlocking the Epigenetic Code: Synthetic Biology Meets Chromatin Engineering Emerging insights into epigenetic regulation have revealed chromatin-associated pathways as master conductors of cellular identity, aging, and specialization. Our laboratory sits at the cutting edge of this revolution, uniquely bridging synthetic biology with epigenetic engineering to reimagine how we understand and manipulate life's molecular control systems. We pursue three transformative research frontiers: 1. Design...