Jean-Christophe Andrau

Université de Montpellier (UM), CNRS, IGMM

Biosketch

Jean-Christophe Andrau is an expert in the fields of transcription, chromatin and genomics. He was the first to map genome-wide the Mediator complex in yeast (1). He also described transcription of mammalian enhancers within large Transcription Initiation Platforms(2), genomic structures that were later described as ‘Super-enhancers’. His lab also proposed novel functions for transcriptional enhancers in cell fate (3) and in the regulation of promoter selection (4) and demonstrated the inherent ability of nucleosome exclusion by CpG islands(5). He studied independently the function of new CTD residues of RNA polymerase II and demonstrated the function of tyrosine residues in transcription termination(6-8). More recently, and in close collaboration with David Genevieve (IRMB and Montpellier Hospital), also member of the consortium, he investigates the basis of chromatinopathies, focusing on the Kabuki syndrome(9) and epigenetic profiling of patient models before and after epidrug treatment.

Website: https://www.igmm.cnrs.fr/en/team/transcription-epigenomique-dans-les-cellules-t/

Selected publications:

1. J. C. Andrau et al., Genome-wide location of the coactivator mediator: Binding without activation and transient Cdk8 interaction on DNA. Molecular cell 22, 179-192 (2006).
2. F. Koch et al., Transcription initiation platforms and GTF recruitment at tissue-specific enhancers and promoters. Nat Struct Mol Biol 18, 956-963 (2011).
3. E. L. Soucie et al., Lineage-specific enhancers activate self-renewal genes in macrophages and embryonic stem cells. Science 351, aad5510 (2016).
4. M. A. Maqbool et al., Alternative Enhancer Usage and Targeted Polycomb Marking Hallmark Promoter Choice during T Cell Differentiation. Cell Rep 32, 108048 (2020).
5. R. Fenouil et al., CpG islands and GC content dictate nucleosome depletion in a transcription-independent manner at mammalian promoters. Genome Res 22, 2399-2408 (2012).
6. N. Descostes et al., Tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II CTD is associated with antisense promoter transcription and active enhancers in mammalian cells. eLife 3, e02105 (2014).
7. C. Hintermair et al., Threonine-4 of mammalian RNA polymerase II CTD is targeted by Polo-like kinase 3 and required for transcriptional elongation. EMBO J 31, 2784-2797 (2012).
8. N. Shah et al., Tyrosine-1 of RNA Polymerase II CTD Controls Global Termination of Gene Transcription in Mammals. Molecular cell 69, 48-61 e46 (2018).
9. H. Margot et al., Immunopathological manifestations in Kabuki syndrome: a registry study of 177 individuals. Genet Med 22, 181-188 (2020).

Institute description

The Université de Montpellier (UM), is the multidisciplinary research university in France and is one of the founding members of the European University Charm-EU. Ranked among the world leaders in ecology (3td), agricultural sciences (17th), biotechnology (35th) according to the Shanghai thematic ranking 2022, the UM is in the top 151-200 in the general Shanghai ranking and has been recognized as the most innovative university nationally according to the Reuters global ranking published in October 2019. UM gathers around 50,000 students and 4800 staff members. Research at UM is structured into 72 research units most of which are in partnership with well-recognized French research organizations. UM has 16 technology platforms and services centers offering access to the state-of the-art research facilities. In the frame of this project, UM will be in charge of organizing doctoral studies of PhD candidates hosted at its research unit “The Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier” (IGMM). The IGMM institute has a long-standing interest in the fields of RNA, gene regulation, epigenetics, cancer, cell cycle and immunology. The institute is organised into 17 research labs, high-tech platforms, and logistics services and is also involved in various international training networks. Available platforms include genomics, proteomics, sequencing, biosafety laboratories, animal facilities, imaging, flow cytometry and viral vector production.

Website: https://www.igmm.cnrs.fr/
Facilities and platform of biocampus: https://www.biocampus.cnrs.fr/index.php/en/

Institution description (University of Montpellier)

Website: https://www.umontpellier.fr/en/

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