iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne

Universität zu Köln @unicologne.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

🔬 New vulnerability discovered in small cell lung cance SCLC tumour cells have an extremely high mutation burden, which would normally kill them. To survive, they utilise a pathway known as nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Inhibiting this pathways kills the tumour cells➡️https://uni.koeln/MEZB4

Arzt von hinten betrachtet ein Röntgenbild des Brustkorbs mit deutlich sichtbaren Lungenflügeln.

031

Reposted by Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne

Universität zu Köln @unicologne.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

🔬 Neue Schwachstelle im kleinzelligen Lungenkrebs entdeckt SCLC-Tumorzellen haben eine extrem hohe Mutationslast, die sie normalerweise töten würde. Um zu überleben, nutzen sie den Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay (NMD)-Signalweg. Dieser lässt sich aber therapeutisch nutzen➡️https://uni.koeln/8R2V8

021

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

3/3 Blocking NMD (SMG1 inhibitor) hit tumors two ways: triggered cell death via ER stress + boosted immune visibility via neoantigens. A dual vulnerability worth exploring further. Made possible by patients who donated tissue, funded by DFG via SFB1399

000

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

2/3 SCLC has one of the highest mutation burdens of any cancer. The team found tumors rely on nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) to clear faulty mRNAs — shielding themselves from toxic proteins & immune detection.

000

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

🎉 New paper from #SFB1399 and @dtg-cologne.bsky.social! Congrats to Lucia Torres Fernández, Julie George, Roman Thomas & team on their new study in MolecularCancer uncovering a therapeutic vulnerability in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) 🧬🫁

100

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

🔬 How Small Cell Lung Cancer Hijacks Neuronal Synapses A groundbreaking study led by researchers from the Department of Translational Genomics and SFB1399 has uncovered that SCLC cells form functional synapses with neurons— effectively hijacking neural signaling to promote tumor growth.

220

Reposted by Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne

Universität zu Köln @unicologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Die neue Methode übertrifft bestehende Methoden wie #ChIP-seq und #CUT&RUN in Bezug auf Sensitivität und Auflösung der Ergebnisse. 📈 Die Studie wurde in ‪@natcomms.nature.com‬ veröffentlicht👇 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

DynaTag for efficient mapping of transcription factors in low-input samples and at single-cell resolution - Nature Communications

Transcription factors shape cell identity, but mapping their genomic targets remains challenging. Here the authors present DynaTag, a modified CUT&Tag method for profiling TF occupancy in bulk and...

042

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Image credit: @gloglita.bsky.social @lifescienceeditors.bsky.social captured DynaTag in action: a pA-Tn5 probe (multicoloured) binds an antibody (white), which binds p53 (green) on DNA (blue) within 2 nucleosomes (7/7)‬‬‬

000

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Thanks to former PhD student Pascal Hunold and lab members Giulia Pizzolato & Olivia van Ray for their amazing work. Grateful to @dtg-cologne.bsky.social‬, Peifer, George & Thomas labs, funders @unicologne.bsky.social‬ #CMMC #sfb1399 @crc1678.bsky.social #FOR5504 #Fritz_Thyssen_Foundation (6/7)‬‬‬‬

000

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

🗝️ #DynaTag can reveal nuanced TF occupancy behaviour and shed light on transcriptional regulation in health and disease. In small cell lung cancer #SCLC PDX models, it uncovered surprising gain-of-function p53, FOXA1 & MYC activity post-chemotherapy – not for ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3 or YAP1 (5/7)

000

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

How is DynaTag better than CUT&Tag? ⚡Preserves weak/transient TF binding without signal loss ⚡Better signal-to-noise & resolution ⚡Works for all TFs (high and low DNA-binding affinity) & histone marks ⚡Low-input needed, bulk or single-cell, scalable to multi-cellular systems (4/7)

000

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

🤔 How to capture nuanced TF-DNA interactions? 💡 Enter #DynaTag: ‘Dynamic targets and Tagmentation’ captures transient TF-DNA interactions that standard CUT&Tag misses. The trick? Sample prep under physiological salt stabilizes specific interactions without promoting untargeted tagmentation 🧂 (3/7)

010

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

❗TF occupancy mapping is still challenging. CUT&Tag was a breakthrough, but it has limits… 👉 Doesn’t work well for TFs that only transiently bind DNA 👉 These fleeting interactions are often lost during sample prep That means we’re missing key regulatory events and it’s time for a new method (2/7)

000

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

🧪Move over CUT&Tag, there’s a new #TranscriptionFactor mapping method in town. The newly developed DynaTag by Robert and his lab @epistrucstab.bsky.social is faster, cleaner, more sensitive than #ChIPseq, #CUT&RUN and #CUT&Tag. 🔗 Our @natcomms.nature.com‬ paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

010

Department of Translational Genomics - University of Cologne @dtg-cologne.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

On behalf of the conference chair Caroline Dive and the organizing committee Reinhard Büttner, Roman Thomas, Jürgen Wolf: We are delighted to announce the 3rd Cologne Conference on Lung Cancer (CCLC), June 26th – 27th, 2025 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne. Registration is now open!! cologne-clc.com

000