cis-regulatory module (CRM) prediction, epigenomic regulation and neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis

Transcription regulation is essential for the development and proper function of mammalian brains. Mutations in components of the transcriptional program have been linked to human neurological and cognitive disorders. Dissecting transcriptional regulatory networks could provide better understanding of brain function in normal and disease states and open up new strategies for disease treatment. In particular we have developed a computational tool that can accurately predict cis-regulatory modules which include promoters, enhancers, insulators (See figure above). We will integrate information of cis-regulatory modules with their component transcription factor binding motifs, snRNA-seq gene expression, snATAC-seq open chromatin information as well as SNPs associated with neurodegenerative diseases to understand the mechanism of gene dysregulation in patient brains.