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Research group Group Mannervik

We study transcriptional control of embryo development using cutting-edge genomic technologies and advanced Drosophila genetics.

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Photo: Mannervik lab

Group description

Creation of different cell types from an identical DNA sequence is one of the most remarkable properties of genomes, and a fundamental question in developmental biology. Control of transcription establishes the gene expression programs that define a cell and directs cell differentiation. It is thereby critical for embryo development. A mechanistic view of transcriptional regulation is not only necessary for recognition of how specific cell states are established and epigenetically maintained, but also for understanding how its misregulation leads to disease. The Drosophila embryo allows us to dissect these mechanisms in vivo by a set of tools that are not readily available elsewhere. Molecular, genetic, and genomic approaches are used to identify the mechanisms by which tissue-specific gene expression is controlled in vivo. 

Group members

Group managers

Mattias Mannervik

Professor

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute
08-16 15 65
Mattias Mannervik
mattias.mannervik@su.se
See profile page for Mattias Mannervik

Members

Aleksander Purik

Student

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute
aleksander.purik@su.se
See profile page for Aleksander Purik

Artem Ilin

Postdoktor

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute
artem.ilin@su.se
See profile page for Artem Ilin

Sergei Pirogov

PhD Student

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute
Sergei Pirogov
sergei.pirogov@su.se
See profile page for Sergei Pirogov

Hicham Houhou

Postdoktor

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute
hicham.houhou@su.se
See profile page for Hicham Houhou

Yanzi Xing

PhD student

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute
yanzi.xing@su.se
See profile page for Yanzi Xing

Research projects

Establishment of epigenetic landscapes

Epigenetic patterns of histone modifications contribute to the maintenance of tissue-specific gene expression, but little is known about how such patterns are initially formed during early embryo development. We study this process and how cell type-specific patterns emerge in Drosophila.

Transcription, coregulators and histone acetylation

Gene transcription is essential for cell identity and its misregulation causes disease. This project explores the connection between transcription and chromatin modifications that make genes accessible to the transcriptional machinery.

Research

Publications

Catalytic-dependent and independent functions of the histone acetyltransferase CBP promote pioneer

-factor-mediated zygotic genome activation. Marsh AJ, Pirogov S, Kaur Y, Ruffridge AJ, Sajwan S, Gibson TJ, Hunt G, Harrison MM, Mannervik M. Mol Cell. 2025 May 22:S1097-2765(25)00414-9. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2025.05.009

Tissue-specific RNA Polymerase II promoter-proximal pause release and burst kinetics in a Drosophila

embryonic patterning network. Hunt G, Vaid R, Pirogov S, Pfab A, Ziegenhain C, Sandberg R, Reimegård J, Mannervik M. Genome Biol. 2024 Jan 2;25(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s13059-023-03135-0

p300/CBP sustains Polycomb silencing by non-enzymatic functions

Hunt G, Boija A, Mannervik M (2022). Molecular Cell, 82:3580-3597.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.09.005.

A unique histone 3 lysine 14 chromatin signature underlies tissue-specific gene regulation

Regadas I, Dahlberg O, Vaid R, Ho O, Belikov S, Dixit G, Deindl S, Wen J, Mannervik M (2021). Molecular Cell, 81:1766-1780, doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.01.041. doi: 10.1038/s41588-021-00799-x

Independence of chromatin conformation and gene regulation during Drosophila dorsoventral patterning

Ing-Simmons E, Vaid R, Bing XY, Levine M, Mannervik M, Vaquerizas JM (2021). Nature Genetics, 53:487-499 doi: 10.1038/s41588-021-00799-x.

Release of promoter-proximal paused Pol II in response to histone deacetylase inhibition

Vaid R, Wen J, Mannervik M (2020). Nucleic Acids Res. 48:4877-4890.

CBP Regulates Recruitment and Release of Promoter-Proximal RNA Polymerase II

Boija A, Mahat DB, Zare A, Holmqvist PH, Philip P, Meyers DJ, Cole PA, Lis JT, Stenberg P, Mannervik M (2017). Molecular Cell, 68:491-503.

Initiation of diverse epigenetic states during nuclear programming of the Drosophila body plan

Boija A and Mannervik M (2016). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 113(31):8735-40.

See all publications

News

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