Description:

The Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics presents:

Michael Levine, PhD
Anthony B. Evnin '62 Professor in Genomics
Professor of Molecular Biology
Director of the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics
Princeton University

My lab uses two model systems to study gene regulation in development: the early Drosophila embryo and the tadpole of the proto-vertebrate Ciona intestinalis. In Drosophila we use live imaging methods to visualize transcription dynamics. These studies reveal the occurrence of transcriptional bursts. Transcriptional enhancers control bursting frequency, and a single shared enhancer mediates coordinate bursting of linked genes in cis and in trans across homologous chromosomes (transvection). I will discuss these observations in the context of a transcription hub and condensate model.

The Ciona tadpole represents one of the closest living relatives of verebrates, and consequently, we use it for “evo-devo” studies aimed at exploring the evolutionary origins of key vertebrate innovations such as cranial placodes and neural crest. I will discuss evidence that the lateral plate ectoderm of Ciona produces a series of sensory neurons that are related to derivatives of both placodes and neural crest in vertebrates, suggesting they share a common evolutionary origin. I will also present evidence that the evolution of the vertebrate hypothalamus arose from the “cellular subfunctionalization” of Coronet cells possessing dual sensory and neuroendocrine functions.