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Research EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

Cracking the code of gene regulation

EPFL researchers, in collaboration with an international consortium led by Timothy Hughes, have produced the most comprehensive catalogue of human transcription factor DNA‑binding motifs, adding 130 previously unknown motifs. A companion study introduced meSMiLE‑seq, a microfluidic method that revealed how DNA methylation alters transcription factor binding for 48 factors. Together, the studies expand the understanding of gene regulation and its modulation by epigenetic marks.

Published
18 Aug 2026
2 min read 1 source
Intelligence brief
EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland / Research
CH

EPFL researchers, in collaboration with an international consortium led by Timothy Hughes, have produced the most comprehensive catalogue of human transcription factor DNA‑binding motifs, adding 130 previously unknown motifs. A companion study introduced meSMiLE‑seq, a microfluidic method that revealed how DNA methylation alters transcription factor binding for 48 factors. Together, the studies expand the understanding of gene regulation and its modulation by epigenetic marks.

Why it matters

The resulting Codebook and methylation‑sensitive models provide a rich dataset that can be leveraged by Swiss AI researchers to develop machine‑learning tools for interpreting genetic variants and disease mechanisms.

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