New research from the Ren Lab highlighted by AZO Life Sciences
New research from the Ren Lab was featured in the article “Three CBX2 Molecules Found to Orchestrate Essential Stem Cell Fate Decisions” from AZO Life Sciences.
Led by Xiaojun Ren, associate professor and Irwin Belk Distinguished Scholar of Biology, the lab relocated to UNC Charlotte in the summer of 2024 and focuses on epigenetic mechanisms, genome organization, single-molecule imaging, liquid-liquid phase separation and Polycomb proteins.
Published in Molecular Cell, “Self-clustering of three CBX2 molecules drives PRC2 to promote facultative heterochromatinization of Polycomb target genes” finds that just three molecules of a rare protein can spark the formation of massive gene‑silencing structures, helping cells choose what they will ultimately become.
“It’s remarkable,” Ren said. “CBX2 is one of the least abundant Polycomb proteins in stem cells, yet it can dictate the assembly of these large regulatory structures and act as a seed for the entire condensate. CBX2 is doing far more with far less than anyone expected.”
Learn more about the research.
The news was also covered by Science Magazine, Phys.org and Technology Networks.