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


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. 




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.

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