Rhys Allan
@rhyscienceallan.bsky.social
Scientist at WEHI research, fascinated by the DNA circuitry of the immune system https://www.wehi.edu.au/researcher/rhys-allan/
Pinned
The long non-coding RNA Dreg1 is required for optimal ILC2 development
Gata3 is an essential transcription factor for the development of several distinct immune cell lineages such as T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC). As such, the levels ...
www.biorxiv.org
I am excited to share our latest study by Sara Quon in collaboration with @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social entitled “The lncRNA Dreg1 is required for optimal ILC2 development” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
New WEHI research shows caspase-8 is a driver of severe COVID-19 through modulation of inflammation, but not through induction of apoptosis.
The landmark study is the first to clarify the protein's role in COVID disease in vivo.
Published in Nature Communications.
rdcu.be/ePJoA
🧵1/2
The landmark study is the first to clarify the protein's role in COVID disease in vivo.
Published in Nature Communications.
rdcu.be/ePJoA
🧵1/2
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 AM
New WEHI research shows caspase-8 is a driver of severe COVID-19 through modulation of inflammation, but not through induction of apoptosis.
The landmark study is the first to clarify the protein's role in COVID disease in vivo.
Published in Nature Communications.
rdcu.be/ePJoA
🧵1/2
The landmark study is the first to clarify the protein's role in COVID disease in vivo.
Published in Nature Communications.
rdcu.be/ePJoA
🧵1/2
Reposted by Rhys Allan
📣 Paper alert!
I am delighted that our paper exploring the impact of Neanderthal-derived variants on the activity of a disease-associated craniofacial enhancer has been published in Development today!
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
I am delighted that our paper exploring the impact of Neanderthal-derived variants on the activity of a disease-associated craniofacial enhancer has been published in Development today!
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
November 10, 2025 at 11:11 AM
📣 Paper alert!
I am delighted that our paper exploring the impact of Neanderthal-derived variants on the activity of a disease-associated craniofacial enhancer has been published in Development today!
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
I am delighted that our paper exploring the impact of Neanderthal-derived variants on the activity of a disease-associated craniofacial enhancer has been published in Development today!
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Our latest paper has just been published in Cell!
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
We developed a new method called MCC ultra, which allows 3D chromatin structure to be visualised with a 1 base pair pixel size.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
We developed a new method called MCC ultra, which allows 3D chromatin structure to be visualised with a 1 base pair pixel size.
November 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Our latest paper has just been published in Cell!
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
We developed a new method called MCC ultra, which allows 3D chromatin structure to be visualised with a 1 base pair pixel size.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
We developed a new method called MCC ultra, which allows 3D chromatin structure to be visualised with a 1 base pair pixel size.
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Long-lived IgE plasma cells persist in secondary lymphoid tissues using a navitoclax-sensitive survival program @cp-immunity.bsky.social @monashuniversity.bsky.social www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
November 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Long-lived IgE plasma cells persist in secondary lymphoid tissues using a navitoclax-sensitive survival program @cp-immunity.bsky.social @monashuniversity.bsky.social www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
1/ 🚀 AEBP2 isn’t what we thought.
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
October 31, 2025 at 10:53 AM
1/ 🚀 AEBP2 isn’t what we thought.
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
You were told that AEBP2 promotes PRC2 activity on chromatin.
We found the opposite: the most prevalent AEBP2 isoform inhibits PRC2 activity.
👉 surl.li/cgwqcq
A thread 🧵
Reposted by Rhys Allan
1/ It's long been assumed that AEBP2 recruit PRC2 to chromatin. Now, we show that AEBP2 usually does the exact opposite:
The only isoform of AEBP2 that is expressed in most cell types and tissues inhibits the chromatin-binding activity of PRC2. www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
The only isoform of AEBP2 that is expressed in most cell types and tissues inhibits the chromatin-binding activity of PRC2. www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Auto-inhibition of PRC2 by the broadly expressed long isoform of AEBP2 | The EMBO Journal
imageimageAEBP2 is an accessory subunit of the PRC2 complex previously implicated both in promoting
and antagonizing Polycomb repressive activity. This study reveals that its alternative
isoforms, AEB...
www.embopress.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:42 PM
1/ It's long been assumed that AEBP2 recruit PRC2 to chromatin. Now, we show that AEBP2 usually does the exact opposite:
The only isoform of AEBP2 that is expressed in most cell types and tissues inhibits the chromatin-binding activity of PRC2. www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
The only isoform of AEBP2 that is expressed in most cell types and tissues inhibits the chromatin-binding activity of PRC2. www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Rhys Allan
In this episode we talked with @pasquelab.bsky.social from KU Leuven about his work on the reprogramming of cell identity through epigenetic mechanisms, particularly during early development and cellular reprogramming. #epigenetics #podcast
Listen here: activemotif.com/podcasts-vin...
Listen here: activemotif.com/podcasts-vin...
October 31, 2025 at 8:01 AM
In this episode we talked with @pasquelab.bsky.social from KU Leuven about his work on the reprogramming of cell identity through epigenetic mechanisms, particularly during early development and cellular reprogramming. #epigenetics #podcast
Listen here: activemotif.com/podcasts-vin...
Listen here: activemotif.com/podcasts-vin...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
WEHI stands behind the @aamri.bsky.social campaign to strengthen the sector and secure the future of medical research.
Join the call to release the full MRFF and support our scientists to keep saving lives.
Find out more: www.aamri.org.au/mrff
#releasethefullmrff
Join the call to release the full MRFF and support our scientists to keep saving lives.
Find out more: www.aamri.org.au/mrff
#releasethefullmrff
October 31, 2025 at 12:02 AM
WEHI stands behind the @aamri.bsky.social campaign to strengthen the sector and secure the future of medical research.
Join the call to release the full MRFF and support our scientists to keep saving lives.
Find out more: www.aamri.org.au/mrff
#releasethefullmrff
Join the call to release the full MRFF and support our scientists to keep saving lives.
Find out more: www.aamri.org.au/mrff
#releasethefullmrff
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Our most recent work entitled “Hypoxia induces histone clipping and H3K4me3 loss in neutrophil progenitors resulting in long-term impairment of neutrophil immunity” is now published. Well done @mas-g.bsky.social. rdcu.be/eM5MT
Hypoxia induces histone clipping and H3K4me3 loss in neutrophil progenitors resulting in long-term impairment of neutrophil immunity
Nature Immunology - Walmsley and colleagues report that systemic hypoxia induces persistent loss of histone H3K4me3 marks and epigenetic reprogramming in neutrophil progenitors, resulting in...
rdcu.be
October 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Our most recent work entitled “Hypoxia induces histone clipping and H3K4me3 loss in neutrophil progenitors resulting in long-term impairment of neutrophil immunity” is now published. Well done @mas-g.bsky.social. rdcu.be/eM5MT
Reposted by Rhys Allan
What controls how our genes switch on and off across the 3D genome? Dr. Bing Ren from
@nygenome
will dive deep into transcriptional insulators and the mysteries behind CTCF/Cohesin loop extrusion. Don’t miss his talk, ‘Mechanisms and Modulators of Transcriptional Insulators’ !
@nygenome
will dive deep into transcriptional insulators and the mysteries behind CTCF/Cohesin loop extrusion. Don’t miss his talk, ‘Mechanisms and Modulators of Transcriptional Insulators’ !
October 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
What controls how our genes switch on and off across the 3D genome? Dr. Bing Ren from
@nygenome
will dive deep into transcriptional insulators and the mysteries behind CTCF/Cohesin loop extrusion. Don’t miss his talk, ‘Mechanisms and Modulators of Transcriptional Insulators’ !
@nygenome
will dive deep into transcriptional insulators and the mysteries behind CTCF/Cohesin loop extrusion. Don’t miss his talk, ‘Mechanisms and Modulators of Transcriptional Insulators’ !
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Happy to share our latest publication, in which we show that the arrangement of nucleosomes around CTCF sites contributes to higher-order organisation of chromatin into TADs: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
October 27, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Happy to share our latest publication, in which we show that the arrangement of nucleosomes around CTCF sites contributes to higher-order organisation of chromatin into TADs: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Here, we show that the unique regulatory landscape of ecDNA enables an ancient LINE to resurrect and act as an enhancer of Myc. This was so fun with @katerinakraft.bsky.social and @mattjones.bsky.social and others. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Enhancer activation from transposable elements in extrachromosomal DNA - Nature Cell Biology
Kraft, Murphy, Jones et al. identify extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA)-interacting elements (EIEs) enriched for transposable elements within ecDNA in colorectal cancer cells. They show that EIE 14 integrat...
www.nature.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Here, we show that the unique regulatory landscape of ecDNA enables an ancient LINE to resurrect and act as an enhancer of Myc. This was so fun with @katerinakraft.bsky.social and @mattjones.bsky.social and others. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Thanks also very much to Anne Trafton from MIT News for writing a nice article about the findings:
news.mit.edu/2025/surpris...
news.mit.edu/2025/surpris...
October 20, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Thanks also very much to Anne Trafton from MIT News for writing a nice article about the findings:
news.mit.edu/2025/surpris...
news.mit.edu/2025/surpris...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Excited to share our paper on dynamics of microcompartments during M-to-G1 is now published in @natsmb.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Compared to biorxiv, published includes new analysis from James Jusuf and Viraat Goel (from @andersshansen.bsky.social lab) on transcriptional spiking
Compared to biorxiv, published includes new analysis from James Jusuf and Viraat Goel (from @andersshansen.bsky.social lab) on transcriptional spiking
October 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Excited to share our paper on dynamics of microcompartments during M-to-G1 is now published in @natsmb.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Compared to biorxiv, published includes new analysis from James Jusuf and Viraat Goel (from @andersshansen.bsky.social lab) on transcriptional spiking
Compared to biorxiv, published includes new analysis from James Jusuf and Viraat Goel (from @andersshansen.bsky.social lab) on transcriptional spiking
Reposted by Rhys Allan
What is a promoter? And how does it work?
We very happy to share our latest work trying to understand enhancer-promoter compatibility.
I am very excited about the results of @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social, which changed the way I think about promoters
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We very happy to share our latest work trying to understand enhancer-promoter compatibility.
I am very excited about the results of @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social, which changed the way I think about promoters
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Enhancer-promoter compatibility is mediated by the promoter-proximal region
Gene promoters induce transcription in response to distal enhancers. How enhancers specifically activate their target promoter while bypassing other promoters remains unclear. Here, we find that the p...
www.biorxiv.org
October 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
What is a promoter? And how does it work?
We very happy to share our latest work trying to understand enhancer-promoter compatibility.
I am very excited about the results of @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social, which changed the way I think about promoters
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We very happy to share our latest work trying to understand enhancer-promoter compatibility.
I am very excited about the results of @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social, which changed the way I think about promoters
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Yay! Congratulations @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social and @danielibrahim.bsky.social ! Good to see this beautiful dissection out !
What is a promoter? And how does it work?
We very happy to share our latest work trying to understand enhancer-promoter compatibility.
I am very excited about the results of @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social, which changed the way I think about promoters
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We very happy to share our latest work trying to understand enhancer-promoter compatibility.
I am very excited about the results of @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social, which changed the way I think about promoters
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Enhancer-promoter compatibility is mediated by the promoter-proximal region
Gene promoters induce transcription in response to distal enhancers. How enhancers specifically activate their target promoter while bypassing other promoters remains unclear. Here, we find that the p...
www.biorxiv.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Yay! Congratulations @blanka-majchrzycka.bsky.social and @danielibrahim.bsky.social ! Good to see this beautiful dissection out !
Reposted by Rhys Allan
The TArgeted Cohesin Loader (TACL) paper was just published. Happy that we were able to contribute to this really exciting project!
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
Characterization of induced cohesin loop extrusion trajectories in living cells
Nature Genetics - This study introduces a system called TArgeted Cohesin Loader (TACL) that recruits cohesin complexes at defined genomic regions and induces loop extrusion events in living cells,...
rdcu.be
October 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM
The TArgeted Cohesin Loader (TACL) paper was just published. Happy that we were able to contribute to this really exciting project!
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
Reposted by Rhys Allan
H3K14ub-dependent SUV39H compartmentalization is a unified mechanism of pericentromeric heterochromatin formation, which is essential for proper euchromatin compartmentalization and transcriptional regulation
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
H3K14ub-dependent SUV39H compartmentalization is a unified mechanism of pericentromeric heterochromatin formation, which is essential for proper euchromatin compartmentalization and transcriptional regulation
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Please join us for several days of fantastic science at Lorne Genome 2026!
We're thrilled to welcome Prof Amander Clark, a renowned stem cell biologist whose work focuses on in vitro gametogenesis and ovarian reserve formation: https://www.lornegenome.org/amander-clark
We're thrilled to welcome Prof Amander Clark, a renowned stem cell biologist whose work focuses on in vitro gametogenesis and ovarian reserve formation: https://www.lornegenome.org/amander-clark
October 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Please join us for several days of fantastic science at Lorne Genome 2026!
We're thrilled to welcome Prof Amander Clark, a renowned stem cell biologist whose work focuses on in vitro gametogenesis and ovarian reserve formation: https://www.lornegenome.org/amander-clark
We're thrilled to welcome Prof Amander Clark, a renowned stem cell biologist whose work focuses on in vitro gametogenesis and ovarian reserve formation: https://www.lornegenome.org/amander-clark
Reposted by Rhys Allan
Join us in Geneva (March, 2026) for the Keystone Symposium Epigenetics & Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, co-organized with @ckadoch.bsky.social — linking epigenetic mechanisms with therapeutic innovation. Apply for a short talk!
#KSEpigenetics26 #epigenetics #chromatin #KeystoneSymposia
#KSEpigenetics26 #epigenetics #chromatin #KeystoneSymposia
Epigenetics and Gene Regulation in Health and Disease: Linking Basic Mechanisms with Therapeutic Opportunities | Keystone Symposia
Join us at the Keystone Symposia on Epigenetics and Gene Regulation in Health and Disease: Linking Basic Mechanisms with Therapeutic Opportunities, March 2026, in Geneva, with field leaders!
keysym.us
October 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Join us in Geneva (March, 2026) for the Keystone Symposium Epigenetics & Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, co-organized with @ckadoch.bsky.social — linking epigenetic mechanisms with therapeutic innovation. Apply for a short talk!
#KSEpigenetics26 #epigenetics #chromatin #KeystoneSymposia
#KSEpigenetics26 #epigenetics #chromatin #KeystoneSymposia
Reposted by Rhys Allan
The @crick.ac.uk is recruiting Early Career Group Leaders
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Early career group leaders
We appoint researchers from across biology and biomedicine to set up their first groups at the Crick.
www.crick.ac.uk
October 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The @crick.ac.uk is recruiting Early Career Group Leaders
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
- Lab set-up, research costs, salaries for up to 5 researchers
- Support for up to 12 years
- Access to our core facilities
- Competitive salary
- Fantastic colleagues
- All areas of biology
Deadline 27 Nov
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Reposted by Rhys Allan
'All three awards (...) honored achievements rooted in fundamental research from decades ago. Some experts interpret the selections by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences as representing the importance of slow, basic science, work pursued out of a desire to better understand the world.'
Nobel Prizes This Year Offer Three Cheers for Slow Science
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:49 AM
'All three awards (...) honored achievements rooted in fundamental research from decades ago. Some experts interpret the selections by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences as representing the importance of slow, basic science, work pursued out of a desire to better understand the world.'
Reposted by Rhys Allan
🌟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐌𝐂𝐑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 – 𝐃𝐫 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐥 🌟
We’re excited to spotlight Dr Luke Isbel, one of our inspiring career development panellists for the upcoming Australasian Epigenetics Alliance 𝐄𝐌𝐂𝐑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦!
aepia.org.au/emcr-symposium
We’re excited to spotlight Dr Luke Isbel, one of our inspiring career development panellists for the upcoming Australasian Epigenetics Alliance 𝐄𝐌𝐂𝐑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦!
aepia.org.au/emcr-symposium
October 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
🌟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐌𝐂𝐑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 – 𝐃𝐫 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐥 🌟
We’re excited to spotlight Dr Luke Isbel, one of our inspiring career development panellists for the upcoming Australasian Epigenetics Alliance 𝐄𝐌𝐂𝐑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦!
aepia.org.au/emcr-symposium
We’re excited to spotlight Dr Luke Isbel, one of our inspiring career development panellists for the upcoming Australasian Epigenetics Alliance 𝐄𝐌𝐂𝐑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦!
aepia.org.au/emcr-symposium
Reposted by Rhys Allan
The final programme for the Australian Cell Cycle, DNA repair and Telomere meeting is now available online: australiancellcycle.org/final-2025-p...
Its not too late to register for the October 20-22 meeting.
Its not too late to register for the October 20-22 meeting.
Final 2025 programme
The final programme for our conference is now available. You can download either just the programme, or the full abstract book by clicking below. A printed copy will also be provided to all registr…
australiancellcycle.org
October 9, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The final programme for the Australian Cell Cycle, DNA repair and Telomere meeting is now available online: australiancellcycle.org/final-2025-p...
Its not too late to register for the October 20-22 meeting.
Its not too late to register for the October 20-22 meeting.
Reposted by Rhys Allan
A thoughtful and beautifully written @quantamagazine.bsky.social article about genome regulatory innovation at the origin of animals. Featuring some of our work and highlighting key open questions. Thanks to @philipcball.bsky.social for this fantastic piece.
I adored writing this piece. It brings together several of the things preoccupying me right now, like chromatin organization and gene regulation. There's so much more to be said on that. Also, these marine critters look gorgeous.
www.quantamagazine.org/loops-of-dna...
www.quantamagazine.org/loops-of-dna...
Loops of DNA Equipped Ancient Life To Become Complex | Quanta Magazine
New work shows that physical folding of the genome to control genes located far away may have been an early evolutionary development.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A thoughtful and beautifully written @quantamagazine.bsky.social article about genome regulatory innovation at the origin of animals. Featuring some of our work and highlighting key open questions. Thanks to @philipcball.bsky.social for this fantastic piece.