Using single-molecule imaging techniques, we have studied the organization of nuclear components, the dynamics of TFs, and the relationship between the two. I will present results on the different exploration strategies performed by the proto-oncogene c-Myc and the positive transcription elongation factor-b (P-TEFb). We found that c-Myc is a global explorer of the nucleus while P-TEFb is a local explorer that oversamples its environment. The geometry-controlled kinetics of TFs target-search illustrates the influence of nuclear architecture on gene regulation, and has strong implications on how proteins react in the nucleus and how their function can be regulated in space and time.

I will also introduce the Complex diffusion analysis challenge that we are currently organizing. Our goal is to foster the development of new state-of-the-art analysis algorithms. We aim at providing a unified data benchmark based on a set of biologically and physically relevant metrics in order to compare the diffusion analysis software available for the community.

Contact : salima.rafai@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr