Dr. Samer Hussein is a researcher at the CHU Research Centre of Quebec – Laval University, and is part of the St-Patrick group of research in fundamental oncology. He is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine, Laval University.
His research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that establish and regulate pluripotent cell states, particularly the role of long non-coding RNAs in gene networks, as well as the transcriptional events responsible for cancer initiation and progression.
Defining gene networks and their interactions that govern pluripotent states
Pluripotency is defined as the ability of a cell to generate all the cell types found in an organism. The three transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog represent the central pillars of the gene regulatory network associated with the maintenance of a pluripotent state. Through cellular models of pluripotency and reprogramming, and the use of high-throughput technologies (proteomics, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq), this project aims to understand how interactions between transcription factors of pluripotency and chromatin regulators determine cell fate and cell transition to specific lineages in embryonic development, as well as cancer development.
Defining the role of certain long non-coding RNAs in cell identity
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) constitute an entire class of RNA, characterized by the fact that they do not encode any known protein and that they are composed of at least 200 base pairs. LncRNAs are implicated in gene regulation and maintenance of cellular identity, but their mechanism of action involved in the establishment of pluripotency remains unknown. The objective of this project is to understand the role of lncRNAs in the regulation of pluripotent states and the reprogramming of embryonic stem cells.
9, rue McMahon
2779
Québec, Québec
Canada G1R 3S3
- Bourriquen, GaëlleEmployeeL'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec+1 418-525-4444, extension 16944+1 418-691-5439gaelle.bourriquen.1@ulaval.caGaelle.Bourriquen@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
9, rue McMahon
2773
Québec, Québec
Canada G1R 2J6 - Fort, VictoireDoctoral studentL'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec+1 418-525-4444, extension 15285victoire.fort.1@ulaval.cavictoire.fort@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
9 Rue Mcmahon
2773
Ville de Québec, QC
Canada G1R 3S3 - Khelifi, GabrielMaster studentL'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec+1 418-525-4444, extension 16944gabriel.khelifi.1@ulaval.cagabriel.khelifi@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
9, rue McMahon
2773
Québec, Québec
Canada G1R 3S3 - Khelifi, GabrielDoctoral studentL'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec+1 418-525-4444, extension 16944gabriel.khelifi.1@ulaval.cagabriel.khelifi@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
9, rue McMahon
2773
Québec, Québec
Canada G1R 3S3 - Lelong, EmelineDoctoral studentEmeline.Lelong@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
- Watters, ValérieDoctoral studentvalerie.watters.1@ulaval.cavalerie.watters@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
- Watters, ValérieMaster studentvalerie.watters.1@ulaval.cavalerie.watters@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
Proteome adaptation in cell reprogramming proceeds via distinct transcriptional networks.
Journal ArticleNat Commun, 5 , pp. 5613, 2014, ISSN: 2041-1723.
Small RNA changes en route to distinct cellular states of induced pluripotency.
Journal ArticleNat Commun, 5 , pp. 5522, 2014, ISSN: 2041-1723.
An epigenomic roadmap to induced pluripotency reveals DNA methylation as a reprogramming modulator.
Journal ArticleNat Commun, 5 , pp. 5619, 2014, ISSN: 2041-1723.
Local acting Sticky-trap inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor dependent pathological angiogenesis in the eye.
Journal ArticleEMBO Mol Med, 6 (5), pp. 604-23, 2014, ISSN: 1757-4676.
Integrative genomics and transcriptomics analysis of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells.
Journal ArticleBioData Min, 7 (1), pp. 32, 2014.
Genome damage in induced pluripotent stem cells: assessing the mechanisms and their consequences.
Journal ArticleBioessays, 35 (3), pp. 152-62, 2013, ISSN: 0265-9247.
Neuron navigator 3 alterations in nervous system tumors associate with tumor malignancy grade and prognosis.
Journal ArticleGenes Chromosomes Cancer, 52 (2), pp. 191-201, 2013, ISSN: 1045-2257.
Progress made in the reprogramming field: new factors, new strategies and a new outlook.
Journal ArticleCurr Opin Genet Dev, 22 (5), pp. 435-43, 2012, ISSN: 0959-437X.
Elevated coding mutation rate during the reprogramming of human somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells.
Journal ArticleStem Cells, 30 (3), pp. 435-40, 2012, ISSN: 1066-5099.
The adaptor protein Grb2 is not essential for the establishment of the glomerular filtration barrier.
Journal ArticlePLoS ONE, 7 (11), pp. e50996, 2012.
Active projects
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Subvention, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centres de recherche affiliés, from 2017-01-01 to 2099-12-31
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Centres de recherche reconnus, from 1996-05-01 to 2022-06-13
- Les réseaux d’interactions moléculaires dans les états de pluripotence différents, Subvention, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé, Chercheur-boursier Juniors 1 et 2, Seniors, from 2017-07-01 to 2021-06-30
- The role of long non-coding RNAs in defining pluripotent stem cell states, Subvention, Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Subvention Projet, from 2017-04-01 to 2022-03-31
- Transcription factor stoichiometry defines distinct pluripotent states, Subvention, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie Canada, Subventions à la découverte SD (individuelles et d'équipe), from 2016-04-01 to 2021-03-31
Recently finished projects
- Centre de recherche en organogenèse expérimentale, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Centres de recherche reconnus, from 2011-05-01 to 2020-12-31
- Connecting the pluripotency gene network to development and disease, Partenariat, Fondation Canadienne pour l'innovation (La), Fonds des leaders John-R.-Evans (FLJR), from 2017-08-01 to 2019-12-31
- Efficient and reliable shearing of chromatin for highthroughput analysis, Subvention, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie Canada, Subventions d'outils et d'instruments de recherche (OIR), from 2019-03-28 to 2020-03-31
- Les réseaux d’interactions moléculaires dans les états de pluripotence différents, Subvention, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé, Établissement de jeunes chercheurs - Juniors 1, from 2017-07-01 to 2020-06-30