Transcriptional Regulation

Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Hani ALOTAİBİ

The Transcriptional Regulation Lab focuses on understanding how transcriptional programs and signaling pathways control cancer progression, cell differentiation, and plasticity. We aim to identify key transcriptional regulators, dissect their molecular mechanisms, and evaluate their clinical relevance in cancer biology and beyond. Using approaches in molecular biology, genomics, and cellular models, our goal is to contribute to both fundamental biological knowledge and translational applications.

Our vision is to advance the understanding of transcriptional control at the interface of basic and applied sciences, contributing to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and strategies. The lab also values collaborative research and interdisciplinary training to foster innovation and impact in biomedical sciences.

Research Areas

• Mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in cancer and cell differentiation.
• Dissecting the interplay between epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammation in tumor biology.
• Investigating transcription factors such as GRHL3, p73, and AXL in regulating cancer cell fate.
• Exploring translational relevance of transcriptional programs in hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer.

Publications

1. Eskier D, Yetkin S, Arslan N, Karakülah G, Alotaibi H. Exploring Regulatory Roles of Transposable Elements in EMT and MET through Data-Driven Analysis: Insights from regulaTER. Journal of Molecular Biology. 2025 Jan; 437(2): 168887. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168887
2. Abu Alhaija AA, Lone IN, ÖzkuruŞekeroğlu E, Batur T, Angelov D, Dimitrov S, Hamiche A, FıratKaralar EN, Ercan ME, Yağcı T, Alotaibi H, Diril MK. Development of a mouse embryonic stem cell model for investigating the functions of the linker histone H1-4. FEBS Open Bio. 2024 Feb. doi:10.1002/2211-5463.13750
3. Alotaibi H, Meuwissen R, Sayan AE. Editorial: Understanding the mesenchymal to epithelial transition: a much-needed angle for epithelial mesenchymal plasticity. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2024 Oct; 12: 1497515. doi:10.3389/fcell.2024.1497515
4. Alotaibi H. The transcription factor ELF5 is essential for early preimplantation development. Molecular Biology Reports. 2023 Mar; 50: 2119–2125. doi:10.1007/s11033-022-08217-z
5. Yetkin S, Alotaibi H. Selection and validation of novel stable reference genes for qPCR analysis in EMT and MET. Experimental Cell Research. 2023 Jul; 428(1): 113619. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113619
6. Demir AB, Baris E, Kaner UB, Alotaibi H, Atabey N, Koç A. Toll-interacting protein may affect doxorubicin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Molecular Biology Reports. 2023 Aug. doi:10.1007/s11033-023-08737-2
7. Sengez B, Carr BI, Alotaibi H. EMT and Inflammation: Crossroads in HCC. Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer. 2022 Jan. doi:10.1007/s12029-021-00801-z
8. Toyran N, Alotaibi H. Evaluating the Transcriptional Regulation of Cdh1 by Grhl3 in Different Cellular Models. Journal of The Institute of Science and Technology. 2022 Mar; 12(1): 446–454. doi:10.21597/jist.963916

Projects

Ongoing Projects

TÜBİTAK – RD: Development and Production of a Biosimilar Drug Containing Monoclonal Antibody Active Ingredient for the Treatment of Cancer and Osteoporosis.
TÜBİTAK – RD: Epigenetics of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal and Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transitions: Role of Histone Variants and Pioneer Transcription Factors.
TÜBİTAK – RD: Functional Analysis of Long Non-coding RNAs Critical for the Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition.
TÜSEB – RD: Identification and Functional Analysis of Critical LncRNAs in EMT/MET Processes Induced by ZEB1 in Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cell Model.
TÜBİTAK – RD: Linker Histone H1E in Health and Rahman Syndrome.
DEÜ BAP – RD: Investigation of the Role of Elf5 Gene in Cancer and Metastasis Formation, Its Regulation of E-cadherin, and Its Function in EMT/MET Control Mechanisms.

TÜBİTAK – RD: Determination of the Role of TP73 in AXL Regulation and Examining the TP73–AXL Relationship in DNA Damage.
TÜBİTAK – RD: National Platform for Prevention and Treatment.
TÜBİTAK – RD: The Role of the C730027H18Rik Gene in Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition: A Novel Perspective on MET Regulation.

Completed Projects

TÜBİTAK – RD: Identification of Transcriptional Networks Regulating the Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition (MET).
DEÜ BAP – RD: Investigation of the Effect of ELF3 on GRHL3 Expression During the Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition Process.
TÜBİTAK – RD: Identification of Transcription Factors Influencing the Epigenetic Reprogramming During the Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition (MET).
TÜBİTAK – RD: Investigation of the Interaction of Desmin with Chromatin.

Staff

Active Members

Canan Büşra Ersayar (Research Technician)
İnci Yaprak (MSc Student)
Zehra Yağmur Alagöz – Undergraduate Student)
Seray Yetkin (PhD Student)
Şeyma Nur Yıldız (PhD Student)
Zeynep Karagöz (MSc Student)
Hilal Çağlayan (PhD Student)
Helin Sağır (PhD Student)
Esra Dinçarslan (MSc Student)

Former Members

Burcu Şengez (Research Assistant)
Nazlıhan Astopal (Visiting Researcher)
Hadi Rouhrazi (Post-Doc Researcher)
Tuğşen Aydemir (Post-Doc Researcher)
Naz Şerifoğlu (MSc Student)
ÇağrıBuldu (MSc Student)
Diana Zeid (MSc Student)
Caner Yarımçam (PhD Student)
Gürkan Akyıldız (Post-Doc Researcher)
Hazal Aytekin (PhD Student)
İrem Küllü (Undergraduate Student)
Ayça Özkan (MSc Student)
Tuğçe Yapar (PhD Student)
Şimal Kayıkçı (Undergraduate Student)
Gkamze Impraimoglu Kafaz (MSc Student)
Sevgi Erdem (Visiting Researcher)
İlayda Kaya (Undergraduate Student)
Filiz Şahin (MSc Student)
Doğa Eskier (PhD Student)
Şehriban Büyükkılıç (PhD Student)
Nilüfer Düz (PhD Student)
Esin Şekeroğlu (PhD Student)