Naef lab – UPNAE Laboratory of Computational and Systems Biology

Our lab is interested in quantitative, systems biology, and more generally the link between physics and biology. We work on various problems including circadian rhythms, transcriptional bursting, developmental patterning, gene regulation, and single cell imaging. To study these systems we combine theoretical, computational and experimental methods.

Current Research Areas

> Circadian gene regulatory networks in mammals > Chronobiology of the liver > Circadian oscillators in single cells > Interactions of circadian oscilators and cell cycle > Transcriptional bursting and noise in mammalian gene transcription

Would you like to join us for your PhD or Post-doc? See Openings.

Please contact [email protected]

The latest news

Felix Naef. Credit: Alain Herzog (EPFL)

Felix Naef elected EMBO Member

— The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has elected 63 new life scientists to membership, joining more than 1800 of the best researchers in Europe and the world. Among the new members is Professor Felix Naef at EPFL’s Institute of Bioengineering.

iStockPhotos

How our biological clocks are locked in sync

— Scientists from EPFL's Institute of Bioengineering have discovered that our circadian clock and our cell-cycle are in fact, synchronized.

Embryonic stem cells expressing a fluorescent timer fused to the endogenous LaminB1 protein, which coats the nuclear envelope. Credit: Andrea Alber (EPFL)

The birth and death of proteins in a single cell

— A new method developed by EPFL bioengineers has disentangled the “see-saw” balance of protein synthesis and degradation in single cells.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Robust landscapes of ribosome dwell times and aminoacyl-tRNAs in response to nutrient stress in liver

29-07-2020

Translation depends on messenger RNA (mRNA)-specific initiation, elongation, and termination rates. While translation elongation is well studied in bacteria and yeast, less is known in higher eukaryotes. Here we combined ribosome and transfer RNA (tRNA) profiling to investigate the relations between translation elongation rates, (aminoacyl-) tRNA levels, and codon usage in mammals. We modeled codon-specific (…)

Modulation of transcriptional burst frequency by histone acetylation

15-07-2020

Many mammalian genes are transcribed during short bursts of variable frequencies and sizes that substantially contribute to cell-to-cell variability. However, which molecular mechanisms determine bursting properties remains unclear. To probe putative mechanisms, we combined temporal analysis of transcription along the circadian cycle with multiple genomic reporter integrations, using both short-lived luciferase live microscopy and single-molecule (…)

Clock-dependent chromatin topology modulates circadian transcription and behavior

15-07-2020

The circadian clock in animals orchestrates widespread oscillatory gene expression programs, which underlie 24-h rhythms in behavior and physiology. Several studies have shown the possible roles of transcription factors and chromatin marks in controlling cyclic gene expression. However, how daily active enhancers modulate rhythmic gene transcription in mammalian tissues is not known. Using circular chromosome (…)

See all our previous Research Highlights

Contact


Laboratory of Computational and Systems Biology

Monday to Friday: 08.00 – 16.00

Head of laboratory: Prof. Felix Naef
♦ Office AAB 040
♦ Phone:  +41 21 693 16 21
♦ Email: [email protected]

Administrative Assistant: Sophie Barret
♦ Office AAB 038
♦ Phone:  +41 21 693 83 58
♦ Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address:

EPFL SV IBI UPNAE
Prof. Felix Naef
AAB 040
Station 15
CH-1015 Lausanne