Publications by Kristina Makasheva

Cooperation between bHLH transcription factors and histones for DNA access

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors recognizes DNA motifs known as E-boxes (CANNTG) and includes 108 members(1). Here we investigate how chromatinized E-boxes are engaged by two structurally diverse bHLH proteins: the proto-on ...

NATURE PORTFOLIO2023

Development of multiplexed single-molecule imaging techniques to study chromatin invasion dynamics of chromatin effector proteins

Kristina Makasheva

DNA-binding proteins physically interact with the DNA and directly affect genomic functions. The eukaryotic genome is compacted into chromatin, limiting the DNA access to nuclear factors. In this Ph.D. thesis, I explored the dynamic mechanisms, that allow ...

EPFL2023

Multiplexed single-molecule experiments reveal Cas9 nucleosome invasion dynamics

Beat Fierz, Louise Catherine Bryan, Kristina Makasheva

CELL PRESS2022

A single-molecule multiplexed approach to study Cas9 nucleosomes invasion

Beat Fierz, Louise Catherine Bryan, Kristina Makasheva

SPRINGER2021

Multiplexed Single-Molecule Experiments Reveal Nucleosome Invasion Dynamics of the Cas9 Genome Editor

Beat Fierz, Louise Catherine Bryan, Kristina Makasheva

Single-molecule measurements provide detailed mechanistic insights into molecular processes, for example in genome regulation where DNA access is controlled by nucleosomes and the chromatin machinery. However, real-time single-molecule observations of nucl ...

AMER CHEMICAL SOC2021

Structural mechanism of cGAS inhibition by the nucleosome

Rudolf Hovius, Beat Fierz, Andrea Ablasser, Baptiste Claude André Guey, Alexiane Clara Decout, Pauline Ambre Melenec, Simone Cavadini, Kristina Makasheva, Sélène-Véronique Glück

The DNA sensor cGAS initiates innate immune responses following microbial infection, cellular stress, and cancer1. Upon activation by double-stranded DNA, cytosolic cGAS produces 2’3’ cyclic GMP-AMP and triggers inflammatory cytokine and type I interferon ...

2020

Requirements for DNA bubble structure for efficient cleavage by helix-two-turn-helix DNA glycosylases

Kristina Makasheva

Oxidative DNA lesions, constantly generated by both endogenous and environmentally induced reactive oxygen species, are removed via the base excision repair pathway. In bacteria, Fpg and Nei DNA glycosylases, belonging to the helix-two-turn-helix (H2TH) st ...

2020

BAF restricts cGAS on nuclear DNA to prevent innate immune activation

Mahmut Selman Sakar, Beat Fierz, Andrea Ablasser, Baptiste Claude André Guey, Alexiane Clara Decout, Murat Kaynak, Kristina Makasheva, Marilena Wischnewski

The appearance of DNA in the cytosol is perceived as a danger signal that stimulates potent immune responses through cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS). How cells regulate the activity of cGAS toward self-DNA and guard a ...

American Association for the Advancement of Science2020