Dr Miguel Branco
Reader in Genome Regulation
Research
Epigenetics, Transposable elements, Pregnancy, Placenta, Endometrium
Interests
We are interested in solutions for modelling cellular interactions occurring at the human feto-maternal interface (e.g., trophoblast, endometrial epithelium, decidua, endothelial cells). We want to use these models to test the phenotypic effects of disrupting transposable element activity.Publications
2024
Vasconcelos S, Moustakas I, Branco MR, Guimarães S, Caniçais C, van der Helm T, Ramalho C, Marques CJ, de Sousa Lopes SMC and Dória S (2024). Syncytiotrophoblast Markers Are Downregulated in Placentas from Idiopathic Stillbirths. MDPI International Journal of Molecular Sciences vol. 25, (10)
2023
Cheng KCL, Frost JM, Sánchez-Luque FJ, García-Canãdas M, Taylor D, Yang WR, Irayanar B, Sampath S, Patani H, Agger K, Helin K, Ficz G, Burns KH, Ewing A, García-Pérez JL and Branco MR (2023). Vitamin C activates young LINE-1 elements in mouse embryonic stem cells via H3K9me3 demethylation. Springer Nature Epigenetics & Chromatin vol. 16, (1)
Pezic D, Weeks S, Varsally W, Dewari PS, Pollard S, Branco MR and Hadjur S (2023). The N-terminus of Stag1 is required to repress the 2C program by maintaining rRNA expression and nucleolar integrity. Cell Press Stem Cell Reports
Senner CE, Dong Z, Prater M, Branco MR and Watson ED (2023). One-carbon metabolism is required for epigenetic stability in the mouse placenta. Frontiers Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology vol. 11,
Pal D, Patel M, Boulet F, Sundarraj J, Grant OA, Branco MR, Basu S, Santos SDM, Zabet NR, Scaffidi P and Pradeepa MM (2023). H4K16ac activates the transcription of transposable elements and contributes to their cis-regulatory function. Springer Nature Nature Structural & Molecular Biology vol. 30, (7) 935-947.
Frost JM, Amante SM, Okae H, Jones EM, Ashley B, Lewis RM, Cleal JK, Caley MP, Arima T, Maffucci T and Branco MR (2023). Regulation of human trophoblast gene expression by endogenous retroviruses. Springer Nature Nature Structural & Molecular Biology vol. 30, (4) 527-538.
(2023). Endogenous retroviruses control human placental gene expression. Springer Nature Nature Structural & Molecular Biology vol. 30, (4) 415-416.
Branco MR and Soler ADM (2023). Preface.
2022
Taylor D and Branco MR (2022). Inferring Protein-DNA Binding Profiles at Interspersed Repeats Using HiChIP and PAtChER. Springer Nature Methods in Molecular Biology vol. 2607, 199-214.
Ashley B, Simner C, Manousopoulou A, Jenkinson C, Hey F, Frost JM, Rezwan FI, White CH, Lofthouse EM, Hyde E, Cooke LD, Barton S, Mahon P, Curtis EM, Moon RJ, Crozier SR, Inskip HM, Godfrey KM, Holloway JW, Cooper C, Jones KS, Lewis RM, Hewison M, Garbis SD, Branco MR, Harvey NC and Cleal JK (2022). Placental uptake and metabolism of 25(OH)vitamin D determine its activity within the fetoplacental unit. eLife eLife vol. 11,
2021
Taylor D, Lowe R, Philippe C, Cheng KCL, Grant OA, Zabet NR, Cristofari G and Branco MR (2021). Locus-specific chromatin profiling of evolutionarily young transposable elements. Oxford University Press (OUP) Nucleic Acids Research vol. 50, (6) e33-e33.
Pedraza‐Arevalo S, Ibáñez‐Costa A, Blázquez‐Encinas R, Branco MR, Vázquez‐Borrego MC, Herrera‐Martínez AD, Venegas‐Moreno E, Serrano‐Blanch R, Arjona‐Sánchez Á, Gálvez‐Moreno MA, Korbonits M, Soto‐Moreno A, Gahete MD, Charalambous M, Luque RM and Castaño JP (2021). Epigenetic and post‐transcriptional regulation of somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5) in pituitary and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Wiley Molecular Oncology vol. 16, (3) 764-779.
Antunes C, Da Silva JD, Guerra-Gomes S, Alves ND, Ferreira F, Loureiro-Campos E, Branco MR, Sousa N, Reik W, Pinto L and Marques CJ (2021). Reduced hippocampal ten-eleven translocation 3 (Tet3) protein expression in Tet3 conditional knockout mice. Springer Nature Molecular Psychiatry vol. 26, (5) 1425-1425.
2020
Shendy NAM, Raghu D, Roy S, Perry CH, Safi A, Branco MR, Homayouni R and Abell AN (2020). Coordinated regulation of Rel expression by MAP3K4, CBP, and HDAC6 controls phenotypic switching. Springer Nature Communications Biology vol. 3, (1)
De Borre M and Branco MR (2020). Oxidative Bisulfite Sequencing: An Experimental and Computational Protocol. Springer Nature Methods in Molecular Biology vol. 2198, 333-348.
Deniz Ö, Ahmed M, Todd CD, Rio-Machin A, Dawson MA and Branco MR (2020). Endogenous retroviruses are a source of enhancers with oncogenic potential in acute myeloid leukaemia. Springer Nature Nature Communications vol. 11, (1)
Senner CE, Chrysanthou S, Burge S, Lin H-Y, Branco MR and Hemberger M (2020). TET1 and 5-Hydroxymethylation Preserve the Stem Cell State of Mouse Trophoblast. Elsevier Stem Cell Reports vol. 15, (6) 1301-1316.
Borkowski‐Tillman T, Garcia‐Rodriguez R, Viñals F, Branco M, Kradjen‐Haratz K, Ben‐Sira L, Lerman‐Sagie T and Malinger G (2020). Agenesis of the septum pellucidum: Prenatal diagnosis and outcome. Wiley Prenatal Diagnosis vol. 40, (6) 674-680.
Antunes C, Da Silva JD, Guerra-Gomes S, Alves ND, Ferreira F, Loureiro-Campos E, Branco MR, Sousa N, Reik W, Pinto L and Marques CJ (2020). Tet3 ablation in adult brain neurons increases anxiety-like behavior and regulates cognitive function in mice. Springer Nature Molecular Psychiatry vol. 26, (5) 1445-1457.
Branco MR and Chuong EB (2020). Crossroads between transposons and gene regulation. The Royal Society Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences vol. 375, (1795)
Santiago M, Antunes C, Guedes M, Iacovino M, Kyba M, Reik W, Sousa N, Pinto L, Branco MR and Marques CJ (2020). Correction to: Tet3 regulates cellular identity and DNA methylation in neural progenitor cells. Springer Nature Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences vol. 77, (14) 2885-2885.
Schlesinger S, Branco MR and Mermoud JE (2020). Chapter 7 Roles and regulation of endogenous retroviruses in pluripotency and early development. Stem Cell Epigenetics Elsevier
Santos AC, Branco M and Martins P (2020). Fetal atrial septal aneurysm: a differential diagnosis of aortic arch retrograde flow. BMJ BMJ Case Reports vol. 13, (1)
2019
Santiago M, Antunes C, Guedes M, Iacovino M, Kyba M, Reik W, Sousa N, Pinto L, Branco MR and Marques CJ (2019). Tet3 regulates cellular identity and DNA methylation in neural progenitor cells. Springer Nature Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences vol. 77, (14) 2871-2883.
Carrillo-Jimenez A, Deniz Ö, Niklison-Chirou MV, Ruiz R, Bezerra-Salomão K, Stratoulias V, Amouroux R, Yip PK, Vilalta A, Cheray M, Scott-Egerton AM, Rivas E, Tayara K, García-Domínguez I, Garcia-Revilla J, Fernandez-Martin JC, Espinosa-Oliva AM, Shen X, St George-Hyslop P, Brown GC, Hajkova P, Joseph B, Venero JL, Branco MR and Burguillos MA (2019). TET2 Regulates the Neuroinflammatory Response in Microglia. Elsevier Cell Reports vol. 29, (3) 697-713.e8.
Todd CD, Deniz Ö, Taylor D and Branco MR (2019). Functional evaluation of transposable elements as enhancers in mouse embryonic and trophoblast stem cells. eLife eLife vol. 8,
Deniz Ö, Frost JM and Branco MR (2019). Author Correction: Regulation of transposable elements by DNA modifications. Nat Rev Genet
Deniz Ö, Frost JM and Branco MR (2019). Regulation of transposable elements by DNA modifications. Nat Rev Genet
Olova N, Krueger F, Andrews S, Oxley D, Berrens RV, Branco MR and Reik W (2019). Correction to: Comparison of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing library preparation strategies identifies sources of biases affecting DNA methylation data. Springer Nature Genome Biology vol. 20, (1)
2018
Schoenfelder S, Mifsud B, Senner CE, Todd CD, Chrysanthou S, Darbo E, Hemberger M and Branco MR (2018). Divergent wiring of repressive and active chromatin interactions between mouse embryonic and trophoblast lineages. Springer Nature Nature Communications vol. 9, (1)
Borkowski T, Rodriguez RG, Viñals F, Branco M, Haratz KK, Ben‐Sira L and Malinger G (2018). P11.03: Agenesis of the septum pellucidum: prenatal diagnosis and outcome. Wiley Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology vol. 52, (S1) 164-165.
Pedraza-Arevalo S, Ibanez-Costa A, Vazquez-Borrego MC, Branco M, Galvez-Moreno MA, Soto-Moreo A, Korbonits M, Gahete MD, Charalambous M, Luque RM and Castano JP (2018). Epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation of the SSTR5 gene in somatotropinomas. Bioscientifica Endocrine Abstracts
Olova N, Krueger F, Andrews S, Oxley D, Berrens RV, Branco MR and Reik W (2018). Comparison of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing library preparation strategies identifies sources of biases affecting DNA methylation data. Springer Nature Genome Biology vol. 19, (1)
Deniz Ö, de la Rica L, Cheng KCL, Spensberger D and Branco MR (2018). SETDB1 prevents TET2-dependent activation of IAP retroelements in naïve embryonic stem cells. Springer Nature Genome Biology vol. 19, (1)
2017
Garcia-Gomez A, Li T, Kerick M, Català-Moll F, Comet NR, Rodríguez-Ubreva J, de la Rica L, Branco MR, Martín J and Ballestar E (2017). TET2- and TDG-mediated changes are required for the acquisition of distinct histone modifications in divergent terminal differentiation of myeloid cells. Oxford University Press (OUP) Nucleic Acids Research vol. 45, (17) 10002-10017.
Neves AR, Nunes F, Branco M, do Céu Almeida M and Silva IS (2017). The role of ultrasound in the prediction of birth weight discordance in twin pregnancies: are we there yet? De Gruyter Journal of Perinatal Medicine vol. 46, (2) 163-168.
Barbieri M, Xie SQ, Torlai Triglia E, Chiariello AM, Bianco S, de Santiago I, Branco MR, Rueda D, Nicodemi M and Pombo A (2017). Active and poised promoter states drive folding of the extended HoxB locus in mouse embryonic stem cells. Springer Nature Nature Structural & Molecular Biology vol. 24, (6) 515-524.
Beagrie RA, Scialdone A, Schueler M, Kraemer DCA, Chotalia M, Xie SQ, Barbieri M, de Santiago I, Lavitas L-M, Branco MR, Fraser J, Dostie J, Game L, Dillon N, Edwards PAW, Nicodemi M and Pombo A (2017). Complex multi-enhancer contacts captured by genome architecture mapping. Springer Nature Nature vol. 543, (7646) 519-524.
2016
de la Rica L, Deniz Ö, Cheng KC, Todd CD, Cruz C, Houseley J and Branco MR (2016). TET-dependent regulation of retrotransposable elements in mouse embryonic stem cells. BioMed Central Genome Biol vol. 17, (1) 234-234.
Neves AR, Nunes F, Branco M, do Céu Almeida M and Silva IS (2016). The influence of fetal growth restriction on ultrasound prediction of birth weight discordance in twin pregnancies. Elsevier European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology vol. 206,
Oliveira GN, Branco M, Ramos L and Pereira DF (2016). Congenital dacryocystocoele with prenatal diagnosis. BMJ BMJ Case Reports vol. 2016,
Branco MR, King M, Perez-Garcia V, Bogutz AB, Caley M, Fineberg E, Lefebvre L, Cook SJ, Dean W, Hemberger M and Reik W (2016). Maternal DNA Methylation Regulates Early Trophoblast Development. Elsevier Developmental Cell vol. 36, (2) 152-163.
de la Rica L, Stanley JS and Branco MR (2016). Profiling DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation at Retrotransposable Elements. Springer Nature Methods in Molecular Biology vol. 1400, 387-401.
2015
Maçães A, Fernandes S, Rodrigues C and Branco M (2015). Interstitial ectopic pregnancy managed with local methotrexate. BMJ BMJ Case Reports vol. 2015,
2013
Booth MJ, Ost TWB, Beraldi D, Bell NM, Branco MR, Reik W and Balasubramanian S (2013). Oxidative bisulfite sequencing of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Nat Protoc vol. 8, (10) 1841-1851.
Ficz G, Hore TA, Santos F, Lee HJ, Dean W, Arand J, Krueger F, Oxley D, Paul Y-L, Walter J, Cook SJ, Andrews S, Branco MR and Reik W (2013). FGF signaling inhibition in ESCs drives rapid genome-wide demethylation to the epigenetic ground state of pluripotency. Cell Stem Cell vol. 13, (3) 351-359.
Ficz G, Hore TA, Santos F, Lee HJ, Dean W, Arand J, Krueger F, Oxley D, Paul Y-L, Walter J, Cook SJ, Andrews S, Branco MR and Reik W (2013). FGF signalling inhibition in ESCs drives rapid genome-wide demethylation to the epigenetic ground state of pluripotency. Springer Nature Clinical Epigenetics vol. 5, (Suppl 1)
Branco MR (2013). Bridging genomics technology and biology. Genome Biol vol. 14, (10)
Ficz G, Hore TA, Santos F, Lee HJ, Dean W, Arand J, Krueger F, Oxley D, Paul Y-L, Walter J, Cook SJ, Andrews S, Branco MR and Reik W (2013). FGF signalling inhibition in ESCs drives rapid genome-wide demethylation to the epigenetic ground state of pluripotency. Clinical epigenetics vol. 5, (Suppl 1) S2-S2.
2012
Hackett JA, Reddington JP, Nestor CE, Dunican DS, Branco MR, Reichmann J, Reik W, Surani MA, Adams IR and Meehan RR (2012). Promoter DNA methylation couples genome-defence mechanisms to epigenetic reprogramming in the mouse germline. Development vol. 139, (19) 3623-3632.
Rego JL, Branco M, Ramos L and Galhano E (2012). P33.14: Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy. Wiley Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology vol. 40, (S1) 309-309.
Raiber E-A, Beraldi D, Ficz G, Burgess HE, Branco MR, Murat P, Oxley D, Booth MJ, Reik W and Balasubramanian S (2012). Genome-wide distribution of 5-formylcytosine in embryonic stem cells is associated with transcription and depends on thymine DNA glycosylase. Genome Biol vol. 13, (8)
Arand J, Spieler D, Karius T, Branco MR, Meilinger D, Meissner A, Jenuwein T, Xu G, Leonhardt H, Wolf V and Walter J (2012). In vivo control of CpG and non-CpG DNA methylation by DNA methyltransferases. PLoS Genet vol. 8, (6)
Booth MJ, Branco MR, Ficz G, Oxley D, Krueger F, Reik W and Balasubramanian S (2012). Quantitative sequencing of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at single-base resolution. Science vol. 336, (6083) 934-937.
Krueger C, King MR, Krueger F, Branco MR, Osborne CS, Niakan KK, Higgins MJ and Reik W (2012). Pairing of homologous regions in the mouse genome is associated with transcription but not imprinting status. PLoS One vol. 7, (7)
2011
Branco MR, Ficz G and Reik W (2011). Uncovering the role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in the epigenome. Nat Rev Genet vol. 13, (1) 7-13.
Ficz G, Branco MR, Seisenberger S, Santos F, Krueger F, Hore TA, Marques CJ, Andrews S and Reik W (2011). Dynamic regulation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in mouse ES cells and during differentiation. Nature vol. 473, (7347) 398-402.
2010
Ramos F, Maia S, Branco M, Raposo J, Sá J, Sousa S, Venâncio M, Pina R, Galhano E, Ramos L and Saraiva J (2010). Accuracy of Prenatal Diagnosis in Elective Termination of Pregnancy: 385 Cases from 2000 to 2007. Hindawi International Scholarly Research Notices vol. 2011, (1)
Ferrai C, Xie SQ, Luraghi P, Munari D, Ramirez F, Branco MR, Pombo A and Crippa MP (2010). Poised transcription factories prime silent uPA gene prior to activation. PLoS Biol vol. 8, (1)
2009
Redrup L, Branco MR, Perdeaux ER, Krueger C, Lewis A, Santos F, Nagano T, Cobb BS, Fraser P and Reik W (2009). The long noncoding RNA Kcnq1ot1 organises a lineage-specific nuclear domain for epigenetic gene silencing. DEVELOPMENT vol. 136, (4) 525-530.
2008
Branco MR, Oda M and Reik W (2008). Safeguarding parental identity: Dnmt1 maintains imprints during epigenetic reprogramming in early embryogenesis. Genes Dev vol. 22, (12) 1567-1571.
Noordermeer D, Branco MR, Splinter E, Klous P, van IJcken W, Swagemakers S, Koutsourakis M, van der Spek P, Pombo A and de Laat W (2008). Correction: Transcription and Chromatin Organization of a Housekeeping Gene Cluster Containing an Integrated β-Globin Locus Control Region. Public Library of Science (PLoS) PLOS Genetics vol. 4, (3)
Noordermeer D, Branco MR, Splinter E, Klous P, van Ijcken W, Swagemakers S, Koutsourakis M, van der Spek P, Pombo A and de Laat W (2008). Transcription and chromatin organization of a housekeeping gene cluster containing an integrated beta-globin locus control region. PLoS Genet vol. 4, (3)
Branco MR, Branco T, Ramirez F and Pombo A (2008). Changes in chromosome organization during PHA-activation of resting human lymphocytes measured by cryo-FISH. Chromosome Res vol. 16, (3) 413-426.
2007
Pombo A and Branco MR (2007). Functional organisation of the genome during interphase. Curr Opin Genet Dev vol. 17, (5) 451-455.
Branco MR and Pombo A (2007). Chromosome organization: new facts, new models. Trends Cell Biol vol. 17, (3) 127-134.
2006
Branco MR and Pombo A (2006). Intermingling of chromosome territories in interphase suggests role in translocations and transcription-dependent associations. PLoS Biol vol. 4, (5)
BRANCO M, Xie SQ, Martin S and Pombo A (2006). Correlative microscopy using Tokuyasu cryosections: applications for immunolabeling and in situ hybridization. Cell Imaging , Editors: Stephens D. Scion Publishing Ltd
2005
Rodrigues CT, Branco MR, Ferreira ID, Nordeste A, Fonseca M, Taborda A, Silva IS and Almeida MDC (2005). [Multiple gestation epidemiology--15 years survey]. Acta Med Port vol. 18, (2) 107-111.
Ferreira I, Laureano C, Branco M, Nordeste A, Fonseca M, Pinheiro A, Silva MI and Almeida MC (2005). Chorionicity and adverse perinatal outcome. Acta Médica Portuguesa vol. 18, (3) 183-188.
2004
Branco MR, Marinho HS, Cyrne L and Antunes F (2004). Decrease of H2O2 plasma membrane permeability during adaptation to H2O2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem vol. 279, (8) 6501-6506.
Grants
Epigenomic Cell-Free Biomarker Analysis for Liquid Biopsies
Miguel Branco, Stamatina Iliodromiti, Christopher Bell and Gabriella Ficz
£3,189,696 Barts and the London Charity (01-02-2024 - 31-01-2029)
Miguel Branco, Stamatina Iliodromiti, Christopher Bell and Gabriella Ficz
£3,189,696 Barts and the London Charity (01-02-2024 - 31-01-2029)
LIDO iCase: Impact of pregnancy-specific glycoproteins on development and ageing (PI: Miguel Branco)
Miguel Branco
£80,000 Altos Labs (01-09-2023 - 31-08-2027)
Miguel Branco
£80,000 Altos Labs (01-09-2023 - 31-08-2027)
Modelling the impact of maternal infection and inflammation on placental trophoblast function
Claire Bourke, Stamatina Iliodromiti and Miguel Branco
£75,000 Barts and the London Charity (01-09-2023 - 28-02-2025)
Claire Bourke, Stamatina Iliodromiti and Miguel Branco
£75,000 Barts and the London Charity (01-09-2023 - 28-02-2025)
Epigenetic regulation of cell-autonomous type I interferon responses in trophoblast
Miguel Branco
£487,986 MRC Medical Research Council (01-03-2023 - 28-02-2026)
Miguel Branco
£487,986 MRC Medical Research Council (01-03-2023 - 28-02-2026)
Can transposable element expression drive placental inflammation?
Miguel Branco
£50,000 Borne Foundation (01-09-2022 - 31-08-2024)
Miguel Branco
£50,000 Borne Foundation (01-09-2022 - 31-08-2024)
Investigating genetic links between transposable elements and pregnancy complications
Miguel Branco
£50,000 Barts and the London Charity (01-05-2021 - 31-12-2022)
Miguel Branco
£50,000 Barts and the London Charity (01-05-2021 - 31-12-2022)
The role of endogenous retroviruses in the development of the primate placenta
Jennifer Frost and Miguel Branco
£7,310 The Leakey Foundation (15-12-2020 - 11-01-2023)
Jennifer Frost and Miguel Branco
£7,310 The Leakey Foundation (15-12-2020 - 11-01-2023)
Assessing the impact of endogenous retroviruses on trophoblast gene regulation
Miguel Branco
£483,247 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (11-11-2019 - 31-03-2023)
Miguel Branco
£483,247 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (11-11-2019 - 31-03-2023)
INVestigating the Activity of transposon-DErived Regulatory Sequences in the human placenta
Miguel Branco
£179,947 EU Commission - Horizon 2020 (01-05-2019 - 30-04-2021)
Miguel Branco
£179,947 EU Commission - Horizon 2020 (01-05-2019 - 30-04-2021)
NPM1 OUT Transposons IN: Transposons as A Potential Source of Oncogenic Regulatory Elements in NPM1c
Ozgen Deniz and Miguel Branco
£24,150 Barts and the London Charity (01-02-2019 - 01-11-2020)
Ozgen Deniz and Miguel Branco
£24,150 Barts and the London Charity (01-02-2019 - 01-11-2020)
Novel approaches for epigenomic profiling of repetitive elements
Miguel Branco
£106,212 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (01-10-2017 - 31-10-2021)
Miguel Branco
£106,212 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (01-10-2017 - 31-10-2021)
Epigenetic influence of retrotransposons on the Genome - PhD Todd
Miguel Branco
£18,560 MCSBHT Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital Trust (01-09-2017 - 30-09-2018)
Miguel Branco
£18,560 MCSBHT Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital Trust (01-09-2017 - 30-09-2018)
Novel approaches for Epigenomic Profiling of Repetitive Elements
Miguel Branco
£84,245 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (01-08-2017 - 31-07-2018)
Miguel Branco
£84,245 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (01-08-2017 - 31-07-2018)
Epigenetic control of retrotransposable elements
Miguel Branco
£1,023,870 Wellcome Trust (01-10-2013 - 30-09-2019)
Miguel Branco
£1,023,870 Wellcome Trust (01-10-2013 - 30-09-2019)