Dr Miguel Branco

Miguel Branco

Reader in Genome Regulation

Blizard Institute
Queen Mary University of London
brancolaboratory.com

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

solid heart iconPublications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models

2024

Syncytiotrophoblast Markers Are Downregulated in Placentas from Idiopathic Stillbirths
Vasconcelos S, Moustakas I, Branco MR, Guimarães S, Caniçais C, van der Helm T, Ramalho C, Marques CJ et al.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Mdpi vol. 25 (10) 
09-05-2024

2023

Vitamin C activates young LINE-1 elements in mouse embryonic stem cells via H3K9me3 demethylation
Cheng KCL, Frost JM, Sánchez-Luque FJ, García-Canãdas M, Taylor D, Yang WR, Irayanar B, Sampath S et al.
Epigenetics & Chromatin, Springer Nature vol. 16 (1) 
16-10-2023
The N-terminus of Stag1 is required to repress the 2C program by maintaining rRNA expression and nucleolar integrity.
Pezic D, Weeks S, Varsally W, Dewari PS, Pollard S, Branco MR, Hadjur S
Stem Cell Reports, Cell Press 
05-10-2023
One-carbon metabolism is required for epigenetic stability in the mouse placenta
Senner CE, Dong Z, Prater M, Branco MR, Watson ED
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, Frontiers vol. 11 
27-06-2023
H4K16ac activates the transcription of transposable elements and contributes to their cis-regulatory function
Pal D, Patel M, Boulet F, Sundarraj J, Grant OA, Branco MR, Basu S, Santos SDM et al.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Springer Nature vol. 30 (7), 935-947.  
12-06-2023
Regulation of human trophoblast gene expression by endogenous retroviruses
Frost JM, Amante SM, Okae H, Jones EM, Ashley B, Lewis RM, Cleal JK, Caley MP et al.
Nature Structural &Amp; Molecular Biology, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 30 (4), 527-538.  
01-04-2023
Endogenous retroviruses control human placental gene expression

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Springer Nature vol. 30 (4), 415-416.  
01-04-2023
Preface
Branco MR, Soler ADM
 
01-01-2023

2022

Inferring Protein-DNA Binding Profiles at Interspersed Repeats Using HiChIP and PAtChER
Taylor D, Branco MR
Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Nature vol. 2607, 199-214.  
01-12-2022
Placental uptake and metabolism of 25(OH)vitamin D determine its activity within the fetoplacental unit
Ashley B, Simner C, Manousopoulou A, Jenkinson C, Hey F, Frost JM, Rezwan FI, White CH et al.
Elife, Elife vol. 11 
08-03-2022

2021

Locus-specific chromatin profiling of evolutionarily young transposable elements
Taylor D, Lowe R, Philippe C, Cheng KCL, Grant OA, Zabet NR, Cristofari G, Branco MR
Nucleic Acids Research, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 50 (6), e33-e33.  
15-12-2021
Epigenetic and post‐transcriptional regulation of somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5) in pituitary and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Pedraza‐Arevalo S, Ibáñez‐Costa A, Blázquez‐Encinas R, Branco MR, Vázquez‐Borrego MC, Herrera‐Martínez AD, Venegas‐Moreno E, Serrano‐Blanch R et al.
Molecular Oncology, Wiley vol. 16 (3), 764-779.  
26-10-2021
Reduced hippocampal ten-eleven translocation 3 (Tet3) protein expression in Tet3 conditional knockout mice
Antunes C, Da Silva JD, Guerra-Gomes S, Alves ND, Ferreira F, Loureiro-Campos E, Branco MR, Sousa N et al.
Molecular Psychiatry, Springer Nature vol. 26 (5), 1425-1425.  
01-05-2021

2020

Coordinated regulation of Rel expression by MAP3K4, CBP, and HDAC6 controls phenotypic switching
Shendy NAM, Raghu D, Roy S, Perry CH, Safi A, Branco MR, Homayouni R, Abell AN
Communications Biology, Springer Nature vol. 3 (1) 
28-08-2020
Oxidative Bisulfite Sequencing: An Experimental and Computational Protocol
De Borre M, Branco MR
Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Nature vol. 2198, 333-348.  
22-08-2020
Endogenous retroviruses are a source of enhancers with oncogenic potential in acute myeloid leukaemia
Deniz Ö, Ahmed M, Todd CD, Rio-Machin A, Dawson MA, Branco MR
Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 11 (1) 
14-07-2020
TET1 and 5-Hydroxymethylation Preserve the Stem Cell State of Mouse Trophoblast
Senner CE, Chrysanthou S, Burge S, Lin H-Y, Branco MR, Hemberger M
Stem Cell Reports, Elsevier vol. 15 (6), 1301-1316.  
21-05-2020
Agenesis of the septum pellucidum: Prenatal diagnosis and outcome
Borkowski‐Tillman T, Garcia‐Rodriguez R, Viñals F, Branco M, Kradjen‐Haratz K, Ben‐Sira L, Lerman‐Sagie T, Malinger G
Prenatal Diagnosis, Wiley vol. 40 (6), 674-680.  
31-03-2020
Tet3 ablation in adult brain neurons increases anxiety-like behavior and regulates cognitive function in mice
Antunes C, Da Silva JD, Guerra-Gomes S, Alves ND, Ferreira F, Loureiro-Campos E, Branco MR, Sousa N et al.
Molecular Psychiatry, Springer Nature vol. 26 (5), 1445-1457.  
26-02-2020
Crossroads between transposons and gene regulation
Branco MR, Chuong EB
Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences, The Royal Society vol. 375 (1795) 
10-02-2020
Correction to: Tet3 regulates cellular identity and DNA methylation in neural progenitor cells
Santiago M, Antunes C, Guedes M, Iacovino M, Kyba M, Reik W, Sousa N, Pinto L et al.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Springer Nature vol. 77 (14), 2885-2885.  
09-01-2020
Chapter 7 Roles and regulation of endogenous retroviruses in pluripotency and early development
Schlesinger S, Branco MR, Mermoud JE
In Stem Cell Epigenetics, Elsevier 155-186.  
01-01-2020
Fetal atrial septal aneurysm: a differential diagnosis of aortic arch retrograde flow
Santos AC, Branco M, Martins P
Bmj Case Reports, Bmj vol. 13 (1) 
01-01-2020

2019

Tet3 regulates cellular identity and DNA methylation in neural progenitor cells
Santiago M, Antunes C, Guedes M, Iacovino M, Kyba M, Reik W, Sousa N, Pinto L et al.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Springer Nature vol. 77 (14), 2871-2883.  
23-10-2019
TET2 Regulates the Neuroinflammatory Response in Microglia
Carrillo-Jimenez A, Deniz Ö, Niklison-Chirou MV, Ruiz R, Bezerra-Salomão K, Stratoulias V, Amouroux R, Yip PK et al.
Cell Reports, Elsevier vol. 29 (3), 697-713.e8.  
01-10-2019
Functional evaluation of transposable elements as enhancers in mouse embryonic and trophoblast stem cells
Todd CD, Deniz Ö, Taylor D, Branco MR
Elife, Elife vol. 8 
23-04-2019
Author Correction: Regulation of transposable elements by DNA modifications.
Deniz Ö, Frost JM, Branco MR
Nat Rev Genet 
20-03-2019
Regulation of transposable elements by DNA modifications.
Deniz Ö, Frost JM, Branco MR
Nat Rev Genet 
12-03-2019
Correction to: Comparison of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing library preparation strategies identifies sources of biases affecting DNA methylation data
Olova N, Krueger F, Andrews S, Oxley D, Berrens RV, Branco MR, Reik W
Genome Biology, Springer Nature vol. 20 (1) 
22-02-2019

2018

Divergent wiring of repressive and active chromatin interactions between mouse embryonic and trophoblast lineages
Schoenfelder S, Mifsud B, Senner CE, Todd CD, Chrysanthou S, Darbo E, Hemberger M, Branco MR
Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 9 (1) 
10-10-2018
P11.03: Agenesis of the septum pellucidum: prenatal diagnosis and outcome
Borkowski T, Rodriguez RG, Viñals F, Branco M, Haratz KK, Ben‐Sira L, Malinger G
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wiley vol. 52 (S1), 164-165.  
01-10-2018
Epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation of the SSTR5 gene in somatotropinomas
Pedraza-Arevalo S, Ibanez-Costa A, Vazquez-Borrego MC, Branco M, Galvez-Moreno MA, Soto-Moreo A, Korbonits M, Gahete MD et al.
Endocrine Abstracts, Bioscientifica 
08-05-2018
Comparison of whole-genome bisulfite sequencing library preparation strategies identifies sources of biases affecting DNA methylation data
Olova N, Krueger F, Andrews S, Oxley D, Berrens RV, Branco MR, Reik W
Genome Biology, Springer Nature vol. 19 (1) 
15-03-2018
SETDB1 prevents TET2-dependent activation of IAP retroelements in naïve embryonic stem cells
Deniz Ö, de la Rica L, Cheng KCL, Spensberger D, Branco MR
Genome Biology, Springer Nature vol. 19 (1) 
19-01-2018

2017

TET2- and TDG-mediated changes are required for the acquisition of distinct histone modifications in divergent terminal differentiation of myeloid cells
Garcia-Gomez A, Li T, Kerick M, Català-Moll F, Comet NR, Rodríguez-Ubreva J, de la Rica L, Branco MR et al.
Nucleic Acids Research, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 45 (17), 10002-10017.  
29-07-2017
The role of ultrasound in the prediction of birth weight discordance in twin pregnancies: are we there yet?
Neves AR, Nunes F, Branco M, do Céu Almeida M, Silva IS
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, De Gruyter vol. 46 (2), 163-168.  
29-07-2017
Active and poised promoter states drive folding of the extended HoxB locus in mouse embryonic stem cells
Barbieri M, Xie SQ, Torlai Triglia E, Chiariello AM, Bianco S, de Santiago I, Branco MR, Rueda D et al.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Springer Nature vol. 24 (6), 515-524.  
24-04-2017
Complex multi-enhancer contacts captured by genome architecture mapping
Beagrie RA, Scialdone A, Schueler M, Kraemer DCA, Chotalia M, Xie SQ, Barbieri M, de Santiago I et al.
Nature, Springer Nature vol. 543 (7646), 519-524.  
01-03-2017

2016

TET-dependent regulation of retrotransposable elements in mouse embryonic stem cells.
de la Rica L, Deniz Ö, Cheng KC, Todd CD, Cruz C, Houseley J, Branco MR
Genome Biol, Biomed Central vol. 17 (1), 234-234.  
18-11-2016
The influence of fetal growth restriction on ultrasound prediction of birth weight discordance in twin pregnancies
Neves AR, Nunes F, Branco M, do Céu Almeida M, Silva IS
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Elsevier vol. 206 
01-11-2016
Congenital dacryocystocoele with prenatal diagnosis
Oliveira GN, Branco M, Ramos L, Pereira DF
Bmj Case Reports, Bmj vol. 2016 
10-05-2016
Maternal DNA Methylation Regulates Early Trophoblast Development
Branco MR, King M, Perez-Garcia V, Bogutz AB, Caley M, Fineberg E, Lefebvre L, Cook SJ et al.
Developmental Cell, Elsevier Bv vol. 36 (2), 152-163.  
01-01-2016
Profiling DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation at Retrotransposable Elements
de la Rica L, Stanley JS, Branco MR
Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Nature vol. 1400, 387-401.  
01-01-2016

2015

Interstitial ectopic pregnancy managed with local methotrexate
Maçães A, Fernandes S, Rodrigues C, Branco M
Bmj Case Reports, Bmj vol. 2015 
09-10-2015

2013

Oxidative bisulfite sequencing of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine.
Booth MJ, Ost TWB, Beraldi D, Bell NM, Branco MR, Reik W, Balasubramanian S
Nat Protoc vol. 8 (10), 1841-1851.  
01-10-2013
FGF signaling inhibition in ESCs drives rapid genome-wide demethylation to the epigenetic ground state of pluripotency.
Ficz G, Hore TA, Santos F, Lee HJ, Dean W, Arand J, Krueger F, Oxley D et al.
Cell Stem Cell vol. 13 (3), 351-359.  
05-09-2013
FGF signalling inhibition in ESCs drives rapid genome-wide demethylation to the epigenetic ground state of pluripotency
Ficz G, Hore TA, Santos F, Lee HJ, Dean W, Arand J, Krueger F, Oxley D et al.
Clinical Epigenetics, Springer Nature vol. 5 (Suppl 1) 
01-08-2013
Bridging genomics technology and biology.
Branco MR
Genome Biol vol. 14 (10) 
01-01-2013
FGF signalling inhibition in ESCs drives rapid genome-wide demethylation to the epigenetic ground state of pluripotency
Ficz G, Hore TA, Santos F, Lee HJ, Dean W, Arand J, Krueger F, Oxley D et al.
Clinical Epigenetics vol. 5 (Suppl 1), S2-S2.  
01-01-2013

2012

Promoter DNA methylation couples genome-defence mechanisms to epigenetic reprogramming in the mouse germline.
Hackett JA, Reddington JP, Nestor CE, Dunican DS, Branco MR, Reichmann J, Reik W, Surani MA et al.
Development vol. 139 (19), 3623-3632.  
01-10-2012
P33.14: Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy
Rego JL, Branco M, Ramos L, Galhano E
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wiley vol. 40 (S1), 309-309.  
01-09-2012
Genome-wide distribution of 5-formylcytosine in embryonic stem cells is associated with transcription and depends on thymine DNA glycosylase.
Raiber E-A, Beraldi D, Ficz G, Burgess HE, Branco MR, Murat P, Oxley D, Booth MJ et al.
Genome Biol vol. 13 (8) 
17-08-2012
In vivo control of CpG and non-CpG DNA methylation by DNA methyltransferases.
Arand J, Spieler D, Karius T, Branco MR, Meilinger D, Meissner A, Jenuwein T, Xu G et al.
Plos Genet vol. 8 (6) 
01-06-2012
Quantitative sequencing of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at single-base resolution.
Booth MJ, Branco MR, Ficz G, Oxley D, Krueger F, Reik W, Balasubramanian S
Science vol. 336 (6083), 934-937.  
18-05-2012
Pairing of homologous regions in the mouse genome is associated with transcription but not imprinting status.
Krueger C, King MR, Krueger F, Branco MR, Osborne CS, Niakan KK, Higgins MJ, Reik W
Plos One vol. 7 (7) 
01-01-2012
Intermingling of chromosome territories, translocations and interchromosomal associations
Pombo A, Branco MR
 
01-01-2012
2i inhibition of Erk1/2 and Gsk3β drives genome-wide demethylation to the epigenetic ground state of pluripotency
Ficz G, Hore T, Santos F, Krueger F, Oxley D, Cook SJ, Xu G, Andrews S et al.
 
01-01-2012

2011

Uncovering the role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in the epigenome.
Branco MR, Ficz G, Reik W
Nat Rev Genet vol. 13 (1), 7-13.  
15-11-2011
Dynamic regulation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in mouse ES cells and during differentiation.
Ficz G, Branco MR, Seisenberger S, Santos F, Krueger F, Hore TA, Marques CJ, Andrews S et al.
Nature vol. 473 (7347), 398-402.  
19-05-2011

2010

Accuracy of Prenatal Diagnosis in Elective Termination of Pregnancy: 385 Cases from 2000 to 2007
Ramos F, Maia S, Branco M, Raposo J, Sá J, Sousa S, Venâncio M, Pina R et al.
International Scholarly Research Notices, Hindawi vol. 2011 (1) 
08-11-2010
Poised transcription factories prime silent uPA gene prior to activation.
Ferrai C, Xie SQ, Luraghi P, Munari D, Ramirez F, Branco MR, Pombo A, Crippa MP
Plos Biol vol. 8 (1) 
01-01-2010

2009

The long noncoding RNA Kcnq1ot1 organises a lineage-specific nuclear domain for epigenetic gene silencing
Redrup L, Branco MR, Perdeaux ER, Krueger C, Lewis A, Santos F, Nagano T, Cobb BS et al.
Development vol. 136 (4), 525-530.  
15-02-2009

2008

Safeguarding parental identity: Dnmt1 maintains imprints during epigenetic reprogramming in early embryogenesis.
Branco MR, Oda M, Reik W
Genes Dev vol. 22 (12), 1567-1571.  
15-06-2008
Correction: Transcription and Chromatin Organization of a Housekeeping Gene Cluster Containing an Integrated β-Globin Locus Control Region
Noordermeer D, Branco MR, Splinter E, Klous P, van IJcken W, Swagemakers S, Koutsourakis M, van der Spek P et al.
Plos Genetics, Public Library of Science (Plos) vol. 4 (3) 
28-03-2008
Transcription and chromatin organization of a housekeeping gene cluster containing an integrated beta-globin locus control region.
Noordermeer D, Branco MR, Splinter E, Klous P, van Ijcken W, Swagemakers S, Koutsourakis M, van der Spek P et al.
Plos Genet vol. 4 (3) 
07-03-2008
Changes in chromosome organization during PHA-activation of resting human lymphocytes measured by cryo-FISH.
Branco MR, Branco T, Ramirez F, Pombo A
Chromosome Res vol. 16 (3), 413-426.  
01-01-2008

2007

Functional organisation of the genome during interphase.
Pombo A, Branco MR
Curr Opin Genet Dev vol. 17 (5), 451-455.  
01-10-2007
Chromosome organization: new facts, new models.
Branco MR, Pombo A
Trends Cell Biol vol. 17 (3), 127-134.  
01-03-2007

2006

Intermingling of chromosome territories in interphase suggests role in translocations and transcription-dependent associations.
Branco MR, Pombo A
Plos Biol vol. 4 (5) 
01-05-2006
Correlative microscopy using Tokuyasu cryosections: applications for immunolabeling and in situ hybridization
BRANCO M, Xie SQ, Martin S, Pombo A
In Cell Imaging, Scion Publishing Ltd 
01-01-2006
Mapping chromosome interactions in the nucleus of mammalian cells
Pombo A, Branco MR
 
01-01-2006

2005

[Multiple gestation epidemiology--15 years survey].
Rodrigues CT, Branco MR, Ferreira ID, Nordeste A, Fonseca M, Taborda A, Silva IS, Almeida MDC
Acta Med Port vol. 18 (2), 107-111.  
01-01-2005
Chorionicity and adverse perinatal outcome.
Ferreira I, Laureano C, Branco M, Nordeste A, Fonseca M, Pinheiro A, Silva MI, Almeida MC
Acta MéDica Portuguesa vol. 18 (3), 183-188.  
01-01-2005

2004

Decrease of H2O2 plasma membrane permeability during adaptation to H2O2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Branco MR, Marinho HS, Cyrne L, Antunes F
J Biol Chem vol. 279 (8), 6501-6506.  
20-02-2004
Regulation of the permeability of biomembranes to H2O2: Implications for redox compartmentalization
Branco MR, Pedros N, Sousa-Lopes A, Marinho HS, Cyrne L, Antunes F
 
01-01-2004

Grants

solid heart iconGrants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
solid heart iconInvestigating the roles of endogenous retro viruses as regulators of gene expression in the endometrial epithelium
Miguel Branco
£731,019 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
28-07-2025 - 27-07-2028
bullet iconEpigenomic 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
bullet iconLIDO 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
bullet iconEpigenetic regulation of cell-autonomous type I interferon responses in trophoblast
Miguel Branco
£487,986 MRC Medical Research Council
01-03-2023 - 28-02-2026

bullet iconModelling 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
bullet iconCan transposable element expression drive placental inflammation?
Miguel Branco
£50,000 Borne Foundation
01-09-2022 - 31-08-2024
bullet iconInvestigating genetic links between transposable elements and pregnancy complications
Miguel Branco
£50,000 Barts and the London Charity
01-05-2021 - 31-12-2022
bullet iconThe 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
bullet iconAssessing 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
bullet iconINVestigating 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
bullet iconNPM1 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
bullet iconNovel approaches for epigenomic profiling of repetitive elements
Miguel Branco
£106,212 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-10-2017 - 31-10-2021
bullet iconEpigenetic 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
bullet iconNovel approaches for Epigenomic Profiling of Repetitive Elements
Miguel Branco
£84,245 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-08-2017 - 31-07-2018
bullet iconEpigenetic control of retrotransposable elements
Miguel Branco
£1,023,870 Wellcome Trust
01-10-2013 - 30-09-2019