Gabor Papai
Biography
Gabor Papai is an Inserm researcher (CRHC) at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), University of Strasbourg, France. His research lies at the interface of chromatin biology and gene regulation to understand how the organisation of DNA into chromatin controls transcription in eukaryotic cells.
He trained in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Szeged (Hungary), where he obtained his PhD, and began his career at the Biological Research Centre in Szeged. He later moved to France for postdoctoral work at IGBMC, where he established his research career within Inserm - the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. His work combines biochemical and structural approaches, including cryo-electron microscopy, to investigate the molecular basis of transcriptional regulation.
His research has led to major advances in understanding the structure and function of key chromatin-associated complexes, such as SAGA, TFIID, and TIP60, which play central roles in regulating gene expression. His studies, published in leading journals including Nature and Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, have revealed how these complexes interact with nucleosomes to control transcription initiation and chromatin modification.
In addition to his research, Dr. Papai is actively involved in the scientific community through grant and project evaluation (ANR, FRISBI, INSTRUCT), committee service, and teaching at the University of Strasbourg. His contributions have been recognised by several awards, including “Les grandes avancées françaises en biologie” in 2020 – a prize for major breakthroughs in biology awarded by the French Academy of Sciences, as well as competitive national and international funding.
Fellowship 2026
Dates - 01/12/2026-31/12/2028
Project summary
MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF CHROMATIN REMODELLING BY THE HUMAN NCBAF COMPLEX
DNA in human cells is tightly packed into a structure called chromatin, which helps organise the genome but also restricts access to genetic information. To allow essential processes such as gene expression and DNA repair, cells rely on specialised molecular machines known as chromatin remodelers. These complexes use energy to reposition or remove nucleosomes, the fundamental units of chromatin, thereby regulating access to DNA. Among these, the SWI/SNF family plays a central role in controlling gene activity, and its dysfunction is frequently linked to human diseases, including cancer.
This project focuses on a poorly understood member of this family, the non-canonical BAF (ncBAF) complex. Unlike other SWI/SNF subtypes, ncBAF has a distinct composition, lacking key structural components while incorporating unique subunits. As a result, its molecular architecture, mechanism of action, and mode of recruitment to chromatin remain largely unknown. Addressing these questions represents a major challenge at the forefront of chromatin biology. Dr. Papai plans to combine state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy with biochemical and functional approaches to characterise ncBAF at high resolution in complex with nucleosomes. In parallel, the project will investigate its interactome and composition across different cellular contexts.
Concretely, the project aims to elucidate how ncBAF engages and remodels nucleosomes and to uncover the molecular determinants of its recruitment and specificity. These insights will clarify how ncBAF regulates gene expression and why it is essential for the survival of certain cancer cells. By providing a detailed mechanistic framework, this work will advance our understanding of chromatin regulation and may open new avenues for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
