Bradley R. Cairns

Cairns contributed to the understanding of chromatin organization and gene expression. Specifically, he discovered and characterized SWI/SNF and RSC ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers, how RSC ATPase binds and pumps DNA directionally, and how this activity is regulated. He also studied the RNA polymerase III transcriptome, and sperm retention of histones at key developmental genes poised for activation by specific histone and DNA modifications. In addition, he researched post-fertilization maternal chromatin reprogramming to match the paternal genome, and developed Aza-IP methodology for identifying RNA cytosine methylation sites and their candidate methylases.