Miguel Montez
Research Fellow Wellcome Early Career Fellow
Miguel studies fundamental principles of chromatin regulation that enable plants to sense and respond to the environment.
In organisms such as plants, animals and fungi, the DNA forms a complex with proteins, known as chromatin. By reshaping chromatin, cells can access different layers of information encoded in the same genetic material in response to environmental cues. Yet, key questions remain: How is chromatin organised inside cells? And what are its dynamics and regulation?
To answer these questions, Dr Montez investigates the biochemical, biophysical, and structural aspects of chromatin in the context of environmental responses in plants. His research focuses on two timescales of critical importance: (1) slow and stable responses to long-term temperature exposure, and (2) rapid and reversible responses occurring within daily rhythms.
Ultimately, this work addresses one of the most pressing challenges of our time: ensuring food security and sustainability under the pressure of climate change.
Selected Publications
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Montez M, Zhu D, Huertas J, Maristany MJ, Rutjens B, Nielsen M, Collepardo-Guevara R, Dean C (2025)Cold-induced nucleosome dynamics linked to silencing of Arabidopsis FLC.Nature CommunicationsPublisher's version: 2041-1723
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Mateo-Bonmatí E, Montez M, Maple R, Fiedler M, Fang X, Saalbach G, Passmore LA, Dean C (2024)A CPF-like phosphatase module links transcription termination to chromatin silencing.Molecular cellPublisher's version: 1097-2765