Mechanisms of eukaryotic transcriptional regulation 

Sheila Teves, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Gene Regulation
University of British Columbia 
Vancouver, BC, Canada

This conference is hosted by François Robert, PhD. This conference is part of the 2025-2026 IRCM conference calendar.

About this conference
The Teves lab is dedicated to uncovering the fundamental molecular mechanisms of gene regulation, with a specific focus on the dynamics of transcription machinery and the preservation of cell identity across the cell cycle. In this seminar, I will explore the dynamic mechanisms that govern transcriptional regulation, challenging the long-standing paradigm of a universal requirement for the TATA-binding protein (TBP) in RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. Drawing on recent findings from our laboratory, I will discuss how Pol II can initiate transcription independently of TBP, as well as the functional divergence of TBP homologs through their distinct DNA-binding kinetics. Furthermore, I will present our work on how cells navigate the structural challenges of mitosis, specifically how transcription factors utilize distinct modes of interaction with mitotic chromosomes to facilitate rapid transcriptional responses. By integrating functional genomics with single-molecule imaging, we provide a new physical framework for understanding how the transcriptional machinery maintains regulatory control throughout in various contexts.

About Sheila Teves
Dr. Sheila Teves is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia and holds the Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Gene Regulation. Her research program investigates the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation, with a specific focus on how transcriptional programs are maintained through the cell cycle. By integrating functional genomics with single-molecule live-cell imaging, the Teves lab explores the dynamics of RNA Polymerase II and the role of transcription factors in epigenetic memory. Her work aims to bridge the gap between biochemical mechanisms and cellular identity, particularly in how cells preserve transcriptional states across divisions. Dr. Teves’s research has been supported by Scholar Awards from Michael Smith Health Research BC and the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley.

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