Faculty

Song Tan

Director of the Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Huck Co-Hire with Eberly College of Science

468A North Frear Laboratory
University Park, PA 16802

Email sxt30@psu.edu
Phone 814-865-3355
Pronouns He/Him

Overview

Structural biology of eukaryotic gene regulation.

Areas of Expertise

Nucleosome Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Chromatin Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Histone Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Histone Acetyltransferase Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Histone Acetyltransferase Keyphrases
NuA4 Keyphrases
Chromatin Keyphrases
Acetylation Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Unbalanced chromatin binding of Polycomb complexes drives neurodevelopmental disorders
Rodrigo L. Borges, Gretter González-Blanco, Harikumar Arigela, Yingyu Huang, Lucas D. Caeiro, Nikolai Fattakhov, Stefano Lepore, Liliana Garcia-Martinez, Matea Maurice, Pushti D. Mehta, Emily J. Park, Kailynn MacGillivray, Jevithen Nehru, Matthew Chau, Maria C. Robayo, Clemer Abad, Alicia Bilbao-Ma..., Feb 19 2026, In: Molecular cell
Date: Feb 19 2026

Roles of histone chaperone Nap1 and histone acetylation in regulating phase-separation of nucleosome arrays
Jia Gao, Hongyun Li, Song Tan, Ruobo Zhou, Tae Hee Lee, Dec 2025, In: Nature communications
Date: Dec 2025

Systematic dissection of sequence features affecting binding specificity of a pioneer factor reveals binding synergy between FOXA1 and AP-1
Cheng Xu, Holly Kleinschmidt, Jianyu Yang, Erik M. Leith, Jenna Johnson, Song Tan, Shaun Mahony, Lu Bai, Aug 8 2024, In: Molecular cell
Date: Aug 8 2024

Basic helix-loop-helix pioneer factors interact with the histone octamer to invade nucleosomes and generate nucleosome-depleted regions
Benjamin T. Donovan, Hengye Chen, Priit Eek, Zhiyuan Meng, Caroline Jipa, Song Tan, Lu Bai, Michael G. Poirier, Apr 20 2023, In: Molecular cell
Date: Apr 20 2023

Cryo-EM structure of the human Sirtuin 6–nucleosome complex
Un Seng Chio, Othman Rechiche, Alysia R. Bryll, Jiang Zhu, Erik M. Leith, Jessica L. Feldman, Craig L. Peterson, Song Tan, Jean Paul Armache, Apr 2023, In: Science Advances
Date: Apr 2023

Hierarchical assembly of the MLL1 core complex regulates H3K4 methylation and is dependent on temperature and component concentration
Kevin E.W. Namitz, Song Tan, Michael S. Cosgrove, Feb 2023, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry
Date: Feb 2023

Principles of nucleosome recognition by chromatin factors and enzymes
Robert K. McGinty, Song Tan, Dec 2021, In: Current Opinion in Structural Biology
Date: Dec 2021

The Penn State Protein Ladder system for inexpensive protein molecular weight markers
Ryan T. Santilli, John E. Williamson, Yoshitaka Shibata, Rosalie P. Sowers, Andrew N. Fleischman, Song Tan, Dec 2021, In: Scientific reports
Date: Dec 2021

Mechanistic Insights into Regulation of the ALC1 Remodeler by the Nucleosome Acidic Patch
Laura C. Lehmann, Luka Bacic, Graeme Hewitt, Klaus Brackmann, Anton Sabantsev, Guillaume Gaullier, Sofia Pytharopoulou, Gianluca Degliesposti, Hanneke Okkenhaug, Song Tan, Alessandro Costa, J. Mark Skehel, Simon J. Boulton, Sebastian Deindl, Dec 22 2020, In: Cell Reports
Date: Dec 22 2020

The Ada2/Ada3/Gcn5/Sgf29 histone acetyltransferase module
Jose M. Espinola-Lopez, Song Tan, 2020, In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms
Date: 2020

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ING tumor suppressor proteins are critical regulators of chromatin acetylation required for genome expression and perpetuation
Yannick Doyon, Christelle Cayrou, Mukta Ullah, Anne Julie Landry, Valérie Côté, William Selleck, William S. Lane, Song Tan, Xiang Jiao Yang, Jacques Côté, Jan 6 2006, In: Molecular cell
Citations: 596

Structural and Functional Conservation of the NuA4 Histone Acetyltransferase Complex from Yeast to Humans
Yannick Doyon, William Selleck, William S. Lane, Song Tan, Jacques Côté, Mar 2004, In: Molecular and cellular biology
Citations: 516

Nucleosome structure and function
Robert K. McGinty, Song Tan, Mar 25 2015, In: Chemical Reviews
Citations: 423

Comparison of affinity tags for protein purification
Jordan J. Lichty, Joshua L. Malecki, Heather D. Agnew, Daniel J. Michelson-Horowitz, Song Tan, May 2005, In: Protein Expression and Purification
Citations: 372

Structure of RCC1 chromatin factor bound to the nucleosome core particle
Ravindra D. Makde, Joseph R. England, Hemant P. Yennawar, Song Tan, Sep 30 2010, In: Nature
Citations: 316

Structure of serum response factor core bound to DNA
Luca Pellegrini, Song Tan, Timothy J. Richmond, Aug 10 1995, In: Nature
Citations: 315

Recruitment of HAT complexes by direct activator interactions with the ATM-related Tra1 subunit
C. E. Brown, L. Howe, K. Sousa, S. C. Alley, M. J. Carrozza, S. Tan, J. L. Workman, Jun 22 2001, In: Science
Citations: 310

Crystal structure of the PRC1 ubiquitylation module bound to the nucleosome
Robert K. McGinty, Ryan C. Henrici, Song Tan, Oct 30 2014, In: Nature
Citations: 275

Crystal structure of a yeast TFIIA/TBP/DNA complex
Song Tan, Yvonne Hunziker, David F. Sargent, Timothy J. Richmond, May 9 1996, In: Nature
Citations: 261

DNA methylation increases nucleosome compaction and rigidity
John S. Choy, Sijie Wei, Ju Yeon Lee, Song Tan, Steven Chu, Tae Hee Lee, 2010, In: Journal of the American Chemical Society
Citations: 232

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Centers & Institutes