Depok, May 11, 2026 — Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia highlighted the development of a new technology that enables researchers to observe gene activity directly inreal-timethrough the MIPA TALK event titled “Decoding the Transcriptional Cycle” which was held at Aula Prof. Dr. Ir. Soemantri Brodjonegoro on Tuesday (May 6).
This innovation opens a new perspective in understanding how genes function and are regulated to determine cell functions in the human body. One of the technologies discussed was the use of mintbody which is combined with green fluorescent protein (GFP) to visualize transcription processes in living organisms such as zebrafish embryos and mice.
The human body is composed of various types of cells with different shapes and functions, even though they all originate from the same genetic instructions (DNA). These differences enable each cell to perform specialized roles, such as heart cells that pump blood and nerve cells that transmit signals throughout the body.
This understanding is important for explaining how the human body works at its most fundamental level, while also serving as the foundation for advances in modern biology and medicine. It also shows that cell identity is not determined solely by DNA, but also by how genes are activated and regulated.
This guest lecture featured Prof. Hiroshi Kimura, a professor at the Cell Biology Center, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, as the keynote speaker, who presented the latest developments in the fields of epigenetics and transcription regulation.
He explained that histone protein modifications and the dynamics of RNA Polymerase II play a crucial role in determining cell fate, ranging from normal growth processes and organ formation to the transformation into invasive cancer cells.
According to Prof. Hiroshi Kimura, DNA does not exist alone inside the cell nucleus but is organized into a complex structure called chromatin. The basic unit of chromatin, known as the nucleosome, is wrapped around histone proteins, which regulate gene activity through various modification mechanisms such as acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation.
“Histone modifications and chromatin regulation are key to understanding how cells with the same DNA can have different functions. It is not only about the base sequence, but also about how that genetic information is accessed,” said Prof. Hiroshi Kimura
In addition, Prof. Hiroshi Kimura also introduced the use of artificial intelligence through the AlphaFold2 platform to design more stable and efficient antibody proteins. This approach is considered capable of accelerating research in the field of global epigenomics while also expanding the potential applications of biomedicine in the future.
In his presentation, he also highlighted the relationship between epigenetics and disease, particularly oral cancer, where specific histone modifications can influence cancer cells’ ability to migrate and become more invasive.
The enthusiasm of participants was evident during the discussion and Q&A session moderated by Astari Dwiranti, M.Eng., Ph.D., particularly regarding the challenges of epigenetics research in Indonesia. One participant, Gamal, highlighted the limited access to chromatin visualization research due to the high cost of antibodies required for the studies.
In response, Prof. Hiroshi Kimura stated that international collaboration is one of his main objectives in visiting Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia. He even opened opportunities for cooperation and sharing antibody resources to support research development in Indonesia.
In the same occasion, Prof. Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs as well as Professor of Integrative Cellular and Molecular Biology at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, emphasized the importance of selecting model organisms in transcription and epigenetics research.
“Using zebrafish and mice is crucial because their developmental dynamics allow us to observe transcriptional activation naturally, which is very difficult to detect if we only use artificial systems,” explained Prof. Anom
Through this activity, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia continues to strengthen its role as a hub for scientific exchange that promotes international research collaboration while also supporting the development of knowledge in the fields of molecular biology and epigenetics.
The event concluded with the insight that future scientific developments are increasingly directed toward epigenetic manipulation and cell reprogramming. A deeper understanding of the transcription cycle is expected to pave the way for the development of new therapies and technologies for treating various complex diseases in the future.
