About

Chloe Hill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Romance Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. from Brown University, earned in 2020 and 2018 respectively, and a B.A. from Smith College obtained in 2012. Her research interests are grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary Brazilian literature, with a focus on the relationship between globalization and literary narrative, production, and circulation. She is particularly interested in how literature imagines experience in the twenty-first century and how it can be used to rethink hegemonic models of transcultural exchange. Her current projects explore literature’s interface with contemporary globalization processes in Latin American speculative fiction, including climate, dystopian, and apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic novels. Prior to completing her dissertation on twenty-first century Brazilian fiction as world literature, she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in Salvador da Bahia, where she translated a selection of poems by the late poet Myriam Fraga. These translations received the Cliff Becker Prize for Poetry in Translation in 2017 and were published by White Pine Press. Dr. Hill has published articles and presentations on topics such as climate and spectacle in Brazilian literature, catastrophe and chronology in contemporary Brazilian fiction, and the local-global dynamics in the novel. She has been recognized with awards including the Schwab Academic Excellence Award and the Faculty Mentoring Award from the Graduate Romance Studies Association at UNC.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Zoology
• Genetics
• Cell biology

Selected publications

• Heterochromatic 3D genome organization is directed by HP1a- and H3K9-dependent and independent mechanisms

  UNC Libraries · 2025-06-07

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Developmental timing of extreme temperature events (heat waves) disrupts host–parasitoid interactions

  UNC Libraries · 2025-05-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  When thermal tolerances differ between interacting species, extreme temperature events (heat waves) will alter the ecological outcomes. The parasitoid wasp <em>Cotesia congregata</em> suffers high mortality when reared throughout development at temperatures that are nonstressful for its host, <em>Manduca sexta</em>. However, the effects of short-term heat stress during parasitoid development are unknown in this host-parasitoid system.Here, we investigate how duration of exposure, daily maximum temperature, and the developmental timing of heat waves impact the performance of <em>C</em>. <em>congregata</em> and its host&cedil; <em>M</em>. <em>sexta</em>. We find that the developmental timing of short-term heat waves strongly determines parasitoid and host outcomes.Heat waves during parasitoid embryonic development resulted in complete wasp mortality and the production of giant, long-lived hosts. Heat waves during the 1st-instar had little effect on wasp success, whereas heat waves during the parasitoid's nutritionally and hormonally critical 2nd instar greatly reduced wasp emergence and eclosion. The temperature and duration of heat waves experienced early in development determined what proportion of hosts had complete parasitoid mortality and abnormal phenotypes.Our results suggest that the timing of extreme temperature events will be crucial to determining the ecological impacts on this host-parasitoid system. Discrepancies in thermal tolerance between interacting species and across development will have important ramifications on ecosystem responses to climate change.

  PublisherDOI

• <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Set8 and L(3)mbt function in gene expression independently of histone H4 lysine 20 methylation

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2024-03-18 · 2 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Mono-methylation of Lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20me1) is catalyzed by Set8 and thought to play important roles in many aspects of genome function that are mediated by H4K20me-binding proteins. We interrogated this model in a developing animal by comparing in parallel the transcriptomes of Set8 null , H4 K20R/A , and l(3)mbt mutant Drosophila melanogaster . We found that the gene expression profiles of H4 K20A and H4 K20R larvae are markedly different than Set8 null larvae despite similar reductions in H4K20me1. Set8 null mutant cells have a severely disrupted transcriptome and fail to proliferate in vivo , but these phenotypes are not recapitulated by mutation of H4 K20 indicating that the developmental defects of Set8 null animals are largely due to H4K20me1-independent effects on gene expression. Further, the H4K20me1 binding protein L(3)mbt is recruited to the transcription start sites of most genes independently of H4K20me even though genes bound by L(3)mbt have high levels of H4K20me1. Moreover, both Set8 and L(3)mbt bind to purified H4K20R nucleosomes in vitro. We conclude that gene expression changes in Set8 null and H4 K20 mutants cannot be explained by loss of H4K20me1 or L(3)mbt binding to chromatin, and therefore that H4K20me1 does not play a large role in gene expression.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Set8 and L(3)mbt function in gene expression independently of histone H4 lysine 20 methylation

  Genes & Development · 2024-06-12 · 10 citations

  articleOpen access

  Monomethylation of lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20me1) is catalyzed by Set8 and thought to play important roles in many aspects of genome function that are mediated by H4K20me binding proteins. We interrogated this model in a developing animal by comparing in parallel the transcriptomes of Set8 null , H4 K20R/A , and l(3)mbt mutant Drosophila melanogaster . We found that the gene expression profiles of H4 K20A and H4 K20R larvae are markedly different than Set8 null larvae despite similar reductions in H4K20me1. Set8 null mutant cells have a severely disrupted transcriptome and fail to proliferate in vivo, but these phenotypes are not recapitulated by mutation of H4 K20 , indicating that the developmental defects of Set8 null animals are largely due to H4K20me1-independent effects on gene expression. Furthermore, the H4K20me1 binding protein L(3)mbt is recruited to the transcription start sites of most genes independently of H4K20me even though genes bound by L(3)mbt have high levels of H4K20me1. Moreover, both Set8 and L(3)mbt bind to purified H4K20R nucleosomes in vitro. We conclude that gene expression changes in Set8 null and H4 K20 mutants cannot be explained by loss of H4K20me1 or L(3)mbt binding to chromatin and therefore that H4K20me1 does not play a large role in gene expression.

  PublisherDOI

• Drosophila melanogaster Set8 and L(3)mbt function in gene expression independently of histone H4 lysine 20 methylation.

  UNC Libraries · 2024-09-14 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Monomethylation of lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20me1) is catalyzed by Set8 and thought to play important roles in many aspects of genome function that are mediated by H4K20me binding proteins. We interrogated this model in a developing animal by comparing in parallel the transcriptomes of Set8 null, H4 K20R/A, and l(3)mbt mutant Drosophila melanogaster. We found that the gene expression profiles of H4 K20A and H4 K20R larvae are markedly different than Set8 null larvae despite similar reductions in H4K20me1. Set8 null mutant cells have a severely disrupted transcriptome and fail to proliferate in vivo, but these phenotypes are not recapitulated by mutation of H4 K20, indicating that the developmental defects of Set8 null animals are largely due to H4K20me1-independent effects on gene expression. Furthermore, the H4K20me1 binding protein L(3)mbt is recruited to the transcription start sites of most genes independently of H4K20me even though genes bound by L(3)mbt have high levels of H4K20me1. Moreover, both Set8 and L(3)mbt bind to purified H4K20R nucleosomes in vitro. We conclude that gene expression changes in Set8 null and H4 K20 mutants cannot be explained by loss of H4K20me1 or L(3)mbt binding to chromatin and therefore that H4K20me1 does not play a large role in gene expression.

  PublisherDOI

• Heterochromatic 3D genome organization is directed by HP1a- and H3K9-dependent and independent mechanisms

  Molecular Cell · 2024-05-24 · 22 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Drosophila SUMM4 complex couples insulator function and DNA replication control

  UNC Libraries · 2023-01-06

  articleOpen access

  Asynchronous replication of chromosome domains during S phase is essential for eukaryotic genome function, but the mechanisms establishing which domains replicate early versus late in different cell types remain incompletely understood. Intercalary heterochromatin domains replicate very late in both diploid chromosomes of dividing cells and in endoreplicating polytene chromosomes where they are also underrelicated. Drosophila SNF2-related factor SUUR imparts locus-specific underreplication of polytene chromosomes. SUUR negatively regulates DNA replication fork progression; however, its mechanism of action remains obscure. Here we developed a novel method termed MS-Enabled Rapid protein Complex Identification (MERCI) to isolate a stable stoichiometric native complex SUMM4 that comprises SUUR and a chromatin boundary protein Mod(Mdg4)-67.2. Mod(Mdg4) stimulates SUUR ATPase activity and is required for a normal spatiotemporal distribution of SUUR in vivo. SUUR and Mod(Mdg4)-67.2 together mediate the activities of gypsy insulator that prevent certain enhancer-promoter interactions and establish euchromatin-heterochromatin barriers in the genome. Furthermore, SuUR or mod(mdg4) mutations reverse underreplication of intercalary heterochromatin. Thus, SUMM4 can impart late replication of intercalary heterochromatin by attenuating the progression of replication forks through euchromatin/heterochromatin boundaries. Our findings implicate a SNF2 family ATP-dependent motor protein SUUR in the insulator function, reveal that DNA replication can be delayed by a chromatin barrier and uncover a critical role for architectural proteins in replication control. They suggest a mechanism for the establishment of late replication that does not depend on an asynchronous firing of late replication origins.

  PublisherDOI

• Drosophila SUMM4 complex couples insulator function and DNA replication control

  eLife · 2022-12-02 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Asynchronous replication of chromosome domains during S phase is essential for eukaryotic genome function, but the mechanisms establishing which domains replicate early versus late in different cell types remain incompletely understood. Intercalary heterochromatin domains replicate very late in both diploid chromosomes of dividing cells and in endoreplicating polytene chromosomes where they are also underreplicated. Drosophila SNF2-related factor SUUR imparts locus-specific underreplication of polytene chromosomes. SUUR negatively regulates DNA replication fork progression; however, its mechanism of action remains obscure. Here, we developed a novel method termed MS-Enabled Rapid protein Complex Identification (MERCI) to isolate a stable stoichiometric native complex SUMM4 that comprises SUUR and a chromatin boundary protein Mod(Mdg4)-67.2. Mod(Mdg4) stimulates SUUR ATPase activity and is required for a normal spatiotemporal distribution of SUUR in vivo. SUUR and Mod(Mdg4)-67.2 together mediate the activities of gypsy insulator that prevent certain enhancer–promoter interactions and establish euchromatin–heterochromatin barriers in the genome. Furthermore, SuUR or mod(mdg4 ) mutations reverse underreplication of intercalary heterochromatin. Thus, SUMM4 can impart late replication of intercalary heterochromatin by attenuating the progression of replication forks through euchromatin/heterochromatin boundaries. Our findings implicate a SNF2 family ATP-dependent motor protein SUUR in the insulator function, reveal that DNA replication can be delayed by a chromatin barrier, and uncover a critical role for architectural proteins in replication control. They suggest a mechanism for the establishment of late replication that does not depend on an asynchronous firing of late replication origins.

  PublisherDOI

• Author response: Drosophila SUMM4 complex couples insulator function and DNA replication control

  2022-11-21

  peer-reviewOpen access

  Biochemical and biological characterization of insulator complex SUMM4 reveals that, in addition to disrupting enhancer–promoter interactions and establishing chromatin barriers, it functions to delay DNA replication, thus implicating architectural proteins in shaping spatiotemporal patterns of replication.

  PublisherDOI

• Developmental timing of extreme temperature events (heat waves) disrupts host–parasitoid interactions

  Ecology and Evolution · 2022-03-01 · 26 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract When thermal tolerances differ between interacting species, extreme temperature events (heat waves) will alter the ecological outcomes. The parasitoid wasp Cotesia congregata suffers high mortality when reared throughout development at temperatures that are nonstressful for its host, Manduca sexta . However, the effects of short‐term heat stress during parasitoid development are unknown in this host–parasitoid system. Here, we investigate how duration of exposure, daily maximum temperature, and the developmental timing of heat waves impact the performance of C . congregata and its host¸ M . sexta . We find that the developmental timing of short‐term heat waves strongly determines parasitoid and host outcomes. Heat waves during parasitoid embryonic development resulted in complete wasp mortality and the production of giant, long‐lived hosts. Heat waves during the 1st‐instar had little effect on wasp success, whereas heat waves during the parasitoid's nutritionally and hormonally critical 2nd instar greatly reduced wasp emergence and eclosion. The temperature and duration of heat waves experienced early in development determined what proportion of hosts had complete parasitoid mortality and abnormal phenotypes. Our results suggest that the timing of extreme temperature events will be crucial to determining the ecological impacts on this host–parasitoid system. Discrepancies in thermal tolerance between interacting species and across development will have important ramifications on ecosystem responses to climate change.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Robert J. Duronio

  16 shared

• Robert K. McGinty

  5 shared

• Joel G. Kingsolver

  5 shared

• Megan E. Moore

  Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health

  5 shared

• Robin L. Armstrong

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  3 shared

• Souradip Das

  Vanderbilt University

  3 shared

• Dmitry V. Fyodorov

  3 shared

• Michael‐Christopher Keogh

  EpiCypher (United States)

  3 shared

Awards & honors

• Schwab Academic Excellence Award from the Institute for the…
• Faculty Mentoring Award from the Graduate Romance Studies As…
• Cliff Becker Prize for Poetry in Translation (2017)
• Fulbright Research Fellowship (2014)