Regulatory T cells (Treg) is subpopulation of T helper lymphocytes which possesses immune suppressive properties. Treg are critical in protection from excessive immune response and autoimmunity. Unique functions of Treg are defined by transcription factor Fop3 that controls Treg-specific expression of genes. Dr. Yury Rubtsov from the Dept. of functioning of living systems in cooperation with colleagues from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York City) studied a role of Foxp3-related protein, Foxp1, specifically in the murine Treg. In the absence of Foxp1, Treg displayed distorted Foxp3 chromatin binding which led to decreased sensitivity of the cells to IL-2 and diminished suppressive capacity. Results of the study are published in Nature Immunology.