The most recent issue of Molecular Cell features a new publication based on a collaboration between Dr. Ken Zaret, IRM Director, and Dr. Yawen Bai of the NIH Center for Cancer Research. Their research assessed how the pioneer factor Ascl1-E12a leverages distinct associations with nucleosomes to open chromatin and reprogram cell fate. The work, published here, reframes our understanding of pioneer factor-nucleosome interactions. The work of Zhou et al. is also featured in a preview article included in the same publication that provides a succinct summary of the work and it’s implications.