J. D. Boeke

Gene loss and cis-regulatory novelty shaped core histone gene evolution in the apiculate yeast Hanseniaspora uvarum

This study investigates the evolutionary changes in core histone gene regulation in Hanseniaspora uvarum, revealing lineage-specific regulatory solutions and a novel regulatory mode linked to gene loss and adaptive cell cycle dynamics.

Condensation of LINE-1 is required for retrotransposition

This study shows that ORF1p condensation is essential for L1 retrotransposition, with dynamic assembly properties enabling efficient retrotransposon activity.

The genetic basis of tail-loss evolution in humans and apes

This paper identifies an Alu element insertion in the TBXT gene as the genetic mechanism driving tail-loss evolution in hominoids, showing it causes alternative splicing and tail absence in mice.

LINE-1 ORF1p RIP-seq reveals widespread association with p-body enriched mRNAs

The paper uses RIP-seq and L1EM analysis to show ORF1p binds non-LINE-1 mRNAs and p-body enriched RNAs in prostate cancer cells, correlating with LINE-1 RNA levels in TCGA tumors.

BRCA1 Mediated Homologous Recombination and S Phase DNA Repair Pathways Restrict LINE-1 Retrotransposition in Human Cells

This study identifies BRCA1 and other DNA repair factors that suppress LINE-1 retrotransposition in human cells by affecting retrotransposition frequency and ORF2 protein translation.

Widespread transcriptional scanning in the testis modulates gene evolution rates

The paper maps gene expression in human spermatogenesis and finds that expressed genes have fewer germline mutations, suggesting transcriptional scanning reduces DNA damage and influences gene evolution rates.