M. B. Smolka

A TOPBP1 Allele Causing Male Infertility Uncouples XY Silencing Dynamics From Sex Body Formation

This study identifies a TOPBP1 mutation causing male infertility by disrupting ATR-dependent MSCI dynamics without affecting SB formation.

In-Depth Mapping of DNA-PKcs Signaling Uncovers Conserved Features of Its Kinase Specificity

This study identifies a novel phosphorylation motif used by DNA-PKcs, revealing its role in regulating splicing factors and transcriptional regulators across species.

Low lamin A levels enhance confined cell migration and metastatic capacity in breast cancer

This study shows that low lamin A levels in breast cancer cells increase nuclear deformability and metastatic capacity, with lower lamin A levels linked to poorer disease-free survival in human tumors.

Proximity labeling reveals spatial regulation of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome by a microtubule adaptor

This study identifies PLEKHA5 as a microtubule adaptor that spatially regulates APC/C activity during mitosis by facilitating its localization to microtubules and interaction with CDC20.

Fork Slowing and Reversal as an Adaptive Response to Chronic ATR Inhibition

This study investigates the effects of chronic low-dose ATR inhibition on replication dynamics, revealing fork reversal as an adaptive response that enhances cell survival and can be exploited to improve cancer therapies.

Structure and mechanism of TRAPPIII-mediated Rab1 activation

This study determines the cryo-EM structure of the yeast TRAPPIII complex bound to Rab1/Ypt1, revealing that Trs85 anchors the complex to membranes via an amphipathic helix to activate Rab1.

ATR Inhibitors as Potent Modulators of DNA End Resection Capacity

This study shows that long-term ATR inhibition reduces DNA end resection and DNA repair efficiency in cancer cells, offering a strategy to enhance PARP inhibitor sensitivity.

Deubiquitination of phosphoribosyl-ubiquitin conjugates by PDE domain-containing Legionella effectors

This paper identifies DupA and DupB as deubiquitinases that reverse PR-ubiquitination, a novel modification mediated by Legionella effectors, and shows their role in modulating host-pathogen interactions.

Protein polyglutamylation catalyzed by the bacterial Calmodulin-dependent pseudokinase SidJ

This study identifies SidJ as a bacterial pseudokinase that catalyzes polyglutamylation of SdeA, a Legionella effector, in a CaM-dependent manner, suppressing ADP-ribosylation.

In-depth and 3-Dimensional Exploration of the Budding Yeast Phosphoproteome

The paper presents a comprehensive phosphoproteomic dataset for budding yeast, identifies cell cycle-regulated phosphorylation events, and shows phosphorylation disrupts protein-protein interactions.

The yeast Art1 arrestin domain contains disordered insertions that regulate its localization and activity

The paper identifies loop insertions in the yeast Art1 protein that regulate its localization and activity through phosphorylation and cargo specificity.