M. B. Yaffe

An RNA Damage Response Network Mediates the Lethality of 5-FU in Clinically Relevant Tumor Types

This paper shows 5-FU's lethality in tumors is due to an RNA damage response, not DNA damage, and that targeting this response could improve cancer therapy.

Polo-like kinase-1 Inhibitors and the Antiandrogen Abiraterone Synergistically Disrupt Mitosis and Kill Cancer Cells of Disparate Origin Independently of Androgen Receptor Signaling

This study shows that combining Plk1 inhibitors with abiraterone synergistically kills cancer cells across tumor types, independent of androgen receptor signaling, through mitotic disruption.

The Injury Response to DNA Damage Promotes Anti-Tumor Immunity

This study shows that ex vivo DNA-damaged tumor cells as an adjuvant enhance anti-tumor immunity when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, requiring live injured cells and specific signaling pathways.

Coagulopathy signature precedes and predicts severity of end-organ heat stroke pathology in a mouse model

The paper identifies a coagulopathy signature in a mouse heat stroke model that predicts severity and precedes organ damage.

Time-dynamics of mitochondrial membrane potential reveal an inhibition of ATP synthesis in mitosis

The paper quantifies mitochondrial ATP synthesis rates during mitosis and finds a 50% decrease in early mitosis linked to CDK1 activity.

NEK10 tyrosine phosphorylates p53 and controls its transcriptional activity

This study identifies NEK10 as a kinase that phosphorylates p53 on Y327, modulating its transcriptional activity and affecting cellular proliferation and response to DNA damage.

Comprehensive substrate specificity profiling of the human nek kinome reveals unexpected signaling outputs

The paper identifies phosphorylation-site motifs for the human Nek kinome, revealing dual-specificity in Nek10 and motif similarity between Nek6/7/9 and Plk1.