M. R. Brown

Missense mutations in the calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A promote tumor growth by activating oncogenic signaling in Human Cancer.

This paper investigates TMEM16A missense mutations in cancer, finding they promote tumor growth through altered signaling, independent of chloride flux.

Insulin-like peptides regulate oogenesis by stimulating ovarian ecdysteroid production in the Indian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi

This study shows insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in Anopheles stephensi regulate ovarian ecdysteroid production, which is necessary for yolk deposition into oocytes.

Amorphous calcium phosphate-coated surfaces as a model for bone microenvironment in prostate cancer

The paper develops a cost-effective method to coat cell culture vessels with amorphous calcium phosphate to model the bone microenvironment and shows its effect on prostate cancer cell survival.

FALCON systematically interrogates free fatty acid biology and identifies a novel mediator of lipotoxicity

FALCON systematically analyzes 61 free fatty acids to identify lipotoxic effects and a novel mediator of lipotoxicity, CMIP, in human pancreatic beta cells.

GDAP1 binds 4-hydroxynonenal, the toxic end-product of lipid peroxidation, using its GST-like binding pocket

This study identifies 4-hydroxynonenal as the ligand for GDAP1, showing its binding requires a unique -loop and that mutations affecting this loop impair 4HNE binding and contribute to CMT disease.

The nature of intraspecific genome size variation in taxonomically complex eyebrights

This study examines genome size variation in eyebrights, finding significant intraspecific variation and contrasting patterns between diploid and tetraploid species.

Maintenance of species differences in closely related tetraploid parasitic Euphrasia (Orobanchaceae) on an isolated island

The paper investigates genetic divergence in tetraploid Euphrasia species on Fair Isle, showing allopolyploid origins and sub-genome divergence with species-specific genetic structure.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines disrupt β-cell circadian clocks in diabetes

This study shows that IL-1β disrupts β-cell circadian clocks by impairing Bmal1 expression and alters its DNA-binding patterns, linking circadian disruption to β-cell failure in diabetes.

Life history evolution and phenotypic plasticity in parasitic eyebrights (Euphrasia, Orobanchaceae)

This study examines life history trait variation in Euphrasia species, finding trade-offs between growth and reproduction and significant phenotypic plasticity in response to host quality.