N. H. Dekker

Cell Cycle Regulation has Shaped Budding Yeast Replication Origin Structure and Function

The paper shows that CDK regulation influences MCM helicase loading at yeast origins, revealing how cell cycle control has shaped origin structure and function.

A chromatinized origin reduces the mobility of ORC and MCM through interactions and spatial constraint

The paper investigates ORC and MCM dynamics at chromatinized origins in yeast, finding that chromatin reduces MCM mobility while maintaining ORC binding efficiency.

Principles and best practices of optimizing a micromirror-based multicolor TIRF microscopy system

This paper introduces the theory and practical guidance for optimizing a micromirror-based TIRF microscopy system to improve signal quality and data accuracy.

Nucleotide binding halts diffusion of the eukaryotic replicative helicase during activation

This study reports the first single-molecule activation of CMG reconstituted from purified yeast proteins and quantifies its DNA motion, showing nucleotide binding halts diffusion and enables DNA melting.

CAF-1 deposits newly synthesized histones during DNA replication using distinct mechanisms on the leading and lagging strands

This study shows CAF-1 deposits histones on both DNA strands during replication but uses different mechanisms on leading and lagging strands.

Accounting for RNA polymerase heterogeneity reveals state switching and two distinct long-lived backtrack states escaping through cleavage

The paper uses high-throughput magnetic tweezers to study E. coli RNA polymerase dynamics, identifying two long-lived backtrack pause states and showing RNA cleavage governs recovery from deep backtracks.

Induced copy-back RNA synthesis as a novel therapeutic mechanism against RNA viruses

This study shows that a ribonucleotide analogue induces copy-back RNA synthesis, a new mechanism to combat RNA viruses by promoting defective viral genomes.

DNA sequence is a major determinant of tetrasome dynamics

This study shows that high-affinity DNA sequences alter tetrasome flipping kinetics, enhancing conformational plasticity and potentially preventing histone loss under torsional stress.