W. Wong

Examining the role of oxygen-binding proteins on the early evolution of multicellularity

This study shows oxygen-binding proteins enhance fitness in larger organisms under high oxygen conditions by improving oxygen diffusion efficiency.

Experimental evolution of multicellularity via cuboidal cell packing in fission yeast

This study experimentally evolves cuboidal cell packing in fission yeast, showing it leads to multicellular clusters with heritable group size and responses to group-level selection.

Integrating EM and Patch-seq data: Synaptic connectivity and target specificity of predicted Sst transcriptomic types

The paper predicts MET-type identities from EM data and shows they have distinct connectivity patterns and synapse targets.

Ras-dependent activation of BMAL2 regulates hypoxic metabolism in pancreatic cancer

This study identifies BMAL2 as a KRAS-dependent regulator of hypoxic metabolism in pancreatic cancer, showing it stabilizes HIF1A and destabilizes HIF2A under hypoxia.

Evolution of promoter-proximal pausing enabled a new layer of transcription control

The paper investigates the evolutionary emergence of RNA polymerase II pausing and its regulatory role across species.

A microwell platform for high-throughput longitudinal phenotyping and selective retrieval of organoids

This paper introduces a microwell platform for high-throughput longitudinal phenotyping of organoids and their selective retrieval for molecular profiling, identifying genomic and expression changes linked to growth and polarity.

Visualization of a Limonene Synthesis Metabolon inside Living Bacteria by Hyperspectral SRS Microscopy

The paper visualizes limonene synthesis metabolons in engineered E. coli using hyperspectral SRS microscopy and confirms colocalization with limonene synthase.

Raman Needle Arthroscopy for In Vivo Molecular Assessment of Cartilage

This paper introduces a Raman needle arthroscopy technique to assess cartilage health in vivo by quantifying ECM biomarkers like GAG and collagen, showing high predictive accuracy in ex vivo models and demonstrating its first in vivo use.

Developmental and MAPK-responsive transcription factors drive distinct malignant subtypes and genetic dependencies in pancreatic cancer

The paper identifies three developmental lineages in pancreatic cancer driven by master regulators and shows their association with MAPK activity and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

The early evolution of oral poliovirus vaccine is shaped by strong positive selection and tight transmission bottlenecks

This study uses high-depth genome sequencing to analyze the early evolution of monovalent OPV2 in vaccinated individuals and their contacts, revealing strong positive selection and tight transmission bottlenecks.

Spiny mice (Acomys) exhibit attenuated hallmarks of aging and rapid cell turnover after UV exposure in the skin epidermis

This study compares UVB-induced skin responses and aging in spiny mice (A. cahirinus) and C57Bl/6 mice, finding increased epidermal turnover and reduced inflammation in spiny mice.

Light-Inducible Recombinases for Bacterial Optogenetics

This paper develops light-inducible recombinases for Escherichia coli that enable precise spatiotemporal control of DNA excision using blue light.

Strength of T cell signaling regulates HIV-1 replication and establishment of latency

This study shows that strong T cell signaling promotes HIV-1 expression and inducible latency, while weak signaling leads to stable, refractory latency.