Xiaolu Wei

The splicing kinase PRPF-4 is required for somatic development and germline function in C. elegans

This study investigates the role of PRPF-4, a spliceosomal kinase, in C. elegans development and germline function, showing its essential role in alternative splicing and gene expression.

Disruption of small RNAs and mechanistic variation in Segregation Distorter, a sperm-killing drive system in Drosophila melanogaster

The paper investigates the role of Rsp-derived small RNAs in the Segregation Distorter drive system in Drosophila melanogaster, showing haplotype-specific variations in their contribution to drive strength.

H2A.Z levels control the timing of major events at the maternal-zygotic transition

This study shows that H2A.Z levels act as a timer for the maternal-zygotic transition in Drosophila and zebrafish, influencing developmental timing through both nuclear and non-nuclear mechanisms.

Charting the transition from in vitro gliogenesis to the in vivo maturation of transplanted human glial progenitor cells

This study tracks the in vitro generation and in vivo differentiation of human glial progenitor cells using single-cell RNA and ATAC-seq, revealing how the host environment influences their maturation into astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Centromere-associated retroelement evolution in Drosophila melanogaster reveals an underlying conflict

The paper studies the evolution of G2/Jockey-3, a retroelement associated with centromeres in Drosophila melanogaster, finding it is likely a selfish element that targets centromeres to evade host defenses.

The nanoCUT&RUN technique visualizes telomeric chromatin in Drosophila

The paper introduces nanoCUT&RUN, a modified CUT&RUN technique for mapping chromatin protein binding sites in Drosophila, showing its effectiveness for TRL, HipHop, and HOAP proteins.

Heterochromatin-dependent transcription of satellite DNAs in the Drosophila melanogaster female germline

The paper shows that satDNA transcription and piRNA production in Drosophila melanogaster germline depend on the Rhino-Deadlock-Cutoff complex and Moonshiner, establishing heterochromatin at satDNA loci.

Distinct spermiogenic phenotypes underlie sperm elimination in the Segregation Distorter meiotic drive system

The paper investigates spermiogenic defects in Drosophila melanogaster SD/SD+ males and links them to Rsp satellite DNA copy number, showing how high Rsp levels trigger sperm elimination.

Dynamic evolution of euchromatic satellites on the X chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster and the simulans clade

The paper studies the evolutionary dynamics of two satellite DNAs in Drosophila species, showing their dynamic changes in location, abundance, and composition across species.

Islands of retroelements are the major components of Drosophila centromeres

The paper identifies the sequence composition of Drosophila melanogaster centromeres, showing they are composed of retroelement islands flanked by satellite repeats, with G2/Jockey-3 being the most enriched retroelement.