Marvin Wickens

The PUF RNA-binding protein, FBF-2, maintains stem cells without binding to RNA

The paper shows that FBF-2, a PUF RNA-binding protein, maintains stem cells even when it cannot bind RNA, indicating that RNA-binding is not essential for its biological activity.

A higher order PUF complex is central to regulation of C. elegans germline stem cells

The paper identifies a ternary PUF complex in C. elegans that regulates germline stem cells by repressing and activating gld-1 mRNA through adjacent FBEs.

Functional significance of PUF partnerships in C. elegans germline stem cells

The paper investigates PUF RNA-binding protein partnerships with intrinsically disordered proteins in C. elegans germline stem cells, showing their role in RNA repression and self-renewal.

An Atypical RNA Quadruplex Marks RNAs as Vectors for Gene Silencing

The paper identifies a novel RNA quadruplex structure, the pUG fold, that drives gene silencing in C. elegans and is present in human non-coding RNAs.

Liquid droplet germ granules require assembly and localized regulators for mRNA repression

The paper investigates how PGL dimerization is essential for P-granule assembly and mRNA repression in nematodes, identifying WAGO-1 as a key regulator.

poly(UG)-tailed RNAs in Genome Protection and Epigenetic Inheritance

The paper shows that pUG tails on RNAs enable transgenerational epigenetic inheritance by promoting gene silencing through siRNA synthesis in C. elegans.

A PUF hub drives self-renewal in C. elegans germline stem cells

The paper identifies a PUF hub of four PUF proteins and two partners that drive self-renewal in C. elegans germline stem cells, explaining the milder defect in FBF mutants.

Records of RNA localization through covalent tagging

The paper identifies RNA localization by covalently tagging RNAs near a uridine-adding enzyme anchored at specific subcellular sites, revealing conserved dual localization of RNAs across species.

LST-1 acts in trans with a conserved RNA-binding protein to maintain stem cells

The paper identifies regions in the C. elegans LST-1 protein that mediate its function in stem cell self-renewal through interaction with the FBF RNA-binding protein.

Towards identifying subnetworks from FBF binding landscapes in Caenorhabditis spermatogenic or oogenic germlines

The paper identifies gamete-specific and gamete-independent FBF targets in C. elegans germlines using FBF iCLIP data and clusters them into functional blocks.

Unbiased screen of RNA tailing enzymes at single-nucleotide resolution reveals a poly(UG) polymerase required for genome integrity and RNA silencing

An RNA binding polymer specifies nematode sperm fate

The paper identifies FOG-3 as a Tob/BTG protein that forms polymers to regulate sperm fate in nematodes through RNA binding.

Architecture and dynamics of overlapped RNA regulatory networks

The paper studies the architecture and dynamics of overlapping RNA regulatory networks involving Puf3p, Puf4p, and Puf5p in yeast, revealing how competition and abundance influence network behavior.