Paula E. Cohen

A mammalian-specific domain of MSH5 drives the transition from crossover licensing to designation during meiotic prophase I

This study shows that a mammalian-specific domain of MSH5 is essential for converting licensed DSB repair intermediates to designated class I crossovers during meiosis.

Digital Chromosome Banding Reveals Distinct Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Sexual Dimorphism in Meiotic Silencing

The paper introduces digital-chromosome-banding to analyze meiotic silencing dynamics and identifies sexual dimorphism in meiotic silencing processes.

Chromosome length is not the sole determinant of sexually dimorphic crossover rates during mammalian meiosis: Insights from genetically diverse mouse strains

The paper investigates CO rates in mice, showing SC length isn't the sole factor, and highlights sex-specific regulation of CO designation.

Meiotic prophase I disruption as a strategy for non-hormonal male contraception using small-molecule inhibitor JQ1

This study shows that JQ1 disrupts meiotic prophase I in male mice, leading to reversible infertility, suggesting a potential non-hormonal contraceptive strategy.

Argonaute proteins regulate the timing of the spermatogenic transcriptional program

This study shows AGO3 and AGO4 regulate transcriptional silencing of XY-linked genes during meiosis in spermatogenesis, impacting fertility and sperm morphology.

Sustained fertility from first-wave follicle oocytes that pause their growth

The paper shows that some oocytes from the first juvenile wave pause growth and later resume, contributing to fertility beyond puberty.

The DNA helicase FANCJ (BRIP1) functions in Double Strand Break repair processing, but not crossover formation during Prophase I of meiosis in male mice

This paper investigates the role of FANCJ in meiotic recombination in mice, finding it involved in early DSB repair and NCO formation but not in MLH1-mediated CO events.

CNTD1 plays crucial roles in prophase I progression and crossover designation during female meiosis and is critical for establishing the ovarian reserve

This study identifies CNTD1's role in female meiosis, showing it is essential for crossover designation and ovarian reserve establishment through its interaction with MutLγ and regulation of CHK2.

Meiotic gene transcription programs are mediated by A-MYB and BRDT-dependent RNA polymerase II pause release during mammalian prophase I

The paper investigates how A-MYB and BRDT regulate RNA polymerase II pause release during meiotic prophase I, linking transcriptional bursts to chromatin changes and recombination.

Genetic Dissection of the RNA Polymerase II Transcription Cycle

This study uses genetic variation in mice to show how DNA sequence affects RNA Polymerase II positioning and transcription dynamics across the genome.

Multiple 9-1-1 complexes promote homolog synapsis, DSB repair, and ATR signaling during mammalian meiosis

This study shows that multiple 9-1-1 complexes are essential for meiotic DSB repair, homolog synapsis, and ATR signaling in mammals.

Phosphoproteomics of ATR Signaling in Prophase I of Mouse Meiosis

This study identifies ATR-dependent phosphorylation sites in mouse meiosis, revealing key targets and motifs involved in DNA repair and RNA processing during prophase I.

Somatic CAG expansion in Huntington's disease is dependent on the MLH3 endonuclease domain, which can be excluded via MLH3 splice redirection to suppress expansion

This study shows that targeting the MLH3 endonuclease domain reduces somatic CAG expansion in Huntington's disease models and patient cells.

A mutation in the endonuclease domain of mouse MLH3 reveals novel roles for MutLγ during crossover formation in meiotic prophase I

This paper shows that a mutation in the endonuclease domain of MLH3 in mice disrupts crossover formation during meiosis but allows partial CO generation compared to a full null mutation.

Mutation of the ATPase domain of MutS homolog-5 (MSH5) reveals a requirement for a functional MutSγ complex for all crossovers in mammalian meiosis

This study shows that a functional MutSγ complex is required for all crossovers in mammalian meiosis, even though class II crossovers were thought to be MutSγ-independent.

Dynamic transcriptome profiles within spermatogonial and spermatocyte populations during postnatal testis maturation revealed by single-cell sequencing

This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze transcriptional changes in spermatogonia and spermatocytes across developmental stages, revealing age-related gene expression differences and pathway utilization.

Characterization of Telomeric Repeat-Containing RNA (TERRA) localization and protein interactions in Primordial Germ Cells of the mouse

This study characterizes TERRA localization and protein interactions in mouse primordial germ cells, showing sex- and age-dependent expression and interactome differences.