The paper shows that dermal-epidermal junction geometry influences stem cell fate in mouse skin, with concave areas promoting proliferation and convex areas promoting differentiation.

bioRxiv · Nov 3, 2026 · PreprintDevelopmental Biology

Jag2 patterns early differentiation in the epidermal stem cell layer

Sophie Viala, Vandana Nathan, Jacinthe Sirois, Olivia Costanzo, Daniela Perez Laguna, Mauna Musulchi, Milan Heck, Anissa Mourali, Michael H. Mouradian, Katie Cockburn

The paper shows that stem cells in the epidermis use Jag2 to influence neighboring cell differentiation, maintaining tissue structure and function.

bioRxiv · Sep 11, 2026 · PreprintCell Biology

Live imaging reveals chromatin compaction transitions and dynamic transcriptional bursting during stem cell differentiation in vivo

Dennis P. May, Sangwon Yun, David G. Gonzalez, Sang‐Bum Park, Yanbo Chen, Elizabeth Lathrop, Biao Cai, Tianchi Xin, Hongyu Zhao, Siyuan S. Wang, Lauren E. Gonzalez, Katie Cockburn, Valentina Greco

The paper uses live imaging to study chromatin compaction and transcriptional dynamics during stem cell differentiation in live mouse epidermis, showing that chromatin changes follow transcriptional activity.

eLife · Mar 7, 2023Peer-reviewedGenetics

Epidermal stem cells self-renew upon neighboring differentiation

Kailin R. Mesa, Kyogo Kawaguchi, David G. Gonzalez, Katie Cockburn, Jonathan Boucher, Tianchi Xin, Allon M. Klein, Valentina Greco

This study shows that epidermal stem cells self-renew in response to neighboring differentiation, revealing coordinated fate decisions rather than autonomous or stochastic choices.

bioRxiv · Jun 25, 2017 · PreprintCell Biology