Jennifer H. Kong

The paper describes the structure and function of a membrane-spanning E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, revealing its role in developmental processes and linking mutations to human birth defects.

This study identifies ATRN and ATRNL1 as transmembrane adapters that recruit MGRN1 to ubiquitinate and degrade MC1R and MC4R, expanding the known substrate repertoire of MGRN1.

The paper shows that gene-teratogen interactions affect birth defect penetrance by altering Hedgehog signaling through the MMM complex and SMO degradation.

This study identifies a ubiquitin-based genetic mechanism linking Megf8 and Mgrn1 mutations to congenital heart defects and heterotaxy through altered Hedgehog signaling.

The paper uses single cell transcriptomics to study Olig2 and Hes regulatory dynamics during motor neuron differentiation, revealing Olig2's role in repressing Hes5 and coordinating differentiation timing.