Chaogu Zheng

sept-1/zina-1 is an Ancient Toxin-Antidote System in Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper identifies an ancient toxin-antidote system in C. elegans, showing that sept-1/zina-1 predates other known TA systems and has undergone functional changes across strains.

LEM-3/ANKLE1 nuclease prevents the formation of syncytium between postmitotic sister cells and safeguards neuronal differentiation

Synaptic and neural pathway redundancy enables the robustness of a sensory-motor reflex and promotes predation escape in C. elegans

The paper identifies genetic redundancy in the touch response circuit of C. elegans, showing how it contributes to the robustness of sensory-motor reflexes and enhances escape behaviors.

Maternal Effects on Postembryonic Neuroblast Migration in C. elegans

The paper shows that maternal dpy-19 mRNA persists into larval stages to regulate postembryonic neuroblast migration, and this effect can be rescued by either maternal or zygotic gene copies.

Functional Interrogation of Neuronal Subtypes via Intersectional Expression of Optogenetic Actuator Reveals Non-linear Components in a Linear Circuit

The paper uses a split GAL4-based genetic AND gate to optogenetically interrogate specific touch receptor neuron subtypes in C. elegans, revealing non-linear components in a seemingly linear neural circuit.

Branched chain fatty acid-rich diet promotes lipid droplet enlargement and impacts organismal health in Caenorhabditis elegans

This study shows a BCFA-rich diet in C. elegans causes enlarged lipid droplets, developmental delays, reduced reproduction, and shorter lifespan.

MBL-1/Muscleblind regulates neuronal differentiation and controls the splicing of a terminal selector in Caenorhabditis elegans

This study identifies MBL-1's role in regulating neuronal differentiation and axonal growth in C. elegans by controlling mec-3 splicing and the DLK-1/p38 MAPK pathway.

FRET monitoring of transcription factor activities in living bacteria

This paper develops a FRET-based assay to monitor TF-promoter interactions in living bacteria and demonstrates its application in identifying modulators and studying bacterial-host interactions.

Genome-wide screen identifies curli amyloid fibril as a bacterial component promoting host neurodegeneration

The paper identifies curli amyloid fibrils from E. coli as a bacterial component that promotes host neurodegeneration by facilitating α-synuclein aggregation.

Opposing effects of an F-box protein and the HSP90 chaperone network on microtubule stability and neurite growth in Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper shows that Hsp90 chaperones and the F-box protein MEC-15 have opposing roles in neuronal differentiation, with Hsp90 inhibiting neurite growth and synaptic development in C. elegans.

Inhibition of cell fate repressors secures the differentiation of the touch receptor neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper shows that ZAG-1 inhibits EGL-44/EGL-46 to promote TRN differentiation in C. elegans, forming a negative feedback loop that regulates neuronal fate choice.

GEFs and Rac GTPases control directional specificity of neurite extension along the anterior-posterior axis

The paper identifies GEFs and Rac GTPases that specify directional neurite extension along the anterior-posterior axis in C. elegans neurons.