Stephen C. Blacklow

Structural basis for tetraspanin-dependent surface export and adhesive function of integrin α3β1

The paper reports the cryoEM structure of the ITG3β1-CD151 complex and shows CD151 promotes ITG3β1 surface export, explaining the epidermolysis bullosa phenotype.

Molecular basis of mitochondrial leucine transport by human Sideroflexin 1

The paper identifies leucine as the substrate for SFXN1 and reveals its alternating-access transport mechanism using structural and biochemical analyses.

β-arrestin recruitment facilitates a direct association with G proteins

This study shows that G proteins and β-arrestins can directly interact, with Gi family members differing in their association with β-arrestin, and this selectivity is located in the alpha helical domain of Gi.

High-throughput biochemical phenotyping of SHP2 variants reveals the molecular basis of diseases and allosteric drug inhibition

This study uses high-throughput biochemical assays to analyze SHP2 variants, revealing that dysregulated autoinhibition drives disease and that allosteric inhibitors stabilize a partially active conformation.

Activating Ras-MAPK pathway variants drive hippocampal clonal competition in human epilepsy

This study identifies somatic Ras-MAPK pathway variants in hippocampal tissue from patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, showing their association with clonal competition and worse surgical outcomes.

CCL19⁺ fibroblasts define a proliferative niche in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The paper identifies CCL19⁺ fibroblasts as a proliferative niche in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data and characterizing interactions within lymph nodes.

Design of a Soluble Multivalent Notch Agonist

This paper designs soluble multivalent Notch agonists to activate Notch signaling in vitro, enabling T cell differentiation and immunotherapy development.

Notch induces transcription by stimulating release of paused RNA Pol II without increasing chromatin accessibility

This study shows Notch1 activates transcription by releasing paused RNA Pol II without requiring chromatin accessibility changes.

DNA binding analysis of rare variants in homeodomains reveals novel homeodomain specificity-determining residues

The paper analyzes DNA binding effects of 92 human homeodomain mutants, identifying 14 novel specificity-determining residues and highlighting limitations of variant effect prediction tools.

A Spatiotemporal Notch Interaction Map from Membrane to Nucleus

This study maps the spatiotemporal dynamics of Notch2 signaling from membrane to nucleus after ligand activation, identifying key molecular events in signal transmission.

Functional Comparison Between Endogenous and Synthetic Notch Systems

This study compares endogenous and synthetic Notch systems to understand why synthetic systems do not require ligand ICD for activation.

Design of Biologically Active Binary Protein 2D Materials

The paper designs binary 2D protein co-assemblies that form ordered, biologically active materials with potential therapeutic applications.

Varying co-factor requirements for MAML1-dependent transcription at different Notch-responsive target genes

The paper investigates the differential requirements for MAML1 in Notch-dependent transcription at HES4 and DTX1, showing distinct functional roles of MAML1 regions and interactions with p300.