Richard J. McKenney

A pathological phosphorylation pattern enhances taucooperativity on microtubules and facilitates tau filamentassembly

The paper investigates how specific phosphorylation patterns of tau affect microtubule binding, cooperativity, and filament assembly in tauopathies, revealing that pattern, not level, drives filament formation.

Structural Basis of Kinesin-1 Autoinhibition and Its Control of Microtubule-Based Motility

This study determines the cryo-EM structure of autoinhibited kinesin-1 and identifies mechanisms of autoinhibition and activation.

Injury-induced tau pathology promotes aggressive behavior in Drosophila without neurodegeneration.

This study shows that injury-induced tau phosphorylation in Drosophila leads to aggressive behavior through dopaminergic circuit activation without causing neurodegeneration.

The KASH protein UNC-83 differentially regulates kinesin-1 activity to control developmental stage-specific nuclear migration

The paper shows UNC-83 isoforms differentially regulate kinesin-1 and dynein to control nuclear migration directionality during development.

Microtubule acetylation is a biomarker of cytoplasmic health during cellular senescence

This study shows that microtubule acetylation increases during cellular senescence and affects cytoplasmic health by altering transport and microtubule dynamics.

Active Microtubule-Actin Crosstalk Mediated by a Nesprin-2G-Kinesin Complex

This study identifies N2G as an F-actin bundler and kinesin-1 activator that mediates active microtubule-actin crosstalk, crucial for nuclear positioning.

The Power of Three: Dynactin associates with three dyneins under load for greater force production

The paper shows that mechanical tension recruits a third dynein motor to DDB complexes, enhancing force production and stability under load.

Differential requirement for BRCA1-BARD1 E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in DNA damage repair and meiosis in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line

This paper investigates the role of BRCA1-BARD1 E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in DNA damage repair and meiosis in C. elegans, finding both ligase-dependent and independent functions.