W. Matthew Michael

An NHEJ-independent Role for DNA-PKcs in ATR activation at DNA Double-Strand Breaks

This paper shows DNA-PKcs phosphorylates TOPBP1 at S1131 to activate ATR at DSBs independently of ATM and NHEJ.

Sequential action of the nuclear Argonautes HRDE-1 and NRDE-3 promotes global transcriptional silencing during starvation in the nascent C. elegans germline

The paper shows that HRDE-1 and NRDE-3 sequentially contribute to H3K9me3 hyperdeposition in C. elegans PGCs during starvation, leading to transcriptional silencing.

Transcriptome analysis in C. elegans early embryos upon depletion of the Topoisomerase 2/condensin II axis.

The paper analyzes the transcriptome of C. elegans early embryos depleted of TOP-2 and CAPG-2, identifying 144 upregulated and 172 downregulated genes, with upregulated genes predominantly somatic.

The condensin II/TOP-2 axis silences transcription during germline specification in C. elegans

The paper investigates genome silencing mechanisms in C. elegans germline specification, finding that condensin II/TOP-2 and PIE-1 redundantly repress transcription in early embryos, while H3K9me is not required.

Characterization of factors that underlie transcriptional silencing in C. elegans oocytes

This study identifies three molecular systems required for transcriptional silencing in C. elegans oocytes and links PIE-1 nucleolar residency to its repressive function.