Ines Anna Drinnenberg

An atlas of eukaryotic centromere architecture reveals recurrent evolutionary dynamics

Across 325 Darwin Tree of Life genomes, satellite-array and transposon-cluster centromeres are phylogenetically scattered, fitting a model of repeated interconversion; satellites share higher-order repeat structure but not sequence.

Architecture and Function of Holocentric CENP-A-Independent Kinetochores

The paper determines the cryo-EM structure of the holocentric CCAN from Bombyx mori, revealing a self-contained dimer that forms a point-centromere-like architecture and incorporates novel Centromeric Subunit proteins.

Unique territorial and compartmental organization of chromosomes in the holocentric silkworm

The paper discovers a novel chromatin folding structure, compartment S, in the silkworm Bombyx mori using Hi-C, showing unique loop extrusion and contact patterns.

Insects evolved a monomeric histone-fold domain in the CENP-T protein family

The paper identifies a monomeric histone-fold domain in insect CENP-T proteins, showing structural rearrangements that replace the need for a CENP-W partner.

Oligopaint DNA FISH as a tool for investigating meiotic chromosome dynamics in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The paper uses Oligopaint FISH to study meiotic chromosome pairing and compaction in Bombyx mori, showing robust pairing in both sexes and similarities to C. elegans bivalent formation.

The molecular architecture of CenH3-deficient holocentromeres in Lepidoptera is dependent on transcriptional and chromatin dynamics

This study identifies a novel mechanism of holocentromere formation in Lepidoptera linked to low chromatin dynamics and CenH3 deficiency.

Xrn1p Acts at Multiple Steps in the Budding-Yeast RNAi Pathway to Enhance the Efficiency of Silencing

The paper identifies Xrn1p as a cofactor in the budding-yeast RNAi pathway, showing it enhances silencing through multiple functions.

CenH3-independent kinetochore assembly in Lepidoptera requires CENP-T

This study identifies CENP-T as essential for CenH3-independent kinetochore assembly in Lepidoptera, showing its role in recruiting the Mis12 complex and supporting mitotic progression.