Hanneke Okkenhaug

Antigen accumulation in the B cell follicle is impaired in aged mice

This study shows that aged mice have reduced accumulation of small antigens in B cell follicles, potentially affecting vaccine responses.

Declining intracellular proteostasis capacity drives misfolded protein secretion in senescent human cells.

This study shows that senescent human cells secrete misfolded proteins via the endo-lysosomal system, driven by DNAJC5 and reduced intracellular proteostasis.

Minimal activation of the p53 DNA damage response by a modular cytosine base editor enables effective multiplexed gene knockout in induced pluripotent stem cells

This paper demonstrates a cytosine base editor that enables efficient and durable multiplexed gene knockout in iPSCs with minimal p53 activation and reduced DNA damage.

RNA helicase DDX1 regulates germinal centre selection and affinity maturation by promoting tRNA ligase activity

This study shows DDX1 promotes B-cell proliferation in germinal centres by enhancing mRNA translation through tRNA ligase activity, crucial for affinity maturation.

An Nlrp5-null mutation leads to attenuated de novo methylation in oocytes, accompanied by a significant reduction in DNMT3L

This study shows that Nlrp5-null oocytes have reduced DNMT3L and impaired de novo methylation, leading to imprinting disorders and developmental issues.

Maternal SMARCA5 is required for major ZGA in mouse embryos

This study shows that maternal SMARCA5 is essential for major ZGA in mouse embryos by regulating promoter and distal regulatory region accessibility and nucleosome positioning.

Satellite repeat transcripts modulate heterochromatin condensates and safeguard chromosome stability in mouse embryonic stem cells

This study shows that satellite repeat transcripts in mouse ESCs drive heterochromatin condensates, which are crucial for chromosome stability and nuclear organization.

Multi-omic rejuvenation of human cells by maturation phase transient reprogramming

This paper introduces a method to rejuvenate human fibroblasts by transient reprogramming to the maturation phase of iPSCs, followed by recovery of fibroblast identity, resulting in significant rejuvenation of transcriptome, epigenome, and functional markers.

BAP1/ASXL complex modulation regulates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition during trophoblast differentiation and invasion

This study shows that BAP1/ASXL complex modulation is essential for triggering EMT in trophoblast differentiation and invasion, with conserved function in mouse and human.

MSK-mediated phosphorylation of Histone 3 Ser28 couples MAPK signaling with early gene induction and cardiac hypertrophy

The paper shows that MSK-mediated phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 28 couples MAPK signaling with chromatin remodelling and immediate early gene expression to induce pro-hypertrophic cardiac transcriptional responses.

A neuronal thermostat controls membrane fluidity in C. elegans

This study identifies a neuronal thermostat mechanism in C. elegans that coordinates membrane fluidity across tissues in response to temperature changes.