E. C. Tromer

Repeated duplications and losses shaped SMC complex evolution from archaeal ancestors to modern eukaryotes

This study reconstructs the evolution of SMC complexes across eukaryotes, showing LECA had all four types and condensin II was repeatedly lost.

Kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT14-KKT15 are divergent Bub1/BubR1-Bub3 proteins

This study identifies KKT14-KKT15 in kinetoplastids as divergent orthologs of Bub1/BubR1-Bub3, suggesting a unique mechanism for chromosome segregation fidelity in trypanosomes.

Life cycle-coupled evolution of mitosis in close relatives of animals

The paper investigates mitotic strategies in Ichthyosporea, showing divergence towards fungal-like closed or animal-like open mitosis, with multinucleated life cycles favoring closed mitosis.

A farnesyl-dependent structural role for CENP-E in expansion of the fibrous corona

This study identifies a farnesyl-dependent structural role for CENP-E in fibrous corona expansion during mitosis, independent of its motor activity.

Chromatin binding by HORMAD proteins regulates meiotic recombination initiation

This study shows that HORMAD proteins bind chromatin to regulate meiotic recombination initiation in yeast.

Increased sampling and intra-complex homologies favor vertical over horizontal inheritance of the Dam1 complex

The paper analyzes the evolutionary history of the Dam1 complex, finding it originated in the Last Common Ancestor and evolved through stepwise duplications, not horizontal gene transfer.

Molecular convergence by differential domain acquisition is a hallmark of chromosomal passenger complex evolution

The paper identifies BORI1 and BORI2 as Survivin-like proteins in Arabidopsis, showing they perform similar functions to Survivin through a helix and an FHA domain instead of a BIR domain.

A free-living protist that lacks canonical eukaryotic DNA replication and segregation systems

This study identifies a free-living protist, Carpediemonas membranifera, that lacks canonical eukaryotic DNA replication and segregation systems, suggesting novel mechanisms for these processes.

Repurposing of Synaptonemal Complex Proteins for Kinetochores in Kinetoplastida

The paper identifies homology between kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins and synaptonemal complex components, suggesting kinetoplastids repurposed meiotic machinery for their unique kinetochore system.

Conservation of the Toxoplasma conoid complex proteome reveals a cryptic conoid in Plasmodium that differentiates between blood- and vector-stage zoites

The paper uses spatial proteomics and microscopy to show the conoid is conserved across apicomplexans, including Plasmodium, with structural differences between blood and vector stages.

Real-time dynamics of Plasmodium NDC80 reveals unusual modes of chromosome segregation during parasite proliferation

The paper studies the dynamics of the NDC80 complex in Plasmodium berghei to reveal unique chromosome segregation mechanisms during parasite proliferation.

A subcellular atlas of Toxoplasma reveals the functional context of the proteome

This study maps the subcellular locations of thousands of proteins in Toxoplasma gondii to reveal their functional contexts and evolutionary adaptations.