K. Shen

Engineering an Escherichia coli strain for production of long single-stranded DNA

This paper describes an engineered E. coli strain that produces long single-stranded DNA efficiently, validated for use in genome editing and DNA origami.

S:D614G and S:H655Y are gateway mutations that act epistatically to promote SARS-CoV-2 variant fitness

This study shows that S:D614G and S:H655Y mutations enhance SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by stabilizing the Spike protein in an open RBD conformation, acting epistatically with the polybasic S1/S2 cleavage site.

MAP9/MAPH-9 supports axonemal microtubule doublets and modulates motor movement

This study identifies MAP9/MAPH-9 as a conserved protein supporting axonemal microtubule doublets and modulating ciliary motor function in C. elegans and mammals.

A megaprotein brake for aging and insulin-mTOR signaling

This study identifies LPD-3 as a megaprotein that regulates insulin-mTOR signaling and aging in C. elegans by modulating sphingolipid and insulin pathways.

Neurons Alter Endoplasmic Reticulum Exit Sites to accommodate Dendritic Arbor Size

This study shows that neurons adjust the number of endoplasmic reticulum exit sites (ERESs) based on dendritic arbor size in C. elegans, regulated by asymmetric cell division and nutrient sensing.

Structural insights into the formation of repulsive Netrin guidance complexes

This study reveals that Netrin-UNC-5 interactions form glycosaminoglycan-regulated large complexes mediating repulsive guidance signals during cell migration.

A megaprotein-based molecular bridge critical for lipid trafficking and cold resilience

This paper identifies LPD-3 as a conserved megaprotein critical for lipid trafficking between ER and PM, essential for cold resilience in C. elegans and other species.

Tenotomy-induced muscle atrophy is sex-specific and independent of NFκB

This study shows that tenotomy-induced muscle atrophy is sex-specific and not dependent on NFκB, but may involve autophagy differences between males and females.

The intrinsically disordered cytoplasmic tail of a dendrite branching receptor uses two distinct mechanisms to regulate the actin cytoskeleton

This study identifies two distinct mechanisms by which the intrinsically disordered cytoplasmic tail of HPO-30 regulates actin dynamics during dendrite branching in C. elegans.

Separable mechanisms drive local and global polarity establishment in the C. elegans intestinal epithelium

The paper shows that local and global polarity in C. elegans intestinal epithelium are temporally and genetically separable, with distinct roles for PAR-3 and PKC-3/aPKC.

Conformational dynamics and allosteric modulation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike

This study investigates how ACE2 and antibodies affect the conformational dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using smFRET and FCS, revealing that D614G modulates RBD energetics similar to ACE2 binding.

An endoplasmic reticulum (ER) ATPase safeguards ER identity by removing ectopically localized mitochondrial proteins

This study identifies CATP-8 as an ER-localized P5A ATPase that removes mislocalized mitochondrial proteins from the ER, preserving ER identity and function.

Proximity labeling at non-centrosomal microtubule-organizing centers reveals VAB-10B and WDR-62 as distinct microtubule regulators

The paper identifies VAB-10B and WDR-62 as distinct regulators of non-centrosomal microtubules using proximity labeling in C. elegans.

Structural and Functional Analysis of the D614G SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Variant

This study shows the D614G SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant is more infectious but has reduced ACE2 affinity and altered trimer conformation, affecting viral entry and antibody neutralization.

Ceramic Packaging in Neural Implants

This paper reviews ceramic materials and thin film processing in neural implant packaging, aiming to improve reliability and miniaturization for long-term implants.

SWELL1-LRRC8 complex regulates skeletal muscle cell size, intracellular signalling, adiposity and glucose metabolism

This study identifies the SWELL1-LRRC8 complex as a mechanosensor regulating skeletal muscle size, signaling, adiposity, and glucose metabolism through PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways.

PDH Mediated Mitochondrial Respiration Controls the Speed of Muscle Stem Cell Activation in Muscle Repair and Aging

This study shows that mitochondrial respiration via PDH controls the speed of muscle stem cell activation, which declines with age, and that restoring PDH activity can improve muscle regeneration in aged mice.

Growth Cone-Localized Microtubule Organizing Center Establishes Microtubule Orientation in Dendrites

The paper identifies a non-centrosomal microtubule organizing center in dendritic growth cones that establishes microtubule orientation, with perturbation causing reversed polarity.

Design of Ceramic Packages for Acoustically Coupled Implantable Medical Devices

This paper evaluates methods for acoustic energy coupling to ceramic packages for implantable medical devices, finding bulk modes are more effective than flexural modes for energy transfer.