Julia A. Belk

Nov 6, 2024 | nature.com | L. T. Hung |Britney Jiayu He |Jens Luebeck |Lotte Brückner |Xiaowei Yan |Rocio Gonzalez | +8 more

AbstractThe chromosomal theory of inheritance dictates that genes on the same chromosome segregate together while genes on different chromosomes assort independently1. Extrachromosomal DNAs (ecDNAs) are common in cancer and drive oncogene amplification, dysregulated gene expression and intratumoural heterogeneity through random segregation during cell division2,3. Distinct ecDNA sequences, termed ecDNA species, can co-exist to facilitate intermolecular cooperation in cancer cells4.

Sep 2, 2024 | biorxiv.org | Maya M. Arce |Rama Dajani |Julia A. Belk |Jennifer M Umhoefer

AbstractFOXP3 is a lineage–defining transcription factor that controls differentiation and maintenance of suppressive function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Foxp3 is exclusively expressed in Tregs in mice. However, in humans, FOXP3 is not only constitutively expressed in Tregs; it is also transiently expressed in stimulated CD4+CD25– conventional T cells (Tconvs)1–3. Mechanisms governing the expression of FOXP3 in human Tconvs are not understood.

Jul 17, 2024 | nature.com | Patrick Neuhöfer |Julia A. Belk |Yung-Hsin Huang |Lu Chen |Howard Chang

AbstractTelomerase is intimately associated with stem cells and cancer, because it catalytically elongates telomeres—nucleoprotein caps that protect chromosome ends1. Overexpression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) enhances the proliferation of cells in a telomere-independent manner2,3,4,5,6,7,8, but so far, loss-of-function studies have provided no evidence that TERT has a direct role in stem cell function.