News from our division
Redundant control of lumen morphogenesis in C. elegans
Congratulations Jorian on the first paper in 2022! We show that ERM-1 phosphorylation and binding to NRFL-1 NHERF1/EBP50 redundantly control intestinal morphology.
Read the paper here
LET-413 Scribble is essential in larval epithelia
Amalia's recent publication in PLOS Genetics shows that LET-413 Scribble is essential in the epidermis for animal development, and for directed outgrowth of the seam cells. Congratulations Amalia!
Read the paper here
Fluorescence-based protein–protein interaction assay
Jason's paper in Genetics presents C. elegans light-induced coclustering (CeLINC), an optical binary protein–protein interaction assay to determine whether two proteins interact in vivo.
Read the paper here
Publication in Current Biology
Our new article shows that the novel and evolutionary conserved protein BBLN-1 (bublin) is essential for intermediate filament organization and lumen morphology in the C. elegans gut.
Read the paper here
Vincent Portegijs
I go to campus once or twice a week for the absolute essentials. It’s a luxury to be able to finish crosses that take weeks, so that the projects won’t be so delayed when we are able to work regular hours again. I’ve traded the lab bench for the dinner table. Rather than pipetting and worm picking I’m now focused on brainstorms on exciting genes, online meetings, thesis writing supervision and lots of planning ahead. For us lab tigers, it’s surprising how long the to-do list has become when being restricted to working from home! I’m already longing for to the daily bike ride, discussions in the corridors, cappuccino trips with colleagues and even to wearing that labcoat on a warm summer day again.
Vincent Portegijs
Ben Nelemans
Nowadays, a large part of our work can be done behind every computer, and this time also challenges us to be creative in how we continue our work while working from home. As a teacher, I expand our existing materials on new platforms, for teaching digitally. This also involves innovating teaching material that was not digital before. At the moment, I am turning practicals into digital data sets and online instructions for my students. Many of the lectures will be done via video recordings. However, I miss the personal contact with colleagues and my students a lot! Video conferences also helps us in continuing meetings or social contacts, but it also shows me they do not give the same satisfaction as face to face meetings.
Ben Nelemans