New in @embojournal.org: Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation relieves Cnn autoinhibition to drive centrosome scaffold assembly. Human CDK5RAP2 appears to share the fly-like mechanism.

Polo/PLK1 phosphorylation relieves Centrosomin/Cnn autoinhibition to promote centrosome scaffold assembly - The EMBO Journal

Mitotic centrosome maturation requires Polo/PLK1-dependent expansion of the pericentriolar material (PCM). In Drosophila, Centrosomin (Cnn) assembles a scaffold around mitotic centrioles through inter...

link.springer.com

Our new preprint reveals that 🪰's Cnn and 🪱's SPD-5 both form condensates in vitro, but assemble via divergent mechanisms in vivo. We show how phosphorylation unlocks Cnn’s autoinhibited scaffold and identify conserved features in 🚶‍♂️'s CDK5RAP2.

bioRxiv Cell Biology@biorxiv-cellbio.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Structural insights into mitotic-centrosome assembly https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.03.680336v1

Today we welcomed MP Adam Thompson(@adamthompsonmp.bsky.social) to the Dunn School, part of the @royalsociety.org Pairing Scheme. Adam got to see our science in action and share his reflections on a career in science and politics with our students and postdocs. Thanks for your visit Adam!

We are featuring Jordan Raff as our next extraordinary biologist. He is a former Company Director and Founding Editor-in-Chief of Biology Open. #100biologists @jordanraff.bsky.social

‪ Many congratulations to all our postdocs recently awarded postdoctoral fellowships! 🥳 A special mention to @carokobras.bsky.social for a BBSRC Fellowship, and Emma and Laura for @wellcometrust.bsky.social early career awards! Check the full list here: www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...

🔬 Exciting findings from our collaborative study with Lea, Raff, van Breugel&Feng Lab! We've uncovered how Spd-2/CEP192 proteins with an SP2D structure are crucial for centrosome assembly. Crystal structures&mutations reveal new insights into PCM scaffold formation. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

The conserved Spd-2/CEP192 domain adopts a unique protein fold to promote centrosome scaffold assembly

A conserved structural domain within CEP192/Spd-2 protein promotes centrosome scaffold assembly during centrosome maturation.

science.org

#biologists100 Please come to my poster on Wed at the Liverpool conference and see how the @jrafflab.bsky.social with @dunngogreen.bsky.social @dunnschool.bsky.social is conducting our world class science in an environment friendly way at @ox.ac.uk ! Saving money & planet! There is no planet B!

🔬 Excited to share our latest paper! We’ve found how Spd-2 coordinates with Polo and Aurora A to build critical scaffolds in centrosome assembly in Drosophila. 🧬 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Centrioles generate two scaffolds with distinct biophysical properties to build mitotic centrosomes

Spd-2 organizes the assembly of two distinct centriole-scaffolds to build mitotic centrosomes in Drosophila.

science.org

Happy to be here. Hopefully this will be fun and useful. Like Twitter used to be.