Anthony Leung
@leunglab.bsky.social
Professor. Science and social about my lab at Johns Hopkins University working on PARP and RNA biology. Views are my own.
A PAR spark lasting seconds. A FUS condensate that's still there long after. How does a signal that fleeting leave a structure that stays? Sharing this + new work on stress granules & antiviral defense next Tue Apr 28, 2:30pm at UW Pharmacology. Thanks to @shaoenong.bsky.social for hosting!
ADP-ribosylation doesn’t act alone. Nice work showing how DTX2 generates a hybrid ADPr–ubiquitin mark at DNA damage sites — linking ADPr signaling directly to ubiquitin pathways.
@ahellab.bsky.social · 5mo agoWe show that the E3 ubiquitin ligase DTX2 creates a dual hybrid ADP-ribosyl-ubiquitin mark (ADPr-Ub) at DNA damage sites, driving the recruitment of RNF114, RNF138, and RNF166 proteins independently of HPF1. journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
PARPs don’t just modify proteins — they shape how condensates form and behave. I’ll be speaking at Baylor College of Medicine on ADP-ribosylation in condensates and antiviral signaling. Wed Apr 8, 11am CDT (hybrid) If you’re nearby, come by — always better in person.
ADP-ribosylation is far more diverse than the usual mono vs poly view. New sensitive tools from the Ivan Matic lab to resolve this complexity are a big step forward — expanding what more labs can now study. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Versatile and sensitive detection of mono- and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation reveals XRCC1-dependent remodelling of PARP1 signalling - Nature Communications
ADP-ribosylation regulates DNA repair, but its distinct forms have been difficult to distinguish. Here, the authors develop sensitive, modular antibodies to precisely detect mono- and poly-ADP-ribosyl...
nature.com
PARPs never fail to surprise. Back @cshlbanbury.bsky.social — I kicked off a session on PARP stress responses, chaired a structural biology session, and joined a panel on PARP technologies. What’s striking right now: ADP-ribosylation spans both proteins and nucleic acids
Flu infection flips a “PAR switch”: instead of hitting new targets, cells lengthen poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) chains on the same proteins to slow the virus. Flu NS1 suppresses this; PARP1 drives it. ELTA revealed both site & length changes. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Global remodeling of ADP-ribosylation by PARP1 suppresses influenza A virus infection - Nature Communications
Influenza A virus infection causes a dramatic upregulation of ADP-ribosylation that as part of the cellular antiviral response, a process that is counteracted by the viral NS1 protein.
nature.com
What if RNA had a molecular twin? Our new study w/ the Bedford Lab (MD Anderson) shows poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) competes with RNA for the same proteins—creating RNA–PAR crosstalk. Unlike RNA, PAR’s info isn’t in sequence but chain length. 🔗 academic.oup.com/nar/article/... #PARcode
Nuclear poly(A)-binding protein and nucleolin utilize their RNA recognition motifs to read PAR chains
Abstract. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) is a post-translational modification mediated by ADP-ribosyltransferases, known as PARPs, which attach ADP-ri
academic.oup.com
A whirlwind few days in Cancún for the 2nd Spatial Genome Conference Great science, great people — and a reminder why we do this. After 20 yrs in nuclear organization, ideas once “unorthodox” (like nuclear actin) are now gaining mainstream. Science moves, so should we. @fusionconf.bsky.social
A whirlwind few days in Cancún for the 2nd Spatial Genome Conference 🌊 Great science, great people — and a reminder why we do this. After 20 yrs in nuclear organization, ideas once “unorthodox” (like nuclear actin) are now gaining mainstream. Science moves, and so should we.
Thrilled that our PAR-labeling tech supported new Nature findings from the Gorbunova–Seluanov team! Characterizing CIRBP in bowhead whales reveals how PARP regulation may shape longevity. Kudos to Hongrui Liu & Raymond Cai! 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Evidence for improved DNA repair in long-lived bowhead whale - Nature
Analysis of the longest-lived mammal, the bowhead whale, reveals an improved ability to repair DNA breaks, mediated by high levels of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein. &nbs...
nature.com
Have you already seen this research article, recently published in LSA: PARP10 is Critical for Stress Granule Initiation @leunglab.bsky.social www.life-science-alliance.org/content/8/12...
This study identifies PARP10 as a key regulator of stress granule assembly by ADP-ribosylating G3BP1 and modulating eIF2α phosphorylation and translation factor recruitment @leunglab.bsky.social www.life-science-alliance.org/content/8/12...
How do our cells build “emergency rooms” when under attack? New from our lab in Life Science Alliance: PARP10 triggers stress granule formation—revealing a way to tune how cells respond to stress, infection, or cancer. Read: www.life-science-alliance.org/content/8/12...
PARP10 is critical for stress granule initiation
Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic biomolecular condensates enriched with RNA and translation factors. They form in response to stress, in part through phosphorylation of the translation initiation...
life-science-alliance.org
As the Chair of Innovation Translation Council, venturing beyond lab science at the Bloomberg American Health Summit 2025. A lot to absorb — and much to reflect on about scaling public health innovation to reach millions. Grateful to Josh Sharfstein for making it possible to attend 🙏
The @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Office of Research launched the Innovation Translation Council, chaired by BMB Professor Anthony Leung (@leunglab.bsky.social)! The ITC will connect researchers at the School with resources to translate their innovative research into community impacts. Learn more ⤵️
research@BSPH Launches Innovation Translation Council | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
publichealth.jhu.edu
What a fantastic day of science at FCBIS! @friedlab.bsky.social and I had a blast co-organizing this exciting dive into the chemistry-biology interface—great conversations, amazing energy, and a standout keynote by @edwardmarcotte.bsky.social. Thanks to all who joined us!
Interferon function couples immune signaling to the ubiquitin–proteasome system. Study from the @leunglab.bsky.social @johnshopkinsbmb.bsky.social 🆕 #preprintpeerreview @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social Referee reports and author's response letter available here --> doi.org/10.1101/2024...
Great to get to publish another one on the emerging connections between ADP-ribosylation, immune signaling, ubiquitin and protein aggregation/degradation
Anthony Leung@leunglab.bsky.social · last yr.🥳 Out now @embojournal.org! Interferon induces a new class of p62 bodies, with #antiviral & #immunotherapy implications. p62 is usually linked to #autophagy — but not here. These are driven by PARP14-mediated ADP-ribosylation & rely on #ubiquitin #proteasome system. www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
🥳 Out now @embojournal.org! Interferon induces a new class of p62 bodies, with #antiviral & #immunotherapy implications. p62 is usually linked to #autophagy — but not here. These are driven by PARP14-mediated ADP-ribosylation & rely on #ubiquitin #proteasome system. www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Interferon-induced PARP14-mediated ADP-ribosylation in p62 bodies requires the ubiquitin-proteasome system | The EMBO Journal
imageimageInterferon induces the formation of ADP-ribosylation (ADPr)-enriched p62 bodies, requiring PARP14 and p62. Unlike canonical p62 bodies, these ADPr-enriched structures are independent of auto...
embopress.org
In the midst of funding uncertainty in D.C., our lab took a moment to see the cherry blossoms. We’re not naive—we know the challenges. But we believe in science, in community, and in each other. We’re in this together.
New Paper💡PARP enzymes regulate ADP-ribosylation, a protein modification linked to cancer, infections & neurodegeneration. But it comes with two forms—MARylation (single) & PARylation (multiple). Meet dELTA-MS, a mass spec method that identifies both in one experiment! pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
dELTA-MS: A Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics Approach for Identifying ADP-Ribosylation Sites and Forms
ADP-ribosylation, characterized by the addition of adenosine diphosphate ribose, can occur in both monomeric (MARylation) and polymeric (PARylation) forms. Little is known about the specific contribut...
pubs.acs.org
Be sure to also read about: ☘️ #Nrf2 activity regulation by #UbLigases (Albena Dinkova-Kostova et al) ☘️ roles of structured domains in #biomolecularcondensates (@jerelleaj.bsky.social et al) ☘️ PARPs and ADP-ribosylation-mediated #biomolecularcondensates (@leunglab.bsky.social et al) ...
I'm super excited to share our study in collaboration with @jnpruneda.bsky.social, published today in @embojournal.org! We show that PARPs are modified with a non-canonical ester-linked mono-ADP-ribosylated ubiquitin species for the first time in cells: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Ubiquitin is directly linked via an ester to protein-conjugated mono-ADP-ribose | The EMBO Journal
imageimageCertain E3 ligases have been found to ubiquitylate hydroxyl groups on free NAD+ and ADP-ribose in vitro, but the in vivo occurrence of this dual post-translational modification has remained ...
embopress.org
Celebrating 14 years of science, teamwork, and resilience! To mark our lab’s anniversary, we traded pipettes for pottery—turns out shaping clay is just as therapeutic as shaping experiments. With NIH funding uncertainties, a little calm goes a long way. Grateful for this team! #LabLife
Excited to share our new review on biomolecular condensates mediated by PARPs and ADP-ribosylation @ Trends in Biochemical Sciences! Despite the uncertainty, science must march forward. Grateful for the support that makes discovery possible. #FundScience #KeepScienceStrong
Trends in Biochemical Sciences@cp-trendsbiochem.bsky.social · 2y agoAvailable online - the Review "PARPs and ADP-ribosylation-mediated #biomolecularcondensates: determinants, dynamics, and disease implications" from @leunglab.bsky.social and colleagues. #phaseseparation #proteincondensation #proteinaggregation Free access at: authors.elsevier.com/a/1kZlO3S6Gf...
Thanks for highlighting our work, Marcin!
Marcin J. Suskiewicz@msuskiewicz.eurosky.social · 2y agoI read 2 condensate papers today, the 1st consistent with the focus on folded domains. It discussed a protein called PARP13 that contributes to growth by having folded domains capable of various interactions (binding to poly(ADP-ribose), homodimerisation, binding to RNA) - the first being key.
🔥 Most studies on condensates focus on their formation—but what about their maturation? Our research reveals PARP13 binds poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) to drive stress granule maturation. Mutate the binding sites? Granules fragment like crazy! Read the full story here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Regulation of stress granule maturation and dynamics by poly(ADP-ribose) interaction with PARP13 - Nature Communications
Stress granules, cellular structures essential for stress response, require poly(ADP-ribose) as a multivalent scaffold. Here, the authors show that disrupting poly(ADP-ribose) binding to PARP13 alters...
nature.com
🎄✨ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ✨🎄 A big thank you to our amazing team for all the hard work and for creating such a collaborative, friendly environment. Here's a little glimpse from our Christmas lunch—we’re grateful to celebrate the season together! 🥂❤️ #Teamwork #celebration
Dear all, my first post! I have postdoc positions available if you would like to join my lab in beautiful Sussex by the Sea! Please contact me on k.w.caldecott@sussex.ac.uk
