Polysome sorting controls mRNA localization and protein fate RNA localization and local translation are widespread phenomena that play key roles in a plethora of cellular processes ranging from embryo patterning to general cellular functions. The traditional paradigm assigns localization elements to cis-acting RNA sequences which assemble into complexes that regulate mRNA transport and translation, and the mRNA is generally transported while remaining translationally silent. However, recent evidence has shown that the nascent protein can also play an essential role in RNA localization and can enable polysomes to control their own transport and be delivered where and when they are needed. Two such examples are reviewed: translation factories and centrosomal mRNAs. Their comparison highlights the key role of cotranslational interactions in the spatiotemporal control of protein synthesis and protein fate.

Polysome sorting controls mRNA localization and protein fate

Lab picture of Holehouse lab members past and present

Last week, Washington University made the perhaps questionable decision to award me tenure.

Congratulations David 🎊

Disruption of nucleolar integrity triggers cellular quiescence through organelle rewiring and secretion www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08....

Huge thanks to everybody involved ; all the authors and collaborations
PeterLab @ethz.ch

We have characterized a detailed molecular pathway and identified key genes and proteins driving this process.

Many more aspects of this brand-new nucleolar biology and stress response remain to be discovered in the coming years — and I’m excited for what’s ahead! 🚀
@@BioRender

This remodeling drives cellular transformation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and ultimately metastatic behavior.

Our findings reveal a previously unknown route by which ribosomopathies may contribute to cancer development and metastasis.

We discovered an unexpected link between nucleolus and Golgi apparatus. Chronic nucleolar defects, triggered by loss of essential proteins, lead to transcriptional reprogramming.

The outcome?
Enlarged Golgi
Bigger endolysosomes
Massive secretion of collagen and ECM components

Disruption of nucleolar integrity triggers cellular quiescence through organelle rewiring and secretion The nucleolus is the largest membraneless nuclear organelle and a critical regulator of growth and stress responses, comprised of over 600 proteins involved in ribosome biogenesis. However, how the nu...

I am thrilled to share my postdoctoral work! 🎉

What happens when cells face unresolvable stress?

Do they adapt by activating previously unrealized/unknown stress responses?

The answer: Yes.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Brunello, Xirodimas et al. define key elements of a protein quality control system that operates within the nucleus to eliminate stress-induced nucleolus-related inclusions
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

Single-cell dynamics of genome-nucleolus interactions captured by nucleolar laser microdissection (NoLMseq) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.18.599512v1 Gene position in the nuclear space plays an important role in gene regulation. This is exemplified b

Single-cell dynamics of genome-nucleolus interactions captured by nucleolar laser microdissection (NoLMseq) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06....

PXD057813 🚨

DDX18 coordinates nucleolus phase separation and chromatin organization by interacting with NPM1 in the granular component.

🚨 New dataset alert! 🚨

Pre-rRNA spatial distribution and functional organization of the nucleolus https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.02.621631v1 The self-organized nucleolus is where the pre-ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) processing and pre-ribosomal

Pre-rRNA spatial distribution and functional organization of the nucleolus www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11....

Mapping and engineering RNA-driven architecture of the multiphase nucleolus - Nature Spatially segregated rRNA processing dictates nucleolar morphology and drives outward progression of pre-ribosomal RNA through nucleolar phases.

Nature research paper: Mapping and engineering RNA-driven architecture of the multiphase nucleolus

https://go.nature.com/44Tib11

On the day we were awarded an #ERCAdG from the @erc.europa.eu, I want to highlight this non-science paper I wrote with ‪@deefitzgerald.bsky.social‬ on research culture:

wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-341

Why? Because I'm often told we need to chose between excellence and kindness

nucleoli are dynamically reprogrammed in early mammalian development

The nucleolus....large, rather boring organelle in the nucleus? No! Our review led by @bryonyleeke.bsky.social just out @dev-journal.bsky.social, highlighting new findings on nucleoli dynamics in development, intriguing roles in chromatin organisation & more.

journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

Very excited to share our latest work in #MolCell showing NPM1 stabilizing the association of nucleolus associated domains (NADs) and recruiting G9a to establish their repressive chromatin states. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Single-molecule analysis reveals the mechanism of chromatin ubiquitylation by variant PRC1 complexes Single-molecule experiments show that active conformation formation controls chromatin ubiquitylation kinetics by variant PRC1.

Our new study of chromatin ubiquitylation by variant PRC1 on the single-molecule scale: We visualize directly how vPRC1 ubiquitylates neighboring nucleosomes during a single binding event, showing a potential mechanism how H2Aub domains are established.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Very nice work Shivani, Raffaella and team. Congratulations 🎊 to all

Heyyy. Congratulations Alex, Garrett and team @gginell.bsky.social

Super cool work and looking forward to test all my fav IDRs...

Postdocs in Artificial Intelligence Human Technopole (HT) is an interdisciplinary life science research institute, created and supported by the Italian Government, with the aim of developing innovative strategies to improve human health

😱📣 BlueSky-ers: WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! 🙏
All of you who ever liked a lecture of mine...
All of you who liked one of the courses I teach in...
All of you I work(ed) with in one way or another...
All of you who see my desperation! 😜
PLEASE re-post! 🙏 careers.humantechnopole.it/o/postdoc-in...

Microscopy Training Grants Supporting microscopy training for early-career researchers in cell biology Apply for a grant of up to £1000 Journal of Cell Science FocalPlane

Are you an #ECR who would like to attend a #microscopy or #bioimageanalysis training course in the next ~6 months but don't have sufficient funding, check to see if you are eligible for our JCS-FocalPlane Training Grant.

Next deadline: 22 November 2024

www.biologists.com/grants/jcs-f...

The peer-reviewed version of our paper is out! Thanks to all co-authors, editor and reviewers for the smooth process 🤓🎉
And don’t miss the chromatin haiku!

www.cell.com/molecular-ce...