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Antoine Molaro

@antoinemolaro.bsky.social

1.5K followers 1.3K following 50 posts

Group Leader @GReD_Clermont Chargé de Recherche @INSERM Evolutionary biologist studying chromatin also drummer. Jazz and epistemology. he/his https://www.igred.fr/en/team/evolutionary-epigenomics-and-genetic-conflicts/

www.igred.fr

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Antoine Molaro @antoinemolaro.bsky.social · Mar 31

Hello World! Are you passionate about epigenomics and evolution 🧪🧬🐭🐵 ? Are you looking for a postdoc in a stimulating and inclusive environment ? Look no further... We are seeking creative postdocs for our ERC project EvoEpi @igred.fr ! 👇Details👇
tinyurl.com/PostdocEvoEp...
Repost are appreciated

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Claudèle Lemay-St-Denis @claudele.bsky.social · 4d

How does catalysis emerge from non-catalytic domains?

In our new paper, we show that catalytic activity can arise without conserved active-site residues — through multimerization and electrostatic features instead.

A striking case of catalysis evolving from binding.

Molecular Biology and Evolution @molbioevol.bsky.social · 9d

@claudele.bsky.social et al. studied the fundamental question of how enzymatic activity emerges by focusing on type B dihydrofolate reductases, suggesting DfrB domains evolved rudimentary catalysis from a binding capacity.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf215

#evobio #molbio

From Binding to Catalysis: Emergence of a Rudimentary Enzyme Conferring Intrinsic Antibiotic Resistance

Abstract. How does enzymatic activity emerge? To shed light on this fundamental question, we study type B dihydrofolate reductases (DfrB), which were disco

doi.org

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Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social · 3d

A Nobel-winning scientist of great modesty and humour, John Gurdon died on 7 Oct. Not only did he make a discovery that laid the foundations for stem cell research, he also created one of the best environments for research at the Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute wellcome.org/news/sir-joh...

Sir John Gurdon, 1933-2025 | Wellcome

A Nobel-winning scientist of great modesty and humour, John Gurdon died on 7 October. He made a discovery that opened up the field of cloning research, and created one of the best environments for res...

wellcome.org

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Sheila Teves @sheilateves.bsky.social · 5d

How does a “universal” transcription factor evolve to do species-specific jobs?
Our new preprint reveals how divergence in TBP’s domains shapes transcriptional specialization across eukaryotes.

Read it here 👉

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

#MolecularEvolution #Transcription

Molecular determinants underlying functional divergence of TBP homologs

The TATA-box binding protein (TBP) is a highly conserved basal transcription factor and a core component of the pre-initiation complex (PIC) for all three eukaryotic RNA polymerases (RNA Pols). Despit...

www.biorxiv.org

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Antoine Molaro @antoinemolaro.bsky.social · 5d

Sad news indeed…

Reposted by Antoine Molaro

James Briscoe @jamesbriscoe.bsky.social · 5d

Very sad news, John Gurdon has died.

A developmental biologist's developmental biologist, Nobel prize winner

His work is the foundation of much of today's dev & stem cell bio.

An inspiration to many, including me. Always asking questions & wanting the answers

www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS (1933-2025) | Magdalene College

Magdalene College is deeply saddened to announce the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS, who served as Master of the College from 1995 to 2002.

www.magd.cam.ac.uk

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Peter Ellis @pjie2.bsky.social · 5d

I’ve seen several huge screens like this and they all seem to look at every TF in the genome EXCEPT the couple I’m interested in. It’s beginning to feel personal. What have these big screen folks got against ZFX and ZFY?

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Antoine Molaro @antoinemolaro.bsky.social · 6d

SCHLAFEN proteins work as dimers and Joris discovered hat their dimerization interface was subject to ongoing evolutionary diversification. This likley drives SCHLAFEN compatibilities. Is it paralog sorting? Is it escape from antagonists? We hope to have spurred some interest in these questions...

two spider-man standing next to each other with one wearing a red and blue suit

ALT: two spider-man standing next to each other with one wearing a red and blue suit

media.tenor.com

Antoine Molaro @antoinemolaro.bsky.social · 6d

Schlafen genes are a class of RNases with functions in immune response, DNA damage and development. Using in-depth phylogenomics, Joris identified and mapped the signatures of repeated paralog subfunctionalization in recently evolved primate and rodent Schlafen genes.

a cartoon of two spidermans standing in front of a nypd van

ALT: a cartoon of two spidermans standing in front of a nypd van

media.tenor.com

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Antoine Molaro @antoinemolaro.bsky.social · 6d

Hello World! It took a minute, but much improved version (thank you peer review) of Joris paper is out
@genomebiolevol.bsky.social

bsky.app/profile/geno...

Genome Biology and Evolution @genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 6d

Mordier, @antoinemolaro.bsky.social et al. applied phylogenomic approaches to characterize the evolutionary trajectories and selective forces shaping mammalian Schlafen genes.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf172

#genome #evolution

Recurrent Evolutionary Innovations in Rodent and Primate Schlafen Genes

Abstract. SCHLAFEN proteins are a large family of RNase-related enzymes carrying essential immune and developmental functions. Despite these important role

doi.org

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Alexis Verger 🧬🧫🧪 @alexis-verger.cpesr.fr · 6d

2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine #nobelprize

E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.”

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Mia Levine @levine-lab.bsky.social · 8d

Check out this new Levine-Lampson collaboration, led by the talented Hyuk-Joon Jeon.

We explored the consequences of inheriting long telomeres from dad and short telomeres from mom. Or the reciprocal. Turns out, parent-of-origin matters (in mice, at least).

authors.elsevier.com/c/1loW-3QW8S...

authors.elsevier.com

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Thibaut Brunet @thibautbrunet.bsky.social · 7d

Latest from ours: www.cell.com/cell-reports...

This is two stories in one: a case study/cautionary tale on developing genetic tools in new organisms, and the first hint at a gene regulatory network for choanoflagellate multicellular development (which turn out to involve a Hippo/YAP/ECM loop!) A 🧵

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Riccardo Pianezza @rpianezza.bsky.social · 9d

We discovered an endogenous retrovirus that's still spreading in natural D. melanogaster populations! It was horizontally transferred from D. erecta in Central Africa, so we named it "Kuruka", which means "jump" in Swahili. Read its cool story here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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EMBL @embl.org · 13d

New research from EMBL Rome shows how paternal environment prior to conception can shape early embryo development.

These findings are a step toward understanding the mechanism of epigenetic inheritance, opening up new possibilities for disease prevention.
www.embl.org/news/science...

Fathers shape embryonic development through molecular ‘signatures’. Credits: Daniela Velasco/EMBL

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Antoine Molaro @antoinemolaro.bsky.social · 9d

#mustread

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Rupinder Kaur, PhD @kaurr.bsky.social · 9d

#Wolbachia has puzzled scientists with its power to rewire insect reproduction. What if I tell you that we found one of the keys Wolbachia use to rewire its host AND a small molecule inhibitor uses this key to mimic what this microbe has mastered for millions of years.

www.cell.com/cell-reports...

Beyond Wolbachia—Can a small molecule control insect reproduction?

Kaur et al. demonstrate reduced histone acetylation as a key mechanism underpinning Wolbachia’s paternal-effect embryonic lethality trait in Drosophila melanogaster. Recapitulation of this trait by in...

www.cell.com

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 10d

Preprint Alert! 🦥
We produced complete genomes for 2 Xenarthra and placed them in a mammalian comparative framework. We found that Xenarthra harbour the largest number of retrocopies in mammals! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Retrocopy formation and domestication shape genome evolution in sloths and other xenarthrans

Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialised mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptations remain...

www.biorxiv.org

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Aurora Ruiz-Herrera @aruizherrera.bsky.social · 11d

🚨 New from our lab in #ScienceAdvances!

RAD21L cohesin acts as both a 3D genome architect and a transcriptional gatekeeper in the male germline. Its loss disrupts both structure and function—highlighting the tight link between genome folding and gene regulation

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Meiotic cohesin RAD21L shapes 3D genome structure and transcription in the male germline

Deletion of the meiotic subunit RAD21L alters 3D chromatin structure and transcription in the mammalian male germ line.

www.science.org

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Jackson Hoffman @jxhoffman.bsky.social · 18d

Starting in 3 hours!!

FragileNucleosome @fnucleosome.bsky.social · 20d

This Wednesday at #FragileNucleosome seminar, we are excited to host Ali Wilkening and @schvartzman.bsky.social to tell us about amazing work they are doing!
Register here for upcoming session and the entire series:
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Dr Elodie Chabrol @eloscicomm.bsky.social · 19d

👩‍🔬J'ai commencé un kit de démarrage "chercheuses en France" go.bsky.app/TBEzKC #FemmesEnScience

J'ai besoin de votre aide pour le remplir et donner de la visibilité aux chercheuses que vous connaissez et qui sont sur Bluesky !
▶️Taguez celles que vous connaissez, je les ajoute !

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Francesca Mattiroli @fmattiroli.bsky.social · 21d

The latest work from ours and @vram142.bsky.social lab is out! True teamwork to visualize nascent chromatin with strand resolution, using a fully reconstituted system. Very proud of superstar-PhD student Bruna, and @palindromephd.bsky.social. Learning so much from Vijay’s amazing technologies! RT

Vijay Ramani @vram142.bsky.social · 22d

Some (+)ve news to lighten another heavy weekend: our latest preprint (c/o Mattiroli + Ramani labs) is up!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A tour-de-force by 1st authors Bruna Eckhardt & @palindromephd.bsky.social, focusing on chromatin replication. RTs welcome; tweetorial in 3,2...(1/n)

The eukaryotic replisome intrinsically generates asymmetric daughter chromatin fibers

DNA replication is molecularly asymmetric, due to distinct mechanisms for lagging and leading strand DNA synthesis. Whether chromatin assembly on newly replicated strands is also asymmetric remains un...

www.biorxiv.org

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ALBA Network @network-alba.bsky.social · 24d

🌊 Season Finale Out Now!
What does it really mean to “make it” in academia? A big lab? Prestigious awards? In Ep 5 of the ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast, we challenge traditional definitions of success and explore new ways to measure excellence in science.
🔗 Listen now: https://loom.ly/N1a1jSg

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Harmit Singh Malik @harmitmalik.bsky.social · 25d

www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...

A host organelle (in sea slugs) integrates stolen chloroplasts for animal photosynthesis

A host organelle integrates stolen chloroplasts for animal photosynthesis

Sea slugs steal foreign chloroplasts and store them in specialized organelles that facilitate photosynthesis and eventual digestion to mediate starvation resistance.

www.cell.com

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Peter Andersen @germline.bsky.social · 25d

On my way to Paris and am so(!) looking forward to this visit..

… and to the crepe I will have tonight. And tomorrow night. And..

Institut Jacques Monod @ijmonod.bsky.social · 25d

📢 Institut Jacques Monod Seminar

📅 September 18th
📍 Institut Jacques Monod

Tomorrow, Peter Andersen ( @germline.bsky.social ) will give the Institut Jacques Monod Seminar "Running to stand still – Recurrent innovation of animal germline genome regulation"

➡️ buff.ly/OiDEocK

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Maxim Greenberg @maxvcg.bsky.social · 27d

Very excited to share an excellent review from @teresa-urli.bsky.social, published one week before her PhD defense! We did a deep dive into the fascinating biology of the variant Polycomb complex, PRC1.6 (1/5) journals.plos.org/plosgenetics...

Epigenetic relay: Polycomb-directed DNA methylation in mammalian development

In mammals, repression of germline-specific gene expression is essential for preserving somatic cell identity and preventing disease. Germline gene silencing is often dependent on the presence of prom...

journals.plos.org

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