DrayLab

PALB2 and 53BP1 govern post-resection homologous recombination DNA repair Wang et al. demonstrate that the PALB2 CC domain has single-stranded (ss)DNA-binding activity that is essential for PALB2 and RAD51 to form DNA-damage foci. By creating Palb2 CC-mutated mice, they fou...

Beautiful new story from Neil Johnson's lab, hard work driven by Wang, many collaborators incl' Jean Yves Masson, and small contribution from us. Super happy to see this in press! PALB2 and 53BP1 govern post-resection homologous recombination DNA repair: Molecular Cell www.cell.com/molecular-ce...

Fresh of the press, a beautiful collaborative work with and from the Sung lab, led by the amazing Francisco Neal, now back to his "normal" life (med school) post PhD. doi.org/10.1016/j.ce... Distinct roles of the two BRCA2 DNA-binding domains in DNA damage repair and replication fork preservation

Want to learn more about RB? Here is a free author link to a new review. Hot of the press, out of the @duijflab.bsky.social Well done Pascal :) authors.elsevier.com/c/1k-zt5Eb1B...

We just wanted to take a moment to thank all our new supporters! Tomorrow, there will be more of us!

I was hoping to bring in a very talented young MD from China who wants to PhD with us. He would have had a mini scholarship from his gvt, but mostly paid by the lab. Was told that it is forbidden in Texas. I don't think it's the best time to recruit overseas...

www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-... @agawande.bsky.social speaks with @newyorker.com editor David Remnick on the mass casualties being inflicted by the Musk-Trump program

the numbers are too much for Remnick to keep his composure

The victory on HIV is amazing. But also the cancer advances! 20, 30 years ago, many cancer diagnoses were pretty much death sentences. Radiotherapy was horrible. I remember bleak family discussions. If a school friend had leukemia, it would be a toss-up. We have come FAR and FAST! #sciencerules

Sorry, early morning writing in a language that is not mine, I missed the mark. It was said tongue in cheek, to point out that they should turn off the TV and pick up a book, but it's not a normal government. So everything that we do that is normal, they'll ignore. I'm pleased pple speak up!

If they want to reach the government, they need to make a video and get it on TikTok or Fox News. Preferably with a million likes. This letter will go straight to the bin, we are ruled by illiterates.

That's horrible. And so bizarre too, they really have no vision.

It's funny how everyone is hyper-focused on the indirects. These are necessary, but can we talk about direct?? Almost no $ was used in 2025. 16,000 applications stalled or ~1.5 billion $. Will the 3rd year of that grant be paid? Will this proposal that scored so well get paid? 15% of zero is zero.

Started yesterday morning. Very anxiogenic. The whole server is down, yet people who log in through the federated login option and not login.gov can access it. It's somewhat comforting. The sites still exist they just cannot be accessed.

Well, it's stopping me right now. My entire study section has been banging their head on the wall since yesterday 8am as we can't enter our scores. If we can't access the site within the next 24-48h, I am sure you know what comes next...

It's just sad how the writing was on the wall this entire time and people just walk past and ignore it. I am extra worried for Genbank. Who will archive all genomes on Earth before it's too late?

Nous sommes effectivement un peu instable. Et dans le noir. En congres, j ai demande a mes colleagues la semaine derniere, que se passe t il si on perd Genebank? Tout le monde a rigole... J' espere que l Europe protege une copie des genomes, parce qu a la vitesse ou on va, personne ne rigole plus.

Guerilla advertising seen in the London Metro

Once you accept the idea that Trump is on Putin's payroll, *everything* he does suddenly makes sense

Having insider intel, I can tell you that no, they are not good. Many have academic links that extend beyond staff training and background. Academic + gov contracts, use of our cores, academic consultants etc. But they're not that safe either. So everyone is playing the cowardly game and laying low.

Not fun that the websites are down on the Saturday that I was supposed to enter scores, and one more concern to add to the list. But when I look at that graph, what jumps at me is that I am not alone.
- When do PIs sleep?
- At 3am.
- That's it?
- That's it.

Get in Dorks, we are going protesting.

STAND UP FOR SCIENCE. MARCH 7th 12-4pm. DC AND YOUR STATE CAPITALS.

More information to come.

It would also be fabulous if they could use this situation as a wake up call to up the research budget, not just for recruitment but to stabilize the superb scientists they already have.

It's not looking too good, uh... Really sad to watch how a top notch system can be dismantled overnight.

I hope that European agencies take note of what's happening in the US right now and go on a shopping spree. It has been a few years that my European colleagues and I have been considering moving back home. If there was a way, we would. In drove. China could do the same: large mistreated talent pool.

Ooohhhh how did I not know about that group 🩷 great that you're moving from FB to here, looking fwd to growing that kind of network. Loving bsky so far! 🦋

It is especially useful for international students and postdocs who need to pitch every time they go through custom/ immigration. Explain your science, showcase your value.

BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitinates PCNA in unperturbed conditions to promote continuous DNA synthesis - Nature Communications Here the authors identify PCNA, a master regulator of DNA replication, as a ubiquitin substrate for the BRCA1/BARD1 heterodimer. This modification is crucial to avoid the appearance of unreplicated DN...

The lab 2024 article is out! BRCA1/BARD1 ubiquitinates PCNA to promote continuous, ssDNA-free, DNA synthesis in a RAD18-independent pathway.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

a woman says " would you like to join us " with her eyes closed ALT: a woman says " would you like to join us " with her eyes closed

I am looking PhD students interested in structural and mechanistic enzymology. We have DOE-funded CryoEM projects teed up great thesis work on higher order protein assembly and to capture protein motion during turnover. If you know of undergrad students looking please send them (NSF-GRFP ideas)..

ok, I tried to make a starter pack on genome stability/DNA replication/DNA repair etc. Sorry if I couldn't find someone, please nominate yourself and your colleagues in comments or DMs, looking forward to connecting with everyone!
go.bsky.app/9jdDNxG