Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
@cytolabkoc.bsky.social
scientist studying centrosomes, cilia and centriolar satellites; associate prof @kocuniversity; alumna @ucberkeley @stanford; mom of three boys and a girl; 2X ERC StG LS3; Instagram: cellbiologist_enf, website: https://cytolab.ku.edu.tr
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
The next #DGZ Focus Workshop on #Cilia & #Centrosomes will take place November 25 (end of October is our DGZ meeting in HD). Join us for a great speaker line-up, and big thanks to David Mick @mick-lab.bsky.social & Dagmar Wachten @wachtenlab.bsky.social for organizing!
October 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM
The next #DGZ Focus Workshop on #Cilia & #Centrosomes will take place November 25 (end of October is our DGZ meeting in HD). Join us for a great speaker line-up, and big thanks to David Mick @mick-lab.bsky.social & Dagmar Wachten @wachtenlab.bsky.social for organizing!
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
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Transcription factors SP5 and SP8 drive primary cilia formation in mammalian embryos | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Transcription factors SP5 and SP8 drive primary cilia formation in mammalian embryos | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Transcription factors SP5 and SP8 drive primary cilia formation in mammalian embryos
Although specific transcription factors (TFs) are known to regulate cell fate decisions, the degree to which they can stimulate formation of specific cell organelles is less clear. We used a multiomic...
www.science.org
August 29, 2025 at 8:22 PM
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Transcription factors SP5 and SP8 drive primary cilia formation in mammalian embryos | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Transcription factors SP5 and SP8 drive primary cilia formation in mammalian embryos | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
If you're finishing PhD soon and thinking of postdocs, see below!
Especially if you're keen on combining biochemistry, imaging and cell biology, we are onto some exciting findings on molecules and mechanisms underlying a cytoplasmic division cycle autonomously of CDKs!!
Especially if you're keen on combining biochemistry, imaging and cell biology, we are onto some exciting findings on molecules and mechanisms underlying a cytoplasmic division cycle autonomously of CDKs!!
#Postdoc-opportunity at Columbia U. in New York!!
Looking for a postdoc position? We are interested in candidates from biochemistry background & excited about fractionation, purification and reconstitution to study autonomous clocks in the cell cycle, in colab. with @aydinlab.bsky.social at NYU!
Looking for a postdoc position? We are interested in candidates from biochemistry background & excited about fractionation, purification and reconstitution to study autonomous clocks in the cell cycle, in colab. with @aydinlab.bsky.social at NYU!
Postdoctoral Scientist - Aydogan Lab
Primary Work Address: HHMI/Columbia University | Shadlen Lab--L5-003, New York, NY, 10027 Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHM...
hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
If you're finishing PhD soon and thinking of postdocs, see below!
Especially if you're keen on combining biochemistry, imaging and cell biology, we are onto some exciting findings on molecules and mechanisms underlying a cytoplasmic division cycle autonomously of CDKs!!
Especially if you're keen on combining biochemistry, imaging and cell biology, we are onto some exciting findings on molecules and mechanisms underlying a cytoplasmic division cycle autonomously of CDKs!!
New paper on DYRK kinases and primary cilium!
This project began with our interest in DYRK3’s relationship to centriolar satellites. But what started as a CS-focused story soon evolved into studying DYRK kinase activity during ciliogenesis.
nature.com/articles/s42...
This project began with our interest in DYRK3’s relationship to centriolar satellites. But what started as a CS-focused story soon evolved into studying DYRK kinase activity during ciliogenesis.
nature.com/articles/s42...
Kinase activity of DYRK family members is required for regulating primary cilium length, stability and morphology - Communications Biology
DYRK3 kinase interacts with multiple centriolar satellites and ciliary components to regulate axoneme length dynamics in cooperation with DYRK2.
nature.com
August 26, 2025 at 9:29 AM
New paper on DYRK kinases and primary cilium!
This project began with our interest in DYRK3’s relationship to centriolar satellites. But what started as a CS-focused story soon evolved into studying DYRK kinase activity during ciliogenesis.
nature.com/articles/s42...
This project began with our interest in DYRK3’s relationship to centriolar satellites. But what started as a CS-focused story soon evolved into studying DYRK kinase activity during ciliogenesis.
nature.com/articles/s42...
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
The #PrimaryCilium dynamically assembles & disassembles, but how is this controlled? @cytolabkoc.bsky.social shows that #ciliopathy linked protein Ccdc66 regulates both #cilium stability & length in epithelial cells via microtubules, actin & vesicular trafficking @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4mdTS4A
July 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The #PrimaryCilium dynamically assembles & disassembles, but how is this controlled? @cytolabkoc.bsky.social shows that #ciliopathy linked protein Ccdc66 regulates both #cilium stability & length in epithelial cells via microtubules, actin & vesicular trafficking @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4mdTS4A
Exciting new preprint alert! Our latest research is a tour de force exploring the biology of centriolar satellites, membrane-less organelles essential for development and physiology. Below is a summary of our findings; dive into the full paper through this link 👇
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
July 31, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Exciting new preprint alert! Our latest research is a tour de force exploring the biology of centriolar satellites, membrane-less organelles essential for development and physiology. Below is a summary of our findings; dive into the full paper through this link 👇
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Our paper uncovering the role of the microtubule-associated protein CCDC66 in primary cilium stability and disassembly is now published in @plosbiology.org ! We discovered exciting new links between CCDC66, microtubules, actin, vesicular trafficking, and Wnt.
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
CCDC66 regulation of cytoskeleton and cilia stability is important for signaling and epithelial organization
The primary cilium dynamically assembles and disassembles while maintaining structural stability and tightly regulated length, but the mechanisms that control this remain unclear. This study shows tha...
journals.plos.org
July 31, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Our paper uncovering the role of the microtubule-associated protein CCDC66 in primary cilium stability and disassembly is now published in @plosbiology.org ! We discovered exciting new links between CCDC66, microtubules, actin, vesicular trafficking, and Wnt.
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
I’ll be visiting @wachtenlab.bsky.social’ lab at the Institute of Innate Immunity in Bonn this August for a mini‑sabbatical! I would love to connect with scientists in Bonn and beyond; please reach out if you’d like to chat, collaborate, or host a seminar.
July 29, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I’ll be visiting @wachtenlab.bsky.social’ lab at the Institute of Innate Immunity in Bonn this August for a mini‑sabbatical! I would love to connect with scientists in Bonn and beyond; please reach out if you’d like to chat, collaborate, or host a seminar.
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
EMBL Cell Biology and Biophysics department is searching for a new director. A major position to lead this field in Europe and beyond.
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Head of the Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s flagship life sciences organisation, and one of the world’s leading research institutions. An intergovernmental organisation of 29 Member S...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com
July 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
EMBL Cell Biology and Biophysics department is searching for a new director. A major position to lead this field in Europe and beyond.
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
ERC eligibility rules have changed! I'm among the last researchers awarded the ERC Starting Grant twice. The new rules could broaden applications but also increase competition, let's see how funding rates evolve!
June 3, 2025 at 10:37 AM
ERC eligibility rules have changed! I'm among the last researchers awarded the ERC Starting Grant twice. The new rules could broaden applications but also increase competition, let's see how funding rates evolve!
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
As the incoming Chair of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, I am looking for a Director of Research. Exciting opportunity for a PhD scientist to shape the future of this new Department! Apply here: jobs.weill.cornell.edu/NY/job/New-Y...
Director of Research, Biochemistry & Biophysics
Director of Research, Biochemistry & Biophysics
jobs.weill.cornell.edu
May 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
As the incoming Chair of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, I am looking for a Director of Research. Exciting opportunity for a PhD scientist to shape the future of this new Department! Apply here: jobs.weill.cornell.edu/NY/job/New-Y...
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
Even in the 'good' days, students/PDs on visas were always worried that they would run afoul of the law and be asked to leave. I know - I was on a student visa myself. I can't even begin to imagine their fear and anxiety now. Time for all university leaders to collectively step up and speak out!!
March 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Even in the 'good' days, students/PDs on visas were always worried that they would run afoul of the law and be asked to leave. I know - I was on a student visa myself. I can't even begin to imagine their fear and anxiety now. Time for all university leaders to collectively step up and speak out!!
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
The MIT McGovern Institute’s story celebrating the 10th birthday of expansion microscopy (ExM). One highlight: ExM is not only easy to do, it’s easy to modify - so lots of people are altering and applying ExM for custom purposes, leading to unexpected innovations: mcgovern.mit.edu/2025/03/03/t...
March 10, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The MIT McGovern Institute’s story celebrating the 10th birthday of expansion microscopy (ExM). One highlight: ExM is not only easy to do, it’s easy to modify - so lots of people are altering and applying ExM for custom purposes, leading to unexpected innovations: mcgovern.mit.edu/2025/03/03/t...
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
Proud to share our work spear-headed by PhD student Tommy Sroka with major contributions by #xenopus expert Kerstin Feistel.
Our iAPEX #ProximityLabeling method for #MassSpec based subcellular #proteomics works by locally generating H2O2 using a D-amino acid oxidase that activates APEX2 in situ.
Our iAPEX #ProximityLabeling method for #MassSpec based subcellular #proteomics works by locally generating H2O2 using a D-amino acid oxidase that activates APEX2 in situ.
iAPEX: Improved APEX-based proximity labeling for subcellular proteomics using an enzymatic reaction cascade
Ascorbate peroxidase (APEX) is a versatile labeling enzyme used for live-cell proteomics at high spatial and temporal resolution. However, toxicity of its substrate hydrogen peroxide and background la...
www.biorxiv.org
January 11, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Proud to share our work spear-headed by PhD student Tommy Sroka with major contributions by #xenopus expert Kerstin Feistel.
Our iAPEX #ProximityLabeling method for #MassSpec based subcellular #proteomics works by locally generating H2O2 using a D-amino acid oxidase that activates APEX2 in situ.
Our iAPEX #ProximityLabeling method for #MassSpec based subcellular #proteomics works by locally generating H2O2 using a D-amino acid oxidase that activates APEX2 in situ.
We had a wonderful New Year’s dinner! 2024 was full of great moments: I became an EMBO member, Leyla was born, we published important papers, presented at conferences, organized #advimaging2024, got a new microscope, welcomed new team members. Here is to more in 2025!
December 22, 2024 at 6:19 PM
We had a wonderful New Year’s dinner! 2024 was full of great moments: I became an EMBO member, Leyla was born, we published important papers, presented at conferences, organized #advimaging2024, got a new microscope, welcomed new team members. Here is to more in 2025!
Sorry to miss #cellbio2024 as my 5-month-old isn't quite ready for transatlantic flights, But Cytolab is still represented! Don't miss Efe’s microsymposium talk & poster on centriolar satellites and Basak’s poster on non-ciliary functions of ciliopathy proteins.
December 15, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Sorry to miss #cellbio2024 as my 5-month-old isn't quite ready for transatlantic flights, But Cytolab is still represented! Don't miss Efe’s microsymposium talk & poster on centriolar satellites and Basak’s poster on non-ciliary functions of ciliopathy proteins.
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
🧪 Lab's latest!! Work by PD (and now PI) Alison Philbrook.
C. elegans sensory neurons have gorgeous #cilia. We’ve always thought that a) no cilia = no sensory responses, & b) no IFT = no cilia. Punchline is we thought wrong. Read paper for more!
#neuroscience
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
C. elegans sensory neurons have gorgeous #cilia. We’ve always thought that a) no cilia = no sensory responses, & b) no IFT = no cilia. Punchline is we thought wrong. Read paper for more!
#neuroscience
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Cilia structure and intraflagellar transport differentially regulate sensory response dynamics within and between C. elegans chemosensory neurons
The relative contributions of intraflagellar transport (IFT) and cilia structure to sensory neuron responses remains unclear. This study reveals unexpected complexity in the contribution of IFT and ci...
journals.plos.org
November 26, 2024 at 11:38 PM
🧪 Lab's latest!! Work by PD (and now PI) Alison Philbrook.
C. elegans sensory neurons have gorgeous #cilia. We’ve always thought that a) no cilia = no sensory responses, & b) no IFT = no cilia. Punchline is we thought wrong. Read paper for more!
#neuroscience
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
C. elegans sensory neurons have gorgeous #cilia. We’ve always thought that a) no cilia = no sensory responses, & b) no IFT = no cilia. Punchline is we thought wrong. Read paper for more!
#neuroscience
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
I'm excited to see that a photo of Leyla with me receiving my EMBO member certificate along with other members and EMBO Director Fiona Watt was shown in the photo gallery for the EMBO 60th anniversary celebration. What a wonderful memory for her!
November 27, 2024 at 2:31 PM
I'm excited to see that a photo of Leyla with me receiving my EMBO member certificate along with other members and EMBO Director Fiona Watt was shown in the photo gallery for the EMBO 60th anniversary celebration. What a wonderful memory for her!
Thank you Ula and the rest if the organizers for putting together such a fantastic meeting.
UK Cilia and Centrosome Network autumn meeting in Liverpool was a success!
1) Great ECR representation+diveristy✓
2) Talks from leading experts inc. EMBO-YIP Elif @cytolabkoc.bsky.social ✓
3) Superb networking opportunities ✓
Thanks to Ula @urszulamcclurg.bsky.social for pulling it all together
1) Great ECR representation+diveristy✓
2) Talks from leading experts inc. EMBO-YIP Elif @cytolabkoc.bsky.social ✓
3) Superb networking opportunities ✓
Thanks to Ula @urszulamcclurg.bsky.social for pulling it all together
November 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Thank you Ula and the rest if the organizers for putting together such a fantastic meeting.
I look forward to visiting the University of Liverpool this Thursday to present our findings on centriolar satellites. I will also give the keynote talk and share our latest cilia findings at the UK Cilia Meeting on Friday.
November 19, 2024 at 8:38 PM
I look forward to visiting the University of Liverpool this Thursday to present our findings on centriolar satellites. I will also give the keynote talk and share our latest cilia findings at the UK Cilia Meeting on Friday.
Thankful to have an office for pumping, so much better than the microscope room or other awkward spots I used during my PhD/postdoc. Dedicated nursing rooms are essential for supporting women’s return to work. It’s a simple change that can make a huge difference for working moms.
November 15, 2024 at 11:04 AM
Thankful to have an office for pumping, so much better than the microscope room or other awkward spots I used during my PhD/postdoc. Dedicated nursing rooms are essential for supporting women’s return to work. It’s a simple change that can make a huge difference for working moms.
Leyla participated our meeting on how to address reviewer comments.
November 12, 2024 at 7:13 PM
Leyla participated our meeting on how to address reviewer comments.
Since I last logged into Bluesky, the number of kids in my profile has changed from 3 boys to 3 boys and a girl! Time to update my profile and build my community here.
November 12, 2024 at 7:11 PM
Since I last logged into Bluesky, the number of kids in my profile has changed from 3 boys to 3 boys and a girl! Time to update my profile and build my community here.
Reposted by Elif Nur Firat-Karalar
To all UK cilia enthusiasts! Our autumn meeting this year will be in Liverpool on 22nd November. Registration is now open at forms.gle/S7VtCpyUXAGa... and abstract submission will open soon. This is an ECR focused event so priority for talks/posters will be given to trainees. Come along!
September 3, 2024 at 6:44 PM
To all UK cilia enthusiasts! Our autumn meeting this year will be in Liverpool on 22nd November. Registration is now open at forms.gle/S7VtCpyUXAGa... and abstract submission will open soon. This is an ECR focused event so priority for talks/posters will be given to trainees. Come along!