Kat Toropova
@kattoropova.bsky.social
Group leader & MRC CDA fellow at the Dunn School, Oxford. Cilia, motor proteins & intracellular organisation using cryo-EM/ET & cell biology. Run a co-lab with Anthony Roberts.
Pinned
Kat Toropova
@kattoropova.bsky.social
· Sep 8
How to Apply - Dunn School
Here you can find more information on how to apply for our PhD programme, including deadlines and application requirements.
www.path.ox.ac.uk
The Dunn School PhD programme is live! 🎉
Two projects in our labs:
1) How the motor protein giant dynein-2 works
2) How signalling-essential membrane proteins get into cilia
Cryo-EM/ET, single mol & live-cell fluor microscopy, CRISPR-based genetic tools & more!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/study-with-u...
Two projects in our labs:
1) How the motor protein giant dynein-2 works
2) How signalling-essential membrane proteins get into cilia
Cryo-EM/ET, single mol & live-cell fluor microscopy, CRISPR-based genetic tools & more!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/study-with-u...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
A new study by @thurstonlab.bsky.social reveals how a small virulence protein from Salmonella uses molecular mimicry to reprogramme host kinase specificity.
Find out more: www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Find out more: www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Converting a kinase through molecular mimicry - Dunn School
Published in EMBO Reports, a new study by the Thurston Group reveals how a small virulence protein from Salmonella called SteE, uses molecular mimicry to reprogramme host kinase specificity.
www.path.ox.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 6:16 AM
A new study by @thurstonlab.bsky.social reveals how a small virulence protein from Salmonella uses molecular mimicry to reprogramme host kinase specificity.
Find out more: www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Find out more: www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
We are hiring an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine. Come join our collaborative research environment with state-of-the-art facilities in NYC! Application review starts Oct 22.
biochem.weill.cornell.edu/join-our-fac...
biochem.weill.cornell.edu/join-our-fac...
Join our Faculty | Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
Call for applications:We invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the newly established Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. We are conducting an open search for ou...
biochem.weill.cornell.edu
September 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
We are hiring an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine. Come join our collaborative research environment with state-of-the-art facilities in NYC! Application review starts Oct 22.
biochem.weill.cornell.edu/join-our-fac...
biochem.weill.cornell.edu/join-our-fac...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Happy to share the inaugural paper from the lab. We describe a molecular mechanism for the activation of outer dynein arm motors that power the vital motion of cilia.
Open access link below:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here's a cool animated summary
Open access link below:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here's a cool animated summary
September 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Happy to share the inaugural paper from the lab. We describe a molecular mechanism for the activation of outer dynein arm motors that power the vital motion of cilia.
Open access link below:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here's a cool animated summary
Open access link below:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here's a cool animated summary
Reposted by Kat Toropova
We had a fantastic time today showcasing our amazing history and cutting-edge research at #OxfordOpenDoors! Visitors learnt about 100 years of medical research, the development of penicillin and our ongoing work on microbiology and AMR. Thanks to all the volunteers!
September 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
We had a fantastic time today showcasing our amazing history and cutting-edge research at #OxfordOpenDoors! Visitors learnt about 100 years of medical research, the development of penicillin and our ongoing work on microbiology and AMR. Thanks to all the volunteers!
Reposted by Kat Toropova
KIF13B controls ciliary protein content by promoting endocytic retrieval and suppressing release of large extracellular vesicles from cilia: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
KIF13B controls ciliary protein content by promoting endocytic retrieval and suppressing release of large extracellular vesicles from cilia
Rezi et al. show that kinesin-3 KIF13B regulates ciliary protein content by promoting
endocytic retrieval and small extracellular vesicle (EV) release of ciliary proteins
while suppressing their relea...
www.cell.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
KIF13B controls ciliary protein content by promoting endocytic retrieval and suppressing release of large extracellular vesicles from cilia: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
The annual Dunn School DPhil studentship competition for 2026 is open for applications.
We have a project aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of ciliary dynein transport. See details below and please pass on to anyone who might be interested.
www.path.ox.ac.uk/project/mech...
We have a project aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of ciliary dynein transport. See details below and please pass on to anyone who might be interested.
www.path.ox.ac.uk/project/mech...
Mechanistic studies on axonemal dynein transport to motile cilia - Dunn School
Over 30 groups work at the Dunn School to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying disease. Discover which research groups are accepting students for our next round of applications.
www.path.ox.ac.uk
September 9, 2025 at 9:22 AM
The annual Dunn School DPhil studentship competition for 2026 is open for applications.
We have a project aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of ciliary dynein transport. See details below and please pass on to anyone who might be interested.
www.path.ox.ac.uk/project/mech...
We have a project aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of ciliary dynein transport. See details below and please pass on to anyone who might be interested.
www.path.ox.ac.uk/project/mech...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Great time showcasing the amazing science we do at the @dunnschool.bsky.social at #OxfordOpenDoors today!
September 13, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Great time showcasing the amazing science we do at the @dunnschool.bsky.social at #OxfordOpenDoors today!
Reposted by Kat Toropova
First pre-print from the Lucas Lab led by Matthew Giammar and @joshdcryoem.bsky.social online today! We develop a new, extensible Python implementation of 2DTM and apply it to build pixel size optimization, constrained search and characterize molecular motions in situ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Leopard-EM: An extensible 2DTM package to accelerate in situ structural biology
The ability to generate high-resolution views of cells with cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can reveal the molecular mechanisms of biological processes in their native cellular context. The re...
www.biorxiv.org
August 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
First pre-print from the Lucas Lab led by Matthew Giammar and @joshdcryoem.bsky.social online today! We develop a new, extensible Python implementation of 2DTM and apply it to build pixel size optimization, constrained search and characterize molecular motions in situ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Another exciting opportunity @dunnschool.bsky.social !
Come and be a colleague to a great group of scientists working on the fundamental mechanisms underlying disease, and how to transform health
Please help us find great applicants
Come and be a colleague to a great group of scientists working on the fundamental mechanisms underlying disease, and how to transform health
Please help us find great applicants
We're hiring (again)!
We are looking for an associate professor in cell and molecular biology, with a particular focus on immunology (defined broadly)
If you have a great record and exciting plans, consider joining our thriving and welcoming department
www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...
We are looking for an associate professor in cell and molecular biology, with a particular focus on immunology (defined broadly)
If you have a great record and exciting plans, consider joining our thriving and welcoming department
www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...
September 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Another exciting opportunity @dunnschool.bsky.social !
Come and be a colleague to a great group of scientists working on the fundamental mechanisms underlying disease, and how to transform health
Please help us find great applicants
Come and be a colleague to a great group of scientists working on the fundamental mechanisms underlying disease, and how to transform health
Please help us find great applicants
The Dunn School PhD programme is live! 🎉
Two projects in our labs:
1) How the motor protein giant dynein-2 works
2) How signalling-essential membrane proteins get into cilia
Cryo-EM/ET, single mol & live-cell fluor microscopy, CRISPR-based genetic tools & more!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/study-with-u...
Two projects in our labs:
1) How the motor protein giant dynein-2 works
2) How signalling-essential membrane proteins get into cilia
Cryo-EM/ET, single mol & live-cell fluor microscopy, CRISPR-based genetic tools & more!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/study-with-u...
How to Apply - Dunn School
Here you can find more information on how to apply for our PhD programme, including deadlines and application requirements.
www.path.ox.ac.uk
September 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The Dunn School PhD programme is live! 🎉
Two projects in our labs:
1) How the motor protein giant dynein-2 works
2) How signalling-essential membrane proteins get into cilia
Cryo-EM/ET, single mol & live-cell fluor microscopy, CRISPR-based genetic tools & more!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/study-with-u...
Two projects in our labs:
1) How the motor protein giant dynein-2 works
2) How signalling-essential membrane proteins get into cilia
Cryo-EM/ET, single mol & live-cell fluor microscopy, CRISPR-based genetic tools & more!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/study-with-u...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Our PhD studentship programme is officially open; pass it on
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Applications now open for our PhD studentship programme - Dunn School
Applications are now open to apply for our four year, fully-funded PhD programme in Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease.
www.path.ox.ac.uk
September 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Our PhD studentship programme is officially open; pass it on
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Are you a postdoc interested in the mechanisms of disease?
Do you have a great record and an exciting vision?
Come and start your own lab @dunnschool.bsky.social by applying for sponsorship for early career fellowships.
Deadline 30th September...pass it on!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us...
Do you have a great record and an exciting vision?
Come and start your own lab @dunnschool.bsky.social by applying for sponsorship for early career fellowships.
Deadline 30th September...pass it on!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us...
Group Leader Career Development Fellowships - Dunn School
Are you an early career researcher interested in the cell or molecular mechanisms underlying disease? Do you have an outstanding record and an innovative research plan?
www.path.ox.ac.uk
September 1, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Are you a postdoc interested in the mechanisms of disease?
Do you have a great record and an exciting vision?
Come and start your own lab @dunnschool.bsky.social by applying for sponsorship for early career fellowships.
Deadline 30th September...pass it on!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us...
Do you have a great record and an exciting vision?
Come and start your own lab @dunnschool.bsky.social by applying for sponsorship for early career fellowships.
Deadline 30th September...pass it on!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us...
Very cool!!
Excited to share our latest work with @simonbullock11.bsky.social! We looked at how diverse mRNAs get selected for subcellular localization and it turns out that a single protein can recognize different RNA elements using shared features that weren’t apparent before.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
August 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Very cool!!
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Fantastic work by the group of @matteoall.bsky.social : a SUN5:Nesprin3 complex at the head:tail junction of sperm cells. 🤯 #teamtomo
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In-cell structure of a LINC complex reveals the molecular basis for membrane remodelling and head-to-tail coupling in sperm cells
In eukaryotic cells, LINC complexes physically bridge the two nuclear membranes to cytoskeletal filaments, transmitting mechanical forces to the nucleus. Due to their dynamic and membrane-embedded nat...
www.biorxiv.org
August 5, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Fantastic work by the group of @matteoall.bsky.social : a SUN5:Nesprin3 complex at the head:tail junction of sperm cells. 🤯 #teamtomo
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Go check out the latest preprint from Giulia Zanetti's lab. @dr-downes.bsky.social used cryo-tomography to directly visualize COPI and COPII coated vesicles in situ at unprecedented resolution in human cells. Amazingly beautiful, rigorous, insightful work.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Multi-scale Molecular Imaging of Human Cells reveals COPI and COPII Vesicles at ER Exit Sites
Trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus comprises the first steps toward the correct localization of 30% of eukaryotic proteins. Coat protein complexes COPII and COPI are inv...
www.biorxiv.org
August 4, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Go check out the latest preprint from Giulia Zanetti's lab. @dr-downes.bsky.social used cryo-tomography to directly visualize COPI and COPII coated vesicles in situ at unprecedented resolution in human cells. Amazingly beautiful, rigorous, insightful work.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Cryo-EM and biochemical reconstitution analysis reveal that Nde1 enhances Lis1 binding to autoinhibited dynein, promoting formation of a Phi-like-Lis1 intermediate during dynein activation
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nde1 promotes Lis1 binding to full-length autoinhibited human dynein 1 - Nature Chemical Biology
Cryo-electron microscopy and biochemical reconstitution analysis reveals that Nde1 enhances Lis1 binding to autoinhibited dynein, promoting formation of a Phi-like–Lis1 intermediate during dynein acti...
www.nature.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Cryo-EM and biochemical reconstitution analysis reveal that Nde1 enhances Lis1 binding to autoinhibited dynein, promoting formation of a Phi-like-Lis1 intermediate during dynein activation
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Congratulations team! 🎉🎉
Many congratulations to Girish R Mali (@dyneinassembly.bsky.social) and team, awarded the 2025 Ian & Barbara Gibbons Award for their work on the regulation of axonemal dynein motors that power ciliary beating!
The award recognises groundbreaking advances in the Dynein field every four years.
The award recognises groundbreaking advances in the Dynein field every four years.
August 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Congratulations team! 🎉🎉
This is a brilliant opportunity. I was sponsored through this scheme, and the support was (and remains) phenomenal. Please share.
📣 Applications now open 📣
We are seeking outstanding ECRs looking for a stimulating and supportive environment in which to establish their research group as externally-funded fellows, in any area or cell or molecular biology underlying disease!
Please share!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us...
We are seeking outstanding ECRs looking for a stimulating and supportive environment in which to establish their research group as externally-funded fellows, in any area or cell or molecular biology underlying disease!
Please share!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us...
July 31, 2025 at 7:29 AM
This is a brilliant opportunity. I was sponsored through this scheme, and the support was (and remains) phenomenal. Please share.
Thrilled to see our study on how kinesin-2 motors are switched on and off published in @natsmb.nature.com ⚛️
➡️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Congrats to all authors from me and Anthony 🎉 @dunnschool.bsky.social Check out this animation made by talented PhD student @matthew-batisio.bsky.social 😆
➡️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Congrats to all authors from me and Anthony 🎉 @dunnschool.bsky.social Check out this animation made by talented PhD student @matthew-batisio.bsky.social 😆
July 29, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Thrilled to see our study on how kinesin-2 motors are switched on and off published in @natsmb.nature.com ⚛️
➡️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Congrats to all authors from me and Anthony 🎉 @dunnschool.bsky.social Check out this animation made by talented PhD student @matthew-batisio.bsky.social 😆
➡️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Congrats to all authors from me and Anthony 🎉 @dunnschool.bsky.social Check out this animation made by talented PhD student @matthew-batisio.bsky.social 😆
Reposted by Kat Toropova
New lab preprint! Unveiling the Molecular Architecture of T Cells and Immune Synapses with Cryo-Expansion Microscopy (Cryo-ExM). A fantastic collaboration with Dr. Benita Wolf. Congratulations to all authors, especially Florent Lemaitre, for leading this amazing work! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
April 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
New lab preprint! Unveiling the Molecular Architecture of T Cells and Immune Synapses with Cryo-Expansion Microscopy (Cryo-ExM). A fantastic collaboration with Dr. Benita Wolf. Congratulations to all authors, especially Florent Lemaitre, for leading this amazing work! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Very impressive cryo-lift out of high-pressure-frozen mouse brain sections by @michaelgrange.bsky.social & co. 🐭🧠❄️🔬
Making it look too easy!! Now all my @biozentrum.unibas.ch colleagues will to want to do #cryoET of their tissue samples, haha 🤷♂️
There's no stopping #TeamTomo 🧪🧶🧬
Making it look too easy!! Now all my @biozentrum.unibas.ch colleagues will to want to do #cryoET of their tissue samples, haha 🤷♂️
There's no stopping #TeamTomo 🧪🧶🧬
Proud to share our latest paper. doi.org/10.1016/j.cr...
Through the dedication of @glynnca.bsky.social and @cryingem.bsky.social we report a thorough method to image molecular organisation within hippocampus tissue.
Structural biology in tissue is well and truly here!
@rosfrankinst.bsky.social
Through the dedication of @glynnca.bsky.social and @cryingem.bsky.social we report a thorough method to image molecular organisation within hippocampus tissue.
Structural biology in tissue is well and truly here!
@rosfrankinst.bsky.social
June 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Very impressive cryo-lift out of high-pressure-frozen mouse brain sections by @michaelgrange.bsky.social & co. 🐭🧠❄️🔬
Making it look too easy!! Now all my @biozentrum.unibas.ch colleagues will to want to do #cryoET of their tissue samples, haha 🤷♂️
There's no stopping #TeamTomo 🧪🧶🧬
Making it look too easy!! Now all my @biozentrum.unibas.ch colleagues will to want to do #cryoET of their tissue samples, haha 🤷♂️
There's no stopping #TeamTomo 🧪🧶🧬
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Check out our recent review discussing the merits of tilt series vs single micrographs for in situ cryo-EM! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
To tilt or not to tilt? Strategies for in situ cryo-EM data collection
Recent breakthroughs in single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and protein structure prediction have transformed our ability to resol…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Check out our recent review discussing the merits of tilt series vs single micrographs for in situ cryo-EM! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
Happy to share our latest work on the structure and assembly of holocentric kinetochores! Huge thanks to Ines for a very fruitful collaboration, Claudio for all the support, and congratulations to Christine and all co-authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
July 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Happy to share our latest work on the structure and assembly of holocentric kinetochores! Huge thanks to Ines for a very fruitful collaboration, Claudio for all the support, and congratulations to Christine and all co-authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kat Toropova
IFT trains are really cool - and what better way to communicate their structure than baking a cake?
Created for my 1st year PhD project with Anthony Roberts and @kattoropova.bsky.social
IFT-A 🟡 IFT-B 🟢 Dynein-2 🔵
Created for my 1st year PhD project with Anthony Roberts and @kattoropova.bsky.social
IFT-A 🟡 IFT-B 🟢 Dynein-2 🔵
July 17, 2025 at 10:21 AM
IFT trains are really cool - and what better way to communicate their structure than baking a cake?
Created for my 1st year PhD project with Anthony Roberts and @kattoropova.bsky.social
IFT-A 🟡 IFT-B 🟢 Dynein-2 🔵
Created for my 1st year PhD project with Anthony Roberts and @kattoropova.bsky.social
IFT-A 🟡 IFT-B 🟢 Dynein-2 🔵
Reposted by Kat Toropova
We are highlighting Pleasantine Mill, 2025 @bsdb.bsky.social Wolpert Medal winner, as an extraordinary biologist this week. Pleasantine is also coordinating a @jcellsci.bsky.social Special Issue and co-organised the 2024 @dmmjournal.bsky.social Journal Meeting. #100biologists
@cilialab.bsky.social
@cilialab.bsky.social
June 3, 2025 at 1:14 PM
We are highlighting Pleasantine Mill, 2025 @bsdb.bsky.social Wolpert Medal winner, as an extraordinary biologist this week. Pleasantine is also coordinating a @jcellsci.bsky.social Special Issue and co-organised the 2024 @dmmjournal.bsky.social Journal Meeting. #100biologists
@cilialab.bsky.social
@cilialab.bsky.social