Matt Doran
@matthdoran.bsky.social
Structural biologist and post-doc in the Brown Lab @harvardmed. Formerly at the Lehman lab @BUMedicine.
This was a wonderful collaboration with Sophia Fochler, Eva Gluenz, @zephyris-science.bsky.social, @alanbrownhms.bsky.social, and more analyzing a mountain of data. We are also grateful for the support through a dual NSF and Swiss NSF grant.
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
This was a wonderful collaboration with Sophia Fochler, Eva Gluenz, @zephyris-science.bsky.social, @alanbrownhms.bsky.social, and more analyzing a mountain of data. We are also grateful for the support through a dual NSF and Swiss NSF grant.
Want to know more without the sports analogy? Check out the full story on bioRxiv www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Want to know more without the sports analogy? Check out the full story on bioRxiv www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We also knocked out individual doublet microtubule subunits, revealing which structural elements are important for movement. Together, our work provides a new framework for understanding how diverse molecular “rowers” coordinate ciliary motility.
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
We also knocked out individual doublet microtubule subunits, revealing which structural elements are important for movement. Together, our work provides a new framework for understanding how diverse molecular “rowers” coordinate ciliary motility.
Next, we systematically deleted each dynein gene and analyzed how these knockouts altered flagellar movement. The results were surprising: each dynein distinctly impacted motility, but not necessarily in the ways predicted from earlier studies.
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Next, we systematically deleted each dynein gene and analyzed how these knockouts altered flagellar movement. The results were surprising: each dynein distinctly impacted motility, but not necessarily in the ways predicted from earlier studies.
Using Leishmania as a model, we determined the cryo-EM structure of the doublet microtubule to pinpoint the position of each dynein. This gave us a detailed map of where every “rower” sits on the ciliary “boat.”
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Using Leishmania as a model, we determined the cryo-EM structure of the doublet microtubule to pinpoint the position of each dynein. This gave us a detailed map of where every “rower” sits on the ciliary “boat.”
Finally this work wouldn’t be possible without the team
in the Brown lab @alanbrownhms.bsky.social
in the Brown lab @alanbrownhms.bsky.social
March 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Finally this work wouldn’t be possible without the team
in the Brown lab @alanbrownhms.bsky.social
in the Brown lab @alanbrownhms.bsky.social
This was a fantastic collaboration with @ruizhangmt.bsky.social, Richard Wheeler, and Eva Gluenz. Check out the paper for more!
March 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
This was a fantastic collaboration with @ruizhangmt.bsky.social, Richard Wheeler, and Eva Gluenz. Check out the paper for more!
It is also important to highlight that this work was made possible by funding through multiple NIH and NSF grants. These funding mechanisms are vital for biomedical research.
March 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
It is also important to highlight that this work was made possible by funding through multiple NIH and NSF grants. These funding mechanisms are vital for biomedical research.
Our strategy of combining structural analysis with comprehensive genetic knockout, promises to continue uncover the mechanisms that control flagella-based motility.
March 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Our strategy of combining structural analysis with comprehensive genetic knockout, promises to continue uncover the mechanisms that control flagella-based motility.
We also observe trypanosomatid-specific axoneme specializations. One example is the B-tubule ponticulus structure, which was first observed nearly 60 years ago! We find that the lumen-spanning structure is made up of three components, whose periodicity is established by a filamentous MIP.
March 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
We also observe trypanosomatid-specific axoneme specializations. One example is the B-tubule ponticulus structure, which was first observed nearly 60 years ago! We find that the lumen-spanning structure is made up of three components, whose periodicity is established by a filamentous MIP.
Using CRISPR, we knocked out each of our identified proteins and tested the mutant swimming speed. Our analysis found that the doublet is surprisingly resilient to individual MIP knockout. However, we show that the evolutionarily conserved inner junction is uniquely sensitive to knockout.
March 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Using CRISPR, we knocked out each of our identified proteins and tested the mutant swimming speed. Our analysis found that the doublet is surprisingly resilient to individual MIP knockout. However, we show that the evolutionarily conserved inner junction is uniquely sensitive to knockout.
Our structure revealed a highly specialized doublet containing 51 microtubule inner proteins (MIPs). Once resolved, we used Leishmania as a model to test the contribution of each MIP to motility.
March 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Our structure revealed a highly specialized doublet containing 51 microtubule inner proteins (MIPs). Once resolved, we used Leishmania as a model to test the contribution of each MIP to motility.