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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Journal of Cell Biology @jcb.org · 10/08/2026

Nsamba and Villeneuve use high-resolution immunofluorescence microscopy and live imaging to investigate the differential contributions of β-tubulin isotypes to acentrosomal oocyte meiosis in #Celegans. rupress.org/jcb/article/... #Cytoskeleton #Development

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Ann-Sophie Barwich @smellosopher.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

"All the original mouse experiments...appear to have been redone...the paper also did not mention the kidney and liver troubles from the primate safety study of the therapy The paper had an enthusiastic reception... At the time, [he] had no idea that a girl had received it and was already dead."

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I'm excited to co-organize this year's #Meiosis4Eva with @needhibhalla.bsky.social, @lacefieldlab.bsky.social, and @sadiewignall.bsky.social. We welcome submissions spanning chromosome dynamics, meiosis, evolutionary cell biology, and related areas of cell biology. See flyer for details!

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Interested in meiosis or reproductive cell biology? Consider submitting your work to #Meiosis4Eva: The Cell Biology of Reproduction, a Minisymposium at ASCB | EMBO Cell Bio 2026! 📅 Abstract deadline for talk consideration: June 9, 2026. #CellBio2026 #ASCB

A flyer advertising the #Meiosis4Eva Minisymposium at Cell Bio 2026, calling for abstract submission by 6/9/2026.

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

luskinglab.bsky.social @luskinglab.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Interested in the nuclear envelope? Do you reside in the US northeast (or are willing to pay a visit)? Don't miss this year's NENE (northeast nuclear envelope) - a trainee-led regional meeting that brings together scientists at all levels for a day of exciting talks and discussions. June 5th @ Yale

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Takashi Akera Lab @takashiakeralab.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

We are hiring POSTDOC now!🚨please repost! Fully-funded 5-year position 👩🏻‍🔬👨‍🔬🧬Looking forward to your application!✉️

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

As 2025 wraps up🎆 I’m reflecting on a whirlwind first full yr as a new PI—in the best way. The Liu Lab received its first NIH MIRA this year, and we’re hiring a lab manager and postdoc to grow our team. Grateful to mentors, trainees, and taxpayers supporting basic science🔬💛 www.theliulab.org/join-us

theliulab.org

Join Us

We Are Hiring: NIH-Funded Positions Available! The Liu Lab at Lehigh University is actively recruiting for Postdoctoral Researchers and a Research Technician / Lab Manager to join our growing team, su...

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Just a gentle reminder: tomorrow (9/3) is the deadline to apply for a talk or early poster at #CellBio2025. Excited for the #Meiosis4Eva Minisymposium on 12/7 — come share your science if you’re working on the cell biology of reproduction!

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Hi all, I'm hiring a junior specialist/research technician for my lab at UCSC. An ideal applicant would be an undergraduate who would like more research experience before applying for grad school but all are welcome to apply 🧪 recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01882

recruit.ucsc.edu

Bhalla Lab - Research Specialist (Junior Specialist)

University of California, Santa Cruz is hiring. Apply now!

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Teresa Lee @snickclunk.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Sign up & spread the word to trainees about the 🪱C. elegans🪱 mentor match program! They're also setting up peer-mentoring groups at ALL stages (even faculty!). Peer mentors have helped me keep my sanity & resolve in the tough times, and cheered me on in the good times. 🙌 Sign up to find your own!

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Craig Kaplan @triggerloop.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

This is the first movement from Sen. Fetterman, please fill out immediately if you have been impacted. Please circulate Penn, Pitt, PSU, Temple etc @cbartman.bsky.social

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Congrats Soni, Pallavi and team!

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Francesca Cole @francescacole.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

My lab strives to reduce infertility, miscarriages, and birth defects. We want y’all to have healthy kids. I know it sounds weird, but indirect costs pay for lights, HVAC, maintenance, cleaning, safety, and admin. It’s really hard to reduce birth defects in the dark. Call your representatives

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

Dan Starr @danstarrucdavis.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Join the Starr-Luxton lab & friends at #ASCB2024! Bringing exciting new research on nuclear envelope dynamics and cytoskeletal crosstalk. 2 Talks + 3 Posters, Dec 15-16 in San Diego Topics: KASH proteins, motor proteins, nuclear movement & cellular biophysics!

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Re-upping this announcement with a newer version of our flyer! Looking for a supportive & interdisciplinary training environment? Apply here!👉bit.ly/3VwZL29

Updated flyer for the Biological Sciences PhD Program at Lehigh University, with images highlighting the diverse research being carried out in this program. Application deadline Jan 1st, 2025.

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Feel free to reach out to me or any faculty member whose research inspires you! Worried about the application fee? Let us know—we may be able to help! #GradSchool

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

🚨The deadline to apply for Lehigh University’s Biological Sciences PhD program is just a few weeks away! Are you (or do you know) an amazing undergrad, post-bac, or master’s student passionate about science & ready to thrive in a supportive, interdisciplinary environment? Apply here!👉bit.ly/3VwZL29

Flyer for the Biological Sciences PhD Program at Lehigh University, with images highlighting the diverse research being carried out in this program. Application deadline Jan 1st, 2025.

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers covering the latest in the field, including featured talks from trainees and early career faculty! Also be sure to check out the upcoming TWO Meiosis Poster sessions (Sunday Dec 15, 11:15 am & 1:30pm; Mon Dec 16, 11:15am & 1:30pm)! Can't wait to see you there!

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

This is an annual installment of our Special Interest Subgroup focusing on Meiosis and Reproductive Cell Biology during Cell Bio, co-organized by @needhibhalla.bsky.social‬, @lacefieldlab.bsky.social and myself since 2022! #Meiosis4Eva #meiosis4ever

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Heading to sunny San Diego for #CellBio2024 this week? ☀️🌅 Join us for the "#Meiosis4Eva: Frontiers in Meiosis and Germ Cell Biology" Subgroup! 🗓️ Wed Dec 18th 9:00 - 10:30am, Room 33B. 👉 bit.ly/49okQkZ #Meiosis4Eva #meiosis4ever

A poster of the #Meiosis4Eva Special Interest Subgroup at Cell Bio 2024, with speaker names, affiliations and titles of their talks.

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Thanks Wynn and so glad to finally see you here!!! Look forward to more coffee and more evolution chats!!

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Thanks Julie! Look forward to more chats on channels!

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Thank you Sam!!! Our 3i arrived just in time before Thanksgiving! Exciting times to get the imaging started!

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

🙏 Huge thanks to the many 🪱 colleagues without whom these findings would not have been possible, to the reviewers and to the amazing #Meiosis4Eva community, for sharing your insights and feedback every step of the way💡! Stay tuned as we keep unraveling the mysteries of meiosis! 💜✨ End of 🧵. 10/10

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

🛠️ Our CIP system is not just a tool for studying meiotic quality control: It offers a powerful way to relocalize proteins in live animals, opening up new avenues for probing many cell biology questions in diverse organisms. 9/10

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Together, our findings provide direct evidence of a mechanosensitive ion channel in detecting/responding to events originating in the oocyte nucleus. This suggests a new surveillance mechanism and sets up the stage for exploring how the dynamic nuclear envelope promotes meiotic quality control. 8/10

A Piezo-dependent checkpoint mechanism at the nuclear envelope monitors oocyte quality. Pairing, synapsis, and recombination between homologous chromosomes are essential for accurate meiotic chromosome segregation. In C. elegans, synapsis failure promotes apoptosis of affected oocytes. After synapsis defects occur, PLK-2 persists at the pairing centers (1) and phosphorylates the nuclear lamin (2). This destabilizes the nuclear envelope and triggers Piezo–dependent apoptosis (3).

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Mechanosensitive channel PEZO-1 spreads across the nuclear envelope of late pachytene oocytes but redistributes to form clusters/foci during synapsis checkpoint activation. Interestingly, this redistribution depends on PCH-2/TRIP13, a conserved AAA+ATPase important to meiosis in many organisms. 7/10

GFP-tagged PEZO-1 protein in C. elegans gonad localizes to both the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope of oocytes.

Redistribution of PEZO-1 at the oocyte nuclear envelope depends on PCH-2/TRIP13.

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

How does it work? Long story short, by combining CIP, imaging, and genetics, we demonstrate that PLK-2 recruitment phosphorylates the nuclear lamina, causing destabilization of the oocyte nuclear envelope. This in turn triggers a Piezo1/PEZO-1 dependent apoptosis to eliminate defective oocytes. 6/10

Activation of the synapsis checkpoint destabilizes the oocyte nuclear envelope, here labeled by the protein SUN-1::mRuby, causing increased deformation. "- Auxin" is control, "+ Auxin" is when the checkpoint is activated.

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Based on pioneering work in plants, we built a Chemically Induced Proximity (CIP) system in 🪱 to manipulate PLK-2’s subcellular localization in vivo. By keeping PLK-2 at the PCs, we triggered apoptosis even after synapsis, demonstrating PLK-2 is key to this quality control pathway. 5/10

Schematics of how the auxin-inducible degradation system is repurposed into an auxin induced proximity system. To recruit PLK-2 to PCs, the mutated F-box protein TIR1 is fused to PLK-2, and the degron fused to HIM-8, a zinc-finger protein that binds to X-chromosome PCs even after synapsis.

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Work by many labs show that the kinase PLK-2 relocates from PCs to synapsed chromosomes after synapsis completes, and sticks around at PCs when synapsis fails. However, testing if PLK-2 at PCs triggers apoptosis remained tricky, as one would need to make PLK-2 stay at PCs even after synapsis. 4/10

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Pioneering work by @needhibhalla.bsky.social shows that synapsis failure triggers apoptosis ("synapsis checkpoint"), which requires Pairing Centers (PCs) of chromosomes in 🪱. Yet how the PCs, which attach to the nuclear envelope, help detect and respond to synapsis failure remained unclear. 3/10

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

🥚 Meiosis produces healthy eggs by halving chromosome numbers. To segregate, each pair of chromosomes must zip-up (“synapsis”). Synapsis failure can cause chromosome missegregation & aneuploidy. Our study uncovers a checkpoint mechanism by which oocytes detect and respond to synapsis failure. 2/10

C. elegans meiotic nuclei, synapsed chromosomes in purple and the oocyte nuclear envelope in green

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

🚀 Excited to share that my postdoc work with @adernburg.bsky.social on a Piezo-dependent meiotic checkpoint in C. elegans has just been published in Science doi.org/10.1126/scie... Here's a summary thread, or a “Skydive” (coined by @harmitmalik.bsky.social‬), of the key findings in this work 🧵⬇️1/10

doi.org

Chemically induced proximity reveals a Piezo-dependent meiotic checkpoint at the oocyte nuclear envelope

Sexual reproduction relies on robust quality control during meiosis. Assembly of the synaptonemal complex between homologous chromosomes (synapsis) regulates meiotic recombination and is crucial for a...

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Thanks Sam! Looking forward to more discoveries for years to come with support from 3i!

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Reposted by Chenshu Liu

raphmercier.bsky.social @raphmercier.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Reposting an old meme. My greatest contribution to the field #meiosis4ever #meiosis4eva

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Chenshu Liu @chenshuliu.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Thanks Swathi! The lab is coming together! See you next month!

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