Lynn Cooley, PhD
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; C. N. H. Long Professor of Genetics and Professor of Cell Biology and of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Appointments
Genetics
Primary
Cell Biology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Vice Provost, Postdoctoral Affairs
Contact Info
Appointments
Genetics
Primary
Cell Biology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Vice Provost, Postdoctoral Affairs
Contact Info
Appointments
Genetics
Primary
Cell Biology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Vice Provost, Postdoctoral Affairs
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; C. N. H. Long Professor of Genetics and Professor of Cell Biology and of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; Vice Provost, Postdoctoral Affairs
Appointments
Genetics
ProfessorPrimaryCell Biology
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Carnegie Institution (1988)
- PhD
- University of Texas, Chemistry (1984)
- BA
- Connecticut College, Zoology (1976)
Research
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Overview
Two of the most fundamental processes in biology, cell division and protein translation, have dramatically different outcomes in specialized cells. We are currently investigating how animal germline cells fail to completely divide, and instead produce clusters of cells that communicate with each other through connecting bridges as they develop into gametes. We are also working to determine how and why genes that terminate translation normally in ovarian cells instead support efficient stop codon readthrough specifically in nerve cells of the central nervous system.
Medical Research Interests
Actin Cytoskeleton; Biology; Cell Biology; Drosophila; Genetics; Molecular Biology; Oogenesis
ORCID
0000-0003-4665-1258- View Lab Website
Cooley Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Lynn Cooley's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Lynn Cooley's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Lynn Cooley is interested in exploring.
Andrew Hudson, PhD
Dieter Söll, PhD
Erol Fikrig, MD
Ronit Kaufman
Casey Dunn, PhD
Joerg Bewersdorf, PhD
89Publications
8,901Citations
Drosophila
Oogenesis
Actin Cytoskeleton
Biology
Publications
2025
Examination of Germline and Somatic Intercellular Bridges in Hydra vulgaris Reveals Insights into the Evolutionarily Conserved Mechanism of Intercellular Bridge Formation
Price K, Tharakan D, Salvenmoser W, Ayers K, Mah J, Dunn C, Hobmayer B, Cooley L. Examination of Germline and Somatic Intercellular Bridges in Hydra vulgaris Reveals Insights into the Evolutionarily Conserved Mechanism of Intercellular Bridge Formation. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2025, 42: msaf248. PMID: 41032677, PMCID: PMC12599322, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaf248.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSynchronous cell cycleIntercellular bridge formationIntercellular bridgesRing canalsIncomplete cytokinesisCell cycleFormation of stable intercellular bridgesHydra vulgarisCoordination of differentiationStable intercellular bridgesFunctional significanceCell-cell communicationNonbilaterian animalsCnidarian Hydra vulgarisEvolutionary lineagesMicrotubule localizationMulticellular organismsF-actinEvolutionary originCytoskeletal componentsDNA replicationBioinformatics analysisMolecular markersCellular behaviorEdU incorporationTranslon: a single term for translated regions
Świrski M, Tierney J, Albà M, Andreev D, Aspden J, Atkins J, Bassani-Sternberg M, Berry M, Biffo S, Boris-Lawrie K, Borodovsky M, Brierley I, Brook M, Brunet M, Bujnicki J, Caliskan N, Calviello L, Carvunis A, Cate J, Cenik C, Chang K, Chen Y, Chothani S, Choudhary J, Clark P, Clauwaert J, Cooley L, Dassi E, Dean K, Diaz J, Dieterich C, Dikstein R, Dinman J, Dmitriev S, Dontsova O, Dunham C, Eswarappa S, Farabaugh P, Faridi P, Fierro-Monti I, Firth A, Gatfield D, Gebauer F, Gelfand M, Gray N, Green R, Hill C, Hou Y, Hübner N, Ignatova Z, Ivanov P, Iwasaki S, Johnson R, Jomaa A, Jovanovic M, Jungreis I, Kellis M, Kieft J, Kochetov A, Koonin E, Korostelev A, Kufel J, Kulakovskiy I, Kurian L, Lafontaine D, Larsson O, Loughran G, Lukeš J, Mariotti M, Martens-Uzunova E, Martinez T, Matsumoto A, McManus J, Medenbach J, Melnikov S, Menschaert G, Merchante C, Mikl M, Miller W, Mühlemann O, Namy O, Nedialkova D, Nosek J, Orchard S, Ozretić P, Pertea M, Pervouchine D, Romão L, Ron D, Roucou X, Rubtsova M, Ruiz-Orera J, Saghatelian A, Salzberg S, Seale L, Seoighe C, Sergiev P, Shah P, Shirokikh N, Slavoff S, Sonenberg N, Stasevich T, Szczesny R, Tamm T, Tchórzewski M, Topisirovic I, Tremblay M, Tuller T, Ulitsky I, Valášek L, Van Damme P, Viero G, Vizcaino J, Vogel C, Wallace E, Weissman J, Westhof E, Whiffin N, Wilson D, Xie Z, Yewdell J, Yordanova M, Yu C, Yurchenko V, Zagrovic B, Valen E, Baranov P. Translon: a single term for translated regions. Nature Methods 2025, 22: 2002-2006. PMID: 40890551, DOI: 10.1038/s41592-025-02810-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2023
Evolutionarily conserved midbody remodeling precedes ring canal formation during gametogenesis
Price K, Tharakan D, Cooley L. Evolutionarily conserved midbody remodeling precedes ring canal formation during gametogenesis. Developmental Cell 2023, 58: 474-488.e5. PMID: 36898376, PMCID: PMC10059090, DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.02.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCanal formationStable intercellular bridgesGerm cell divisionMidbody ringTime-lapse imagingFemale germlineCell cytokinesisDrosophila malesRing canalsComplete cytokinesisKinase functionCell divisionCytokinesis eventsBroad functionsCytokinesisIntercellular bridgesExtensive remodelingMidbodyDrosophilaBiological systemsDisease statesImportant insightsGametogenesisGermlineProtein
2021
Three-dimensional adaptive optical nanoscopy for thick specimen imaging at sub-50-nm resolution
Hao X, Allgeyer ES, Lee DR, Antonello J, Watters K, Gerdes JA, Schroeder LK, Bottanelli F, Zhao J, Kidd P, Lessard MD, Rothman JE, Cooley L, Biederer T, Booth MJ, Bewersdorf J. Three-dimensional adaptive optical nanoscopy for thick specimen imaging at sub-50-nm resolution. Nature Methods 2021, 18: 688-693. PMID: 34059828, PMCID: PMC7610943, DOI: 10.1038/s41592-021-01149-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAdaptive optics schemeBest possible spatial resolutionPossible spatial resolutionOptical nanoscopyOptics schemeDiffraction limitDark stateOptical aberrationsNanoscopy methodsThin samplesThick specimenFluorescent moleculesSpatial resolutionThick specimensNanoscopeIsotropic resolutionResolutionNanoscopyPath geometryFluorescence microscopyMicroscopeMicroscopyTissue-specific dynamic codon redefinition in Drosophila
Hudson AM, Szabo NL, Loughran G, Wills NM, Atkins JF, Cooley L. Tissue-specific dynamic codon redefinition in Drosophila. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2012793118. PMID: 33500350, PMCID: PMC7865143, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012793118.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsStop codonTranslational stop codon readthroughReadthrough efficiencyHuman tissue culture cellsStop codon readthroughTissue-specific regulationAdult central nervous system (CNS) tissueTissue culture cellsReadthrough productKelch proteinUbiquitin ligaseSingle geneAdult brainIndividual proteinsCodon readthroughReadthroughViral mRNAsC-terminalMalpighian tubulesCodonNeuronal proteinsCell typesAmino acidsCulture cellsDrosophila
2020
HtsRC-Mediated Accumulation of F-Actin Regulates Ring Canal Size During Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis
Gerdes JA, Mannix KM, Hudson AM, Cooley L. HtsRC-Mediated Accumulation of F-Actin Regulates Ring Canal Size During Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis. Genetics 2020, 216: 717-734. PMID: 32883702, PMCID: PMC7648574, DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303629.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGermline ring canalsRing canalsActin cytoskeletonF-actinDrosophila melanogaster oogenesisSomatic follicle cellsCombination of CRISPRF-actin accumulationF-actin recruitmentFilamentous actin cytoskeletonFemale germlineActin structuresFruit flyHigh fecundityFollicle cellsCytoskeletonGermlineOverexpressionAccumulationDrosophilaOogenesisMutagenesisCRISPRFilaminGenesDrosophila sperm development and intercellular cytoplasm sharing through ring canals do not require an intact fusome
Kaufman RS, Price KL, Mannix KM, Ayers KM, Hudson AM, Cooley L. Drosophila sperm development and intercellular cytoplasm sharing through ring canals do not require an intact fusome. Development 2020, 147: dev190140. PMID: 33033119, PMCID: PMC7687857, DOI: 10.1242/dev.190140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRing canalsSperm developmentPost-meiotic haploid spermatidsGerm cellsGermline ring canalsAnimal germ cellsQuality control surveillanceLarge cytoplasmic structuresCytoplasmic informationDiploid spermatogoniaHaploid spermatidsSpecialized organellesIncomplete cytokinesisIntercellular movementCell divisionEndogenous proteinsFusomeCytoplasmic structuresIntercellular bridgesMale fertilityIntercellular trafficSpermatogenesisCellsCytokinesisNormal conditions
2019
Proximity labeling reveals novel interactomes in live Drosophila tissue
Mannix KM, Starble RM, Kaufman RS, Cooley L. Proximity labeling reveals novel interactomes in live Drosophila tissue. Development 2019, 146: dev176644. PMID: 31208963, PMCID: PMC6679357, DOI: 10.1242/dev.176644.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsActin CytoskeletonActinsAnimalsAnimals, Genetically ModifiedCell CommunicationCell DifferentiationCytological TechniquesCytoskeletonDNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) LyaseDrosophila melanogasterFemaleGenes, ReporterGerm CellsIntercellular JunctionsMolecular ImagingOocytesOogenesisProtein BindingProtein Interaction MapsStaining and LabelingConceptsProximity labelingIntercellular bridgesProximity-dependent biotinylationStable intercellular bridgesRC proteinDynamic actin cytoskeletonProtein interactome analysisRNA interference screenNovel interactomePrey genesUncharacterized proteinsDistinct interactomesDrosophila tissuesActin cytoskeletonInterference screenInteractome analysisLive tissueMultiple proteinsProximity ligationInteractomeGerm cellsIntercellular communicationRespective preyFunctional roleProtein
2018
Targeted substrate degradation by Kelch controls the actin cytoskeleton during ring canal expansion
Hudson AM, Mannix KM, Gerdes JA, Kottemann MC, Cooley L. Targeted substrate degradation by Kelch controls the actin cytoskeleton during ring canal expansion. Development 2018, 146: dev169219. PMID: 30559276, PMCID: PMC6340150, DOI: 10.1242/dev.169219.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTandem affinity purificationUbiquitin ligase complexCullin-3 functionShort sequence motifsSpecialized cytoskeletal structuresUbiquitin-proteasome systemF-actin cytoskeletonSpecialized actinLigase complexActin cytoskeletonRing canalsSequence motifsGenetic evidenceCytoskeletal structuresAffinity purificationCytoskeletonSubstrate degradationBiochemical evidenceUnusual mechanismKelchCRL3CullinMass spectrometryOogenesisMutagenesis
2017
Remodeling the Actin Cytoskeleton by Ubiquitin‐Dependent Proteolysis
Mannix K, Gerdes J, Hudson A, Kaufman R, Cooley L. Remodeling the Actin Cytoskeleton by Ubiquitin‐Dependent Proteolysis. The FASEB Journal 2017, 31 DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.916.10.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Scientific Advisory Committee
2020 - PresentAdvisory BoardsMemberDetailsHutchison Cancer Research Center, Basic Sciencesactivity American Association for the Advancement of Science
2010 - 2016Professional OrganizationsDelegateactivity Genetics Society of America
2013 - 2015Professional OrganizationsBoard Memberactivity Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
10/01/2008 - 06/30/2011Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsCommittee Memberactivity NIH Dev1 Study Section
2007 - 2011Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsMemberDetailsNIH Dev1 Study Section
Honors
honor Member
02/19/2014Regional AwardConnecticut Academy for Science and EngineeringDetailsUnited Stateshonor Fellow
10/23/2012National AwardAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceDetailsUnited Stateshonor Pew Scholar Award
01/01/1991National AwardPew Charitable TrustsDetailsUnited States
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Locations
Sterling Hall of Medicine, I-Wing
Academic Office
333 Cedar Street, Ste Suite 331, Rm B
New Haven, CT 06510
Appointments
203.785.5067