Kaelyn Sumigray, PhD
Assistant Professor of GeneticsDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Appointments
Genetics
Primary
Additional Titles
Co-Director, Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI)
Director of Graduate Admissions, Genetics, MCGD Track, Genetics
Contact Info
Appointments
Genetics
Primary
Additional Titles
Co-Director, Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI)
Director of Graduate Admissions, Genetics, MCGD Track, Genetics
Contact Info
Appointments
Genetics
Primary
Additional Titles
Co-Director, Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI)
Director of Graduate Admissions, Genetics, MCGD Track, Genetics
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Assistant Professor of Genetics
Co-Director, Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI); Director of Graduate Admissions, Genetics, MCGD Track, Genetics
Biography
Kaelyn Sumigray earned her B.S. from Union College in 2006. She obtained her Ph.D. in 2011 from the Department of Cell Biology at Duke University. She was a postdoctoral fellow first at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from 2012-2013, where she was awarded an NIH Kirschstein postdoctoral fellowship, followed by a postdoctoral fellow at Duke University with Terry Lechler from 2013-2019, where she was awarded a Dermatology Foundation Research Grant. She joined the Yale faculty in 2019.
Last Updated on April 19, 2025.
Appointments
Genetics
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral associate
- Duke University (2019)
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2013)
- PhD
- Duke University, Cell Biology (2011)
- BS
- Union College, Biology (2006)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Actin Cytoskeleton; Cell Adhesion; Cell Polarity; Cell Shape; Cytoskeleton; Intestinal Polyps; Intestine, Small; Morphogenesis; Organogenesis; Stem Cell Niche; Stem Cells
ORCID
0000-0002-1267-7559- View Lab Website
Sumigray lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Kaelyn Sumigray's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Kaelyn Sumigray's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Kaelyn Sumigray is interested in exploring.
Nadia Ameen, MBBS
Zachary Smith, PhD
Andrea Barbieri, MD
Bluma Lesch, MD, PhD
Brinda Emu, MD
Caroline Helen Johnson, PhD
35Publications
1,333Citations
Cell Adhesion
Stem Cells
Intestine, Small
Morphogenesis
Cell Polarity
Cell Shape
Publications
2026
HIV-1-encoded circular RNA enhances viral transcription through Tat binding
Obi P, Yan L, Dujsikova A, Yeh Y, Li I, Mueller N, Back H, Yi B, Liu N, Mbadugha F, Yu H, Brown C, St. Denis K, Landry M, Sumigray K, Emu B, Ho Y, Chen Y. HIV-1-encoded circular RNA enhances viral transcription through Tat binding. Nature Microbiology 2026, 11: 1008-1021. PMID: 41826685, PMCID: PMC13056509, DOI: 10.1038/s41564-026-02271-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates how an HIV-1-encoded circular RNA (circHIV) binds the viral Tat protein to enhance HIV transcription, revealing a new mechanism of viral gene regulation.PFKM governs metabolic shifts throughout skeletal muscle differentiation
Campos M, Nguyen S, Kong X, Yang Y, Watson R, Gromova A, Livelo C, Franco C, Cabral J, Seabrook L, Dai S, Liu Y, Zhou M, Hanse E, Sumigray K, La Spada A, Seldin M, Plikus M, Nicholas D, McNulty R, Kong M, Yokomori K, Albrecht L. PFKM governs metabolic shifts throughout skeletal muscle differentiation. Nature Metabolism 2026, 8: 489-505. PMID: 41735679, PMCID: PMC12945692, DOI: 10.1038/s42255-026-01457-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPhosphofructokinase 1Glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerateLysosomal degradationCell fate decisionsProtein arginine methyltransferasesPentose phosphate pathwayDegron motifArginine methyltransferasesPhosphate pathwayFate decisionsCell identitySkeletal muscle differentiationSkeletal muscle lineageCompartmentalized metabolismExpression of PFKMGlycolytic enzymesMetabolic shiftPFKMWnt signalingMuscle lineageMuscle differentiationSpatiotemporal dynamicsMetabolismGlycolysisDifferentiationFertilization with Protamine-2 deficient sperm triggers abnormal pronucleus development and zygotic cleavage
Rainsford S, Tse K, Walters B, Oh J, Sumigray K, Lesch B, Smith Z. Fertilization with Protamine-2 deficient sperm triggers abnormal pronucleus development and zygotic cleavage. Biology Of Reproduction 2026, 114: 1210-1226. PMID: 41556312, PMCID: PMC13079458, DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioag010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsWild type spermIntracytoplasmic sperm injectionProtamine 2Early stages of embryogenesisStages of embryogenesisEpididymal maturationKO spermEpididymal spermPaternal genomeInduction of DNA damageProtamine-2Sperm motilityFunctional zygotePaternal genetic materialMaternal meiosisPRM2SpermSperm DNAOocyte's abilityBlastocyst stageSperm injectionPreimplantation developmentSpermatozoan DNAGenetic materialPronucleus development
2025
Shaping the intestine: The role of cell morphology and spatial dynamics in development
Wang Y, Wen Z, Sumigray K. Shaping the intestine: The role of cell morphology and spatial dynamics in development. Current Topics In Developmental Biology 2025, 166: 67-99. PMID: 41856742, DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2025.10.002.ChaptersCitationsConceptsCell fate specificationCell shape changesExtracellular matrix interactionsActomyosin dynamicsCrypt-villus axisCytoskeletal reorganizationFate specificationLate embryogenesisVillus morphogenesisSpatiotemporal regulationEpithelial-mesenchymal signalingIntestinal morphogenesisMatrix interactionsTube elongationMicrobial threatsCell morphologyNutrient absorptionIn vitro organoid systemsFunctional specializationMorphogenesisEpithelial cellsEmbryogenesisEpithelial turnoverAbsorptive surface areaSpatial dynamicsEpidermal stem cells control periderm injury repair via matrix-driven specialization of intercellular junctions
He H, Boraas L, Bell J, Gong X, Iannaccone S, Wen Z, Mak M, Carlson M, Sumigray K, Nicoli S. Epidermal stem cells control periderm injury repair via matrix-driven specialization of intercellular junctions. Nature Communications 2025, 16: 8967. PMID: 41073376, PMCID: PMC12514158, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64040-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates how basal epidermal stem cells regulate skin healing by forming extracellular matrix-specific junctions that enhance periderm injury repair.CFTR High Expresser BEST4+ cells are pH-sensing neuropod cells: new implications for intestinal physiology and cystic fibrosis disease
Dos Reis D, Jin J, Santos A, Dastoor P, Muiler C, Zagoren E, Donnelley M, Parsons D, Cmielewski P, Reyne N, McCarron A, Smith Z, Sumigray K, Ameen N. CFTR High Expresser BEST4+ cells are pH-sensing neuropod cells: new implications for intestinal physiology and cystic fibrosis disease. American Journal Of Physiology - Cell Physiology 2025, 329: c1411-c1428. PMID: 41005986, DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00082.2025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCystic FibrosisCystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance RegulatorDuodenumEnterocytesGene Knockout TechniquesGuanylate Cyclase-Activating ProteinsHumansHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationIon ChannelsJejunumMaleMyosin Type INatriuretic PeptidesNeuronsOrganoidsRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReceptors, EnterotoxinSingle-Cell Gene Expression AnalysisConceptsCHE cellsNeuropod cellsGuanylyl cyclase-CApical domainHigh-expressing cellsProximal small intestineRat jejunumScRNA-seq studiesHuman intestineSingle-cell RNA sequencingCystic fibrosisCF rat modelsSmall intestineSubpopulation of epithelial cellsLuminal pH regulationAcid-sensing receptorsWild-type animalsCystic fibrosis diseaseRNA sequencingProtein immunolocalizationIntestinal physiologyRostrocaudal axisRelevant mRNAsWild-typeRat modelEvidence of secondary Notch signaling within the rat small intestine.
Zagoren E, Dias N, Santos A, Smith Z, Ameen N, Sumigray K. Evidence of secondary Notch signaling within the rat small intestine. Development 2025, 152 PMID: 40371707, PMCID: PMC12188240, DOI: 10.1242/dev.204277.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSecretory lineageRegulate luminal pHSecretory cellsNotch signalingSecretory cell typesSmall intestinal epithelial cellsRNA sequencing dataIntestinal epithelial cellsIntestinal stem cellsSmall intestineFate in vivoFibrosis pathophysiologyRat small intestineCrypt progenitorsTranscription factorsEpithelial cellsRat jejunumStem cellsPseudotime trajectory analysisRare populationLuminal pHRatsHigher expressionIntestinal functionIn vitroSex-specific effects of exogenous asparagine on colorectal tumor growth, 17β-estradiol levels, and aromatase
Aladelokun O, Benitez K, Wang Y, Jain A, Berardi D, Maroun G, Shen X, Roper J, Gibson J, Sumigray K, Khan S, Johnson C. Sex-specific effects of exogenous asparagine on colorectal tumor growth, 17β-estradiol levels, and aromatase. Pharmacological Research 2025, 215: 107736. PMID: 40228761, PMCID: PMC12100670, DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107736.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsTumor-specific survivalColorectal cancerTumor growthR2G2 miceIncreased serum estradiol levelsSerum estradiol levelsSub-populations of macrophagesAssociated with cancer prognosisSuppressed tumor growthColorectal tumor growthExogenous asparagineColorectal cancer developmentColorectal cancer cellsNegative feed-back effectEstradiol levelsGlutamate levelsSex-related differencesSex-specific effectsMale miceCancer prognosisAsparagine supplementationCancer progressionMiceDecreased numberTumor
2024
Methylarginine targeting chimeras for lysosomal degradation of intracellular proteins
Seabrook L, Franco C, Loy C, Osman J, Fredlender C, Zimak J, Campos M, Nguyen S, Watson R, Levine S, Khalil M, Sumigray K, Trader D, Albrecht L. Methylarginine targeting chimeras for lysosomal degradation of intracellular proteins. Nature Chemical Biology 2024, 20: 1566-1576. PMID: 39414979, DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01741-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsProtein arginine methyltransferasesTarget proteinsLoss-of-function phenotypesDegradation of intracellular proteinsUbiquitin-proteasome pathwayHistone deacetylase 6Bromodomain-containing protein 4Discovery of small moleculesTargeted Protein DegradationDegrade target proteinsTargeting chimerasArginine methylationArginine methyltransferasesProtein methylationPathogenic proteinsLysosomal deliveryLysosomal pathwayIntracellular proteinsLysosomal degradationHeterobifunctional small moleculesProtein degradationSmall-molecule degradersLysosomal proteolysisSubstrate degradationSmall moleculesRedefining intestinal stemness: The emergence of a new ISC population
Li M, Sumigray K. Redefining intestinal stemness: The emergence of a new ISC population. Cell 2024, 187: 2900-2902. PMID: 38848673, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and Concepts
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity American Heart Association
2022 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsRevieweractivity eLife
2022 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Science
2023 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Nature Cell Biology
2021 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Journal of Clinical Investigation
2022 - PresentJournal ServiceReviewer
Honors
honor Chen Innovation Award
03/01/2022Yale School of Medicine AwardYale Stem Cell CenterDetailsUnited Stateshonor Basic Research Award
03/03/2014National AwardDermatology Foundation
News & Links
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Media
News
- June 12, 2026
Skin Runs Deeper Than We Thought
- October 10, 2025
Unlocking the Skin’s Natural Healing Power
- June 25, 2024
Kaelyn Sumigray’s research on morphogenesis and her academic journey
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Academic Office Number
Locations
SHM I 336
Academic Office
Sterling Hall of Medicine, I-Wing
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06510
389 NSB
Lab
Nathan Smith Building
315 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06510
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Apr 20276Tuesday
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