Megan C. King, PhD
Associate Professor of Cell Biology and of Molecular, Cellular and Development BiologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Appointments
Cell Biology
Primary
Therapeutic Radiology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Co-Leader, Radiobiology and Genome Integrity, Yale Cancer Center
Associate Cancer Center Director, Basic Science
Contact Info
Appointments
Cell Biology
Primary
Therapeutic Radiology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Co-Leader, Radiobiology and Genome Integrity, Yale Cancer Center
Associate Cancer Center Director, Basic Science
Contact Info
Appointments
Cell Biology
Primary
Therapeutic Radiology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Co-Leader, Radiobiology and Genome Integrity, Yale Cancer Center
Associate Cancer Center Director, Basic Science
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Cell Biology and of Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology
Co-Leader, Radiobiology and Genome Integrity, Yale Cancer Center; Associate Cancer Center Director, Basic Science
Biography
Megan received her B.A. in Biochemistry from Brandeis University working with Dr. Susan Lowey and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania working with Dr. Mark Lemmon. During her postdoctoral training with Dr. Günter Blobel at Rockefeller University, she discovered new mechanisms for the targeting and function of integral inner nuclear membrane proteins. Since founding her own group in 2009, Megan has continued to investigate the broad array of biological functions that are integrated at the nuclear envelope, from impacts on DNA repair to nuclear and cellular mechanics. Megan was named a Searle Scholar in 2011, is a recipient of the NIH New Innovator Award and is currently an Allen Distinguished Investigator.
Appointments
Cell Biology
Associate Professor TenurePrimaryTherapeutic Radiology
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cell Biology
- Cell Biology Research
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics
- LusKing Lab
- Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics and Development
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- Program in Translational Biomedicine (PTB)
- Radiobiology
- Radiobiology and Genome Integrity
- Therapeutic Radiology
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Rockefeller University (2009)
- PhD
- University of Pennsylvania Medical School (2004)
- BA
- Brandeis University (1997)
Research
Overview
One major focus is on macromolecular complexes embedded in the nuclear envelope physically couple the cytoskeleton to the nucleus (LINC complexes). We seek to define the fundamental mechanisms underlying the nuclear force response and the contexts in which direct force transduction to the nuclear lamina impacts cell function using fission yeast, cell culture and mouse models.
We also have a major effort in defining how the genome is organized, taking advantage of insights from chromatin dynamics. Using live cell assays that we have developed, we also investigate how nuclear cell biology impinges on genome integrity.
Medical Research Interests
Cell Biology; Cell Nucleus; Chromatin; DNA Repair; Genome; Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Nuclear Envelope
- View Lab Website
LusKing Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Megan C. King's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Megan C. King's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Megan C. King is interested in exploring.
Ivan Surovtsev
C. Patrick Lusk, PhD
Valerie Horsley, PhD
Amanda Zubek, MD, PhD, FAAD
Corey O'Hern, PhD
Matt Simon, PhD
24Publications
913Citations
Nuclear Envelope
Chromatin
Cell Nucleus
DNA Repair
Genome
Mechanotransduction, Cellular
Publications
2024
Cohesin distribution alone predicts chromatin organization in yeast via conserved-current loop extrusion
Yuan T, Yan H, Li K, Surovtsev I, King M, Mochrie S. Cohesin distribution alone predicts chromatin organization in yeast via conserved-current loop extrusion. Genome Biology 2024, 25: 293. PMID: 39543681, PMCID: PMC11566905, DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03432-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTopologically associating domainsLoop extrusionTopologically associating domains boundariesNon-vertebrate eukaryotesChIP-seq dataChromatin spatial organizationTree of lifeHi-C mapsBinds CTCFCohesin distributionTAD boundariesCTCF sitesChromatin organizationDNA sequencesCTCFCohesinYeastChromatinSpatial organizationEukaryotesGenomeResultsToVertebratesExtrusion factorsOrganizationA-tisket, a-tasket, what a beautiful nuclear basket
Lusk C, King M. A-tisket, a-tasket, what a beautiful nuclear basket. Cell 2024, 187: 5225-5227. PMID: 39303690, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.08.030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricIdentifying topologically associating domains using differential kernels
Maisuradze L, King M, Surovtsev I, Mochrie S, Shattuck M, O’Hern C. Identifying topologically associating domains using differential kernels. PLOS Computational Biology 2024, 20: e1012221. PMID: 39008525, PMCID: PMC11249266, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012221.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTopologically associating domainsHi-C mapsFalse discovery rateChromatin conformation capture techniquesEnhancer-promoter interactionsLow false discovery rateSelf-interacting regionsStructure of chromatinRegulate gene expressionAverage contact probabilitiesHi-CLocus IDNA transcriptionGene expressionChromatinDiscovery rateContact probabilityBiological phenomenaState-of-the-artKernel-based techniqueComputer visionReplicationCorrelated changesDisease statesCapture techniquesThe condensation of HP1α/Swi6 imparts nuclear stiffness
Williams J, Surovtsev I, Schreiner S, Chen Z, Raiymbek G, Nguyen H, Hu Y, Biteen J, Mochrie S, Ragunathan K, King M. The condensation of HP1α/Swi6 imparts nuclear stiffness. Cell Reports 2024, 43: 114373. PMID: 38900638, PMCID: PMC11348953, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114373.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSingle-molecule imagingBiomolecular condensatesSeparation-of-function alleleHeterochromatin protein HP1aChromatin-bound moleculesHigh-resolution live-cell imagingLive-cell imagingCondensationHeterochromatin domainsMethylated nucleosomesSwi6Nuclear stiffnessForce spectroscopyChromatin meshworkCellular organizationCell mechanicsDynamic poolEffect of loops on the mean-square displacement of Rouse-model chromatin
Yuan T, Yan H, Bailey M, Williams J, Surovtsev I, King M, Mochrie S. Effect of loops on the mean-square displacement of Rouse-model chromatin. Physical Review E 2024, 109: 044502. PMID: 38755928, DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.044502.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsStretching exponentConsistent with recent experimentsTopologically associating domainsMean square displacementRecent experimentsLoop extrusionExponent valuesTAD formationTree of lifeDynamics of chromatinExponentEffects of loopChromatin lociChromatin dynamicsRouse modelChromatin organizationChromatin mobilityGene locusContact mapsDynamicsChromatinLoopPolymer dynamicsLociPolymer simulations
2023
It is time to reconsider the culture of volunteerism in undergraduate research
King M. It is time to reconsider the culture of volunteerism in undergraduate research. Journal Of Cell Science 2023, 136 PMID: 38158844, DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261865.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricDynamic regulation of LINC complex composition and function across tissues and contexts
King M. Dynamic regulation of LINC complex composition and function across tissues and contexts. FEBS Letters 2023, 597: 2823-2832. PMID: 37846646, DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14757.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLINC complex componentsLINC complexLinker of nucleoskeletonProtein turnover mechanismsCytoplasmic intermediate filament networkIntermediate filament networkCytoskeleton (LINC) complexComplex componentsNuclear laminaCellular contextCytoplasmic cytoskeletonCell biologistsDynamic regulationNuclear envelopeRegulated expressionTurnover mechanismsFilament networkSplice variantsCell typesProtein configurationUnique functionCytoskeletonConcept of mechanotransductionComplexesNucleoskeletonAn ESCRT grommet cooperates with a diffusion barrier to maintain nuclear integrity
Ader N, Chen L, Surovtsev I, Chadwick W, Rodriguez E, King M, Lusk C. An ESCRT grommet cooperates with a diffusion barrier to maintain nuclear integrity. Nature Cell Biology 2023, 25: 1465-1477. PMID: 37783794, PMCID: PMC11365527, DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01235-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpindle pole body proteinNuclear envelope barrierESCRT-III proteinsNuclear pore complexSpindle pole bodyNucleocytoplasmic compartmentalizationESCRT functionPore complexPole bodyDistinct complementNuclear compartmentNuclear integrityTransport proteinsMolecular mechanismsRemodelling mechanismProteinBody proteinAcetyl-methyllysine marks chromatin at active transcription start sites
Lu-Culligan W, Connor L, Xie Y, Ekundayo B, Rose B, Machyna M, Pintado-Urbanc A, Zimmer J, Vock I, Bhanu N, King M, Garcia B, Bleichert F, Simon M. Acetyl-methyllysine marks chromatin at active transcription start sites. Nature 2023, 622: 173-179. PMID: 37731000, PMCID: PMC10845139, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06565-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPost-translational modificationsLysine residuesActive transcription start sitesTranscription start siteRange of speciesChromatin biologyChromatin proteinsLysine methylationActive chromatinProteins BRD2Transcriptional initiationLysine acetylationHistone H4Start siteMammalian tissuesHuman diseasesSame residuesMethylationAcetylationChromatinResiduesProteinBiological signalsHistonesBRD2Elasticity of spheres with buckled surfaces
Tian Y, McCarthy M, King M, Mochrie S. Elasticity of spheres with buckled surfaces. Physical Review E 2023, 107: 065003. PMID: 37464712, DOI: 10.1103/physreve.107.065003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsSpherical voidsElastic energyCore-shell systemElastic spheresLinear elastic problemsSurface deformationBulk elastic energyPoisson's ratioShear modulusElastic problemShape phase diagramSpherical harmonic degreeExterior shellSphere shapePhase diagramHarmonicsElasticityVoidsHarmonic degreeClosed-form expressionsSpherical core
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor Allen Distinguished Investigator
National AwardFrontiers Group / Allen InstituteDetails10/15/2020United Stateshonor New Innovator Award
National AwardNational Institutes of HealthDetails09/20/2011United Stateshonor Searle Scholar
National AwardSearle Scholars ProgramDetails04/08/2011United States
News
News
- March 20, 2024
Breast cancer research
- April 04, 2023Source: Yale Daily News
Researchers explore the role of cellular plasticity in cancer
- November 04, 2022
Albertus Magnus Cancer Research Student Science Day
- September 05, 2022Source: ASBMB Today
The importance of team mentorship
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295 Congress Avenue, Ste 245
New Haven, CT 06510
Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine
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295 Congress Avenue, Ste Room 254D
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