Orna Cohen-Fix, Ph.D.

Chief: Laboratory of Biochemistry & Genetics
Section Chief: Cell Cycle Regulation and Nuclear Structure Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry & Genetics

Scientific Focus Areas: Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics and Genomics

Publications

A selection of recent and significant publications can be viewed below.

Select Publications

The centriculum, a membrane reticulum that surrounds Caenorhabditis elegans centrosomes, might serve as a microtubule filter.: Maheshwari R, Rahman MM, Ruddick A, Drey S, Mirabello RS, Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Sci (2026 Jul 1) 139. Abstract/Full Text
Kar4 acts as a Ste12 regulator in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, promoting Ste12 binding to a specific DNA motif genome-wide.: Rogers JV, Yeo A, Meleshkevich V, Lorenzi H, Rose MD, Cohen-Fix O.; Genetics (2026 May 6) 233. Abstract/Full Text
A membrane reticulum, the centriculum, affects centrosome size and function in Caenorhabditis elegans.: Maheshwari R, Rahman MM, Drey S, Onyundo M, Fabig G, Martinez MAQ, Matus DQ, Müller-Reichert T, Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Biol (2023 Mar 13) 33:791-806.e7. Abstract/Full Text
An RNAi screen for genes that affect nuclear morphology in Caenorhabditis elegans reveals the involvement of unexpected processes.: Maheshwari R, Rahman MM, Joseph-Strauss D, Cohen-Fix O.; G3 (Bethesda) (2021 Oct 19) 11. Abstract/Full Text
C. elegans pronuclei fuse after fertilization through a novel membrane structure.: Rahman M, Chang IY, Harned A, Maheshwari R, Amoateng K, Narayan K, Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Biol (2020 Feb 3) 219. Abstract/Full Text

Additional Publications

Cell biology: How does the nucleus get its membrane?: Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Biol (2021 Sep 27) 31:R1077-R1079. Abstract/Full Text
A Workflow for High-pressure Freezing and Freeze Substitution of the Caenorhabditis elegans Embryo for Ultrastructural Analysis by Conventional and Volume Electron Microscopy.: Rahman MM, Chang IY, Cohen-Fix O, Narayan K.; Bio Protoc (2021 Apr 5) 11:e3981. Abstract/Full Text
Cryo-fluorescence microscopy of high-pressure frozen C. elegans enables correlative FIB-SEM imaging of targeted embryonic stages in the intact worm.: Chang IY, Rahman M, Harned A, Cohen-Fix O, Narayan K.; Methods Cell Biol (2021) 162:223-252. Abstract/Full Text
Tracking Germline Stem Cell Dynamics In Vivo in C. elegans Using Photoconversion.: Rosu S, Cohen-Fix O.; Methods Mol Biol (2020) 2150:11-23. Abstract/Full Text
The Multiple Ways Nuclei Scale on a Multinucleated Muscle Cell Scale.: Moffatt CB, Cohen-Fix O.; Dev Cell (2019 Apr 8) 49:3-5. Abstract/Full Text
Nuclear envelope expansion in budding yeast is independent of cell growth and does not determine nuclear volume.: Walters AD, Amoateng K, Wang R, Chen JH, McDermott G, Larabell CA, Gadal O, Cohen-Fix O.; Mol Biol Cell (2019 Jan 1) 30:131-145. Abstract/Full Text
Live-imaging analysis of germ cell proliferation in the C. elegans adult supports a stochastic model for stem cell proliferation.: Rosu S, Cohen-Fix O.; Dev Biol (2017 Mar 15) 423:93-100. Abstract/Full Text
Cell Biology of the Caenorhabditis elegans Nucleus.: Cohen-Fix O, Askjaer P.; Genetics (2017 Jan) 205:25-59. Abstract/Full Text
The Malleable Nature of the Budding Yeast Nuclear Envelope: Flares, Fusion, and Fenestrations.: Meseroll RA, Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Physiol (2016 Nov) 231:2353-60. Abstract/Full Text
Editorial overview: The cell nucleus: Plastic, elastic and fantastic.: Cohen-Fix O, Kutay U.; Curr Opin Cell Biol (2016 Jun) 40:iv-v. Abstract/Full Text
Caenorhabditis elegans polo-like kinase PLK-1 is required for merging parental genomes into a single nucleus.: Rahman MM, Munzig M, Kaneshiro K, Lee B, Strome S, Müller-Reichert T, Cohen-Fix O.; Mol Biol Cell (2015 Dec 15) 26:4718-35. Abstract/Full Text
The yeast polo kinase Cdc5 regulates the shape of the mitotic nucleus.: Walters AD, May CK, Dauster ES, Cinquin BP, Smith EA, Robellet X, D'Amours D, Larabell CA, Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Biol (2014 Dec 1) 24:2861-7. Abstract/Full Text
Down-regulation of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle genes blocks progression through the first mitotic division in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos.: Rahman MM, Rosu S, Joseph-Strauss D, Cohen-Fix O.; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2014 Feb 18) 111:2602-7. Abstract/Full Text
Putting molecules in their place.: Cinquin BP, Do M, McDermott G, Walters AD, Myllys M, Smith EA, Cohen-Fix O, Le Gros MA, Larabell CA.; J Cell Biochem (2014 Feb) 115:209-16. Abstract/Full Text
Morphology and function of membrane-bound organelles.: Heald R, Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Opin Cell Biol (2014 Feb) 26:79-86. Abstract/Full Text
Nuclear division: giving daughters their fair share.: Walters AD, Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Biol (2013 Dec 2) 23:R1045-7. Abstract/Full Text
The dynamic nature of the nuclear envelope: lessons from closed mitosis.: Arnone JT, Walters AD, Cohen-Fix O.; Nucleus (2013 Jul-Aug) 4:261-6. Abstract/Full Text
Shaping the nucleus: factors and forces.: Walters AD, Bommakanti A, Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Biochem (2012 Sep) 113:2813-21. Abstract/Full Text
The budding yeast nuclear envelope adjacent to the nucleolus serves as a membrane sink during mitotic delay.: Witkin KL, Chong Y, Shao S, Webster MT, Lahiri S, Walters AD, Lee B, Koh JL, Prinz WA, Andrews BJ, Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Biol (2012 Jun 19) 22:1128-33. Abstract/Full Text
Sm protein down-regulation leads to defects in nuclear pore complex disassembly and distribution in C. elegans embryos.: Joseph-Strauss D, Gorjánácz M, Santarella-Mellwig R, Voronina E, Audhya A, Cohen-Fix O.; Dev Biol (2012 May 15) 365:445-57. Abstract/Full Text
Orna Cohen-Fix: playing with nuclear morphology. Interview by Caitlin Sedwick.: Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Biol (2012 Mar 5) 196:550-1. Abstract/Full Text
Vesicle trafficking maintains nuclear shape in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during membrane proliferation.: Webster MT, McCaffery JM, Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Biol (2010 Dec 13) 191:1079-88. Abstract/Full Text
Cell biology: Import and nuclear size.: Cohen-Fix O.; Nature (2010 Nov 25) 468:513-6. Abstract/Full Text
Changes in the nuclear envelope environment affect spindle pole body duplication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.: Witkin KL, Friederichs JM, Cohen-Fix O, Jaspersen SL.; Genetics (2010 Nov) 186:867-83. Abstract/Full Text
Inactivation of the C. elegans lipin homolog leads to ER disorganization and to defects in the breakdown and reassembly of the nuclear envelope.: Golden A, Liu J, Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Sci (2009 Jun 15) 122:1970-8. Abstract/Full Text
Sizing up the nucleus: nuclear shape, size and nuclear-envelope assembly.: Webster M, Witkin KL, Cohen-Fix O.; J Cell Sci (2009 May 15) 122:1477-86. Abstract/Full Text
The endoplasmic reticulum takes center stage in cell cycle regulation.: Fearon P, Cohen-Fix O.; Sci Signal (2008 Jan 22) 1:pe4. Abstract/Full Text
Falling off the academic bandwagon. Women are more likely to quit at the postdoc to principal investigator transition.: Martinez ED, Botos J, Dohoney KM, Geiman TM, Kolla SS, Olivera A, Qiu Y, Rayasam GV, Stavreva DA, Cohen-Fix O.; EMBO Rep (2007 Nov) 8:977-81. Abstract/Full Text
The spindle midzone microtubule-associated proteins Ase1p and Cin8p affect the number and orientation of astral microtubules in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.: de Gramont A, Barbour L, Ross KE, Cohen-Fix O.; Cell Cycle (2007 May 15) 6:1231-41. Abstract/Full Text
Yeast nuclear envelope subdomains with distinct abilities to resist membrane expansion.: Campbell JL, Lorenz A, Witkin KL, Hays T, Loidl J, Cohen-Fix O.; Mol Biol Cell (2006 Apr) 17:1768-78. Abstract/Full Text
The many phases of anaphase.: de Gramont A, Cohen-Fix O.; Trends Biochem Sci (2005 Oct) 30:559-68. Abstract/Full Text
Uncovering novel cell cycle players through the inactivation of securin in budding yeast.: Sarin S, Ross KE, Boucher L, Green Y, Tyers M, Cohen-Fix O.; Genetics (2004 Nov) 168:1763-71. Abstract/Full Text
Molecular biology: cohesins slip sliding away.: Ross KE, Cohen-Fix O.; Nature (2004 Jul 29) 430:520-1. Abstract/Full Text
A role for the FEAR pathway in nuclear positioning during anaphase.: Ross KE, Cohen-Fix O.; Dev Cell (2004 May) 6:729-35. Abstract/Full Text
Two distinct pathways for inhibiting pds1 ubiquitination in response to DNA damage.: Agarwal R, Tang Z, Yu H, Cohen-Fix O.; J Biol Chem (2003 Nov 7) 278:45027-33. Abstract/Full Text
The role of Cdh1p in maintaining genomic stability in budding yeast.: Ross KE, Cohen-Fix O.; Genetics (2003 Oct) 165:489-503. Abstract/Full Text
Meiosis: polo, FEAR and the art of dividing reductionally.: Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Biol (2003 Aug 5) 13:R603-5. Abstract/Full Text
Getting (chromosomes) loaded--a new role for timeless.: Golden A, Cohen-Fix O.; Dev Cell (2003 Jul) 5:7-9. Abstract/Full Text
Multitasking at mitotic exit.: Ross KE, Cohen-Fix O.; Nat Cell Biol (2003 Mar) 5:188-90. Abstract/Full Text
Chromosome cohesion: ring around the sisters?: Campbell JL, Cohen-Fix O.; Trends Biochem Sci (2002 Oct) 27:492-5. Abstract/Full Text
Phosphorylation of the mitotic regulator Pds1/securin by Cdc28 is required for efficient nuclear localization of Esp1/separase.: Agarwal R, Cohen-Fix O.; Genes Dev (2002 Jun 1) 16:1371-82. Abstract/Full Text
The anaphase inhibitor Pds1 binds to the APC/C-associated protein Cdc20 in a destruction box-dependent manner.: Hilioti Z, Chung YS, Mochizuki Y, Hardy CF, Cohen-Fix O.; Curr Biol (2001 Sep 4) 11:1347-52. Abstract/Full Text
The making and breaking of sister chromatid cohesion.: Cohen-Fix O.; Cell (2001 Jul 27) 106:137-40. Abstract/Full Text
The anaphase inhibitor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pds1p is a target of the DNA damage checkpoint pathway.: Cohen-Fix O, Koshland D.; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (1997 Dec 23) 94:14361-6. Abstract/Full Text
Anaphase initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is controlled by the APC-dependent degradation of the anaphase inhibitor Pds1p.: Cohen-Fix O, Peters JM, Kirschner MW, Koshland D.; Genes Dev (1996 Dec 15) 10:3081-93. Abstract/Full Text

Last Reviewed January 2025