Biology subjects

Brower, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Brower, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

The compounding costs of being female in academia: Individual-based modelling of career progression and interventions

We develop a novel individual-based population dynamics model of academic career progression, using 15 years of data from over 1,000 academics from one university. Our model improves on previous models, which, by homogenising career progression, may underestimate the costs of being female. We find multiple effects that compound to slow career progression for women. Women are hired at lower ranks than men, then face the sticky floor problem of getting stuck at the bottom for longer. Further, individuals in STEM fields are promoted more quickly; this disproportionately affects women who are more prevalent in non-STEM fields. Our model reveals age is more complicated than others have found with ODE-based models. Women are older when hired, and promotions favour the young; hence age costs women more. Finally, the probability of attrition rises with years spent at the same rank, regardless of gender. Since women are promoted slower, they experience higher attrition rates. We also deploy our model to test possible interventions. We find just hiring more women will not work. A more nuanced set of interventions is required. Gender parity will only be achieved at the highest ranks if hiring rates are jointly equalised across gender, academic rank, and discipline.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2026

Importins recognize the winged-helix fold of ETS transcription factors to mediate nuclear import

Protein trafficking between the cytoplasm and the nucleus is a fundamental process in eukaryotic cell biology. While linear nuclear localization signals (NLSs) are well-characterized, many nuclear proteins lack a predictable NLS. Here, we identify the ETS domain, a DNA-binding winged-helix fold, from ETS family transcription factors as a structure-encoded NLS. We show that ETS domains mediate nuclear import through direct recognition by multiple nuclear transport receptors, including IPO9. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis of the EHF:IPO9 complex reveals that the IPO9 wraps around the ETS domain and engages structural features throughout the winged-helix fold. Biochemical studies demonstrate that the ETS domain DNA-binding helix is critical for importin recognition and for NLS activity in mammalian cells. Comparison of IPO9 bound to EHF and the histone H2A:H2B dimer reveals distinct interaction hotspots, illustrating how IPO9 employs unique combinatorial binding surfaces to accommodate structurally diverse cargos. These findings define a new class of globular NLSs and highlight the adaptability of importins in recognizing distinct protein folds. Significance StatementNuclear import is essential for transcription factor function. However, many nuclear proteins lack recognizable nuclear localization signals (NLSs), leaving their trafficking mechanisms unresolved. Here, we identify the winged-helix DNA-binding domain of ETS transcription factors as a structure-encoded NLS shared across the ETS family of proteins. We show that multiple importins directly interact with this globular domain and define the molecular basis for cargo recognition by determining the cryo-EM structure of an importin bound to an ETS family protein. These studies establish a new class of globular NLSs and shed light on how individual importins can recognize diverse protein folds. We also provide mechanistic insight into nuclear trafficking defects that are caused by disease-linked ETS transcription factor mutations.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2024

Female-dominated disciplines have lower evaluated research quality and funding success rates, for men and women

We use data from 30 countries and find that the more women in a discipline, the lower quality the research in that discipline is evaluated to be and the lower the funding success rate is. This affects men and women, and is robust to age, number of research outputs, and bibliometric measures where such data are available. Our work builds on others findings that womens work is valued less, regardless of who performs that work.

scientific communication and education↗