Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Long Li, Bernd Henning Stumpf, Ana-Suncana Smith
Summary: This study reveals that differences in affinity and length of proteins involved in membrane-mediated cell adhesion result in characteristic features in calculated phase diagrams. Additionally, stable nanodomains and ring-like patterns can spontaneously appear during cell experiments. Considering the role of the membrane allows for the recovery of experimentally observed patterns.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joseph Puccini, Jia Wei, Liang Tong, Dafna Bar-Sagi
Summary: Macropinocytosis is a nonselective endocytosis process that facilitates the uptake of extracellular fluid-phase cargoes. Tumor cells exploit this process to acquire macromolecules for cell growth and proliferation under nutrient-limiting conditions. This study reveals that the enzyme ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is a key regulator of macropinocytosis, and it is involved in the actin cytoskeleton. The findings demonstrate a mechanism that links regional acetyl-CoA availability with dynamic protein acetylation, supporting the spatial and temporal modulation of membrane-cytoskeletal interactions required for macropinocytosis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Magdalena Prechova, Zuzana Adamova, Anna-Lena Schweizer, Miloslava Maninova, Andreas Bauer, Delf Kah, Samuel M. Meier-Menches, Gerhard Wiche, Ben Fabry, Martin Gregor
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of plectin in supporting intercellular junctions through organizing cortical cytoskeletal networks in epithelial sheets. Deficiency of plectin leads to abnormal cytoarchitecture, elevated intracellular tension, and reduced intercellular cohesion, resulting in destabilization of tissues under mechanical stress.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Marta Maruszewska-Cheruiyot, Maja Machcinska, Magdalena Kierasinska, Katarzyna Donskow-Lysoniewska
Summary: This study compared the properties of adherent and non-adherent cell fractions in immature and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated JAWS II cells. The study analyzed the condition, phenotype, antigen uptake capability, signaling properties, and the influence on T cell activity of these cell fractions. The results showed that adherent immature JAWS II cells had increased endocytosis and decreased activation of the Pi3K signaling pathway. After LPS activation, adherent JAWS II cells exhibited increased expression levels of costimulatory molecules and a higher ability to induce T cell proliferation compared to non-adherent cells. These findings highlight the importance of considering the properties of different cell fractions in research planning.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Jairam Meena, Dinesh Giri Goswami, Chakkumkal Anish, Amulya Kumar Panda
Summary: The phagocytosis mechanism of particulate vaccine delivery systems is crucial for antigen capture and processing by macrophages and dendritic cells. Research findings suggest that particle size affects cellular uptake, with nanoparticles showing faster internalization rates. Additionally, particles induce cell homoaggregation and cytoskeletal remodeling, indicating their importance in the rational design of optimal vaccine delivery systems.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Helene Delanoe-Ayari, Alice Nicolas
Summary: To understand cell migration, it is crucial to understand how cells exert and integrate forces from their environment. Biophysicists have proposed three different methods to calculate intracellular stresses, all based on the thin plate approximation. However, these techniques do not calculate the same quantities and combining them allows access to the active stress alone.
Article
Hematology
Ana Bura, Maria Antonietta de Matteis, Markus Bender, Maurice Swinkels, Jurjen Versluis, A. J. Gerard Jansen, Antonija Jurak Begonja
Summary: Lowe syndrome is a rare disorder that affects the brain, eyes, and kidneys. It is caused by mutations in the OCRL protein. Some patients with Lowe syndrome have bleeding disorders and impaired platelet function. Experiments show that OCRL inhibition affects cytoskeletal rearrangement in platelet activation, which may explain the mild bleeding problems in patients with Lowe syndrome.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maryam Sadat Nezamtaheri, Bahram Goliaei, Seyed Peyman Shariatpanahi, Alireza Madjid Ansari
Summary: The impact of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on living cells is specific and depends on the biological state of the cell. Long-term exposure to ELF-EMF inhibits proliferation and induces cell death and morphological changes in adherent cells. Suspended cells differentiate and decrease in number after exposure to ELF-EMF.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Tingfang Chen, Alex M. Rohacek, Matthew Caporizzo, Amir Nankali, Jeroen J. Smits, Jaap Oostrik, Cornelis P. Lanting, Erdi Kucuk, Christian Gilissen, Jiddeke M. van de Kamp, Ronald J. E. Pennings, Staci M. Rakowiecki, Klaus H. Kaestner, Kevin K. Ohlemiller, John S. Oghalai, Hannie Kremer, Benjamin L. Prosser, Douglas J. Epstein
Summary: In mammals, sound is detected by mechanosensory hair cells, with inner ear supporting cells playing a crucial role in transmitting sound energy through the cochlear partition. Mutations in the GAS2 gene can lead to hearing loss by disrupting the organization and stability of microtubule bundles in these supporting cells, affecting cochlear micromechanics. The bundling activity of GAS2 is essential for imparting mechanical properties to supporting cells for sound energy transmission in the cochlea.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Mainak Chakraborty, Kevin Chu, Annie Shrestha, Xavier S. Revelo, Xiangyue Zhang, Matthew J. Gold, Saad Khan, Megan Lee, Camille Huang, Masoud Akbari, Fanta Barrow, Yi Tao Chan, Helena Lei, Nicholas K. Kotoulas, Juan Jovel, Chiara Pastrello, Max Kotlyar, Cynthia Goh, Evangelos Michelakis, Xavier Clemente-Casares, Pamela S. Ohashi, Edgar G. Engleman, Shawn Winer, Igor Jurisica, Sue Tsai, Daniel A. Winer
Summary: This study reveals that static tension impacts immune cell function, maturation, and metabolism, with cells grown at physiological resting stiffness showing reduced proliferation, activation, and cytokine production compared to cells grown under higher stiffness. The findings suggest that mechanical stiffness is a critical environmental cue affecting dendritic cells and innate immunity.
Review
Cell Biology
Niv Ierushalmi, Kinneret Keren
Summary: Symmetry breaking is crucial for the formation of cell structure and function, enabling cell movement, division, and polarity establishment. The mechanisms of symmetry breaking, while diverse, often share common characteristics like nematic, polar, and chiral cytoskeletal symmetry breaking in animal cells. These mechanisms involve both chemical and mechanical processes that cooperate to break symmetry in a robust manner.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dorothee Stockle, Blanca Jazmin Reyes-Hernandez, Amaya Vilches Barro, Milica Nenadic, Zsofia Winter, Sophie Marc-Martin, Lotte Bald, Robertas Ursache, Satoshi Fujita, Alexis Maizel, Joop Em Vermeer
Summary: Precise coordination between cells and tissues is essential for differential growth in plants. The asymmetry of microtubule arrays in the endodermis and the remodeling of the endodermis are necessary for lateral root initiation. MAP70-5 and cortical microtubule arrays in the endodermis integrate mechanical signals and facilitate lateral root morphogenesis.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Juha Tiihonen, Paul R. C. Kent, Jaron T. Krogel
Summary: This paper presents an energy-based method for efficient structural optimization with stochastic electronic structure theories. The method utilizes robust line-search energy minimization in reduced parameter space and surrogate theory to maximize statistical efficiency and retain controllable accuracy. The authors demonstrate the effectiveness and wide applicability of the method by finding the minimum DMC energy structures of selected aromatic molecules.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Maureen Keller, Katarina Reis, Anders Hjerpe, Katalin Dobra, Pontus Aspenstrom
Summary: The cytoskeleton plays a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and its dysregulation is implicated in cancer progression, particularly in malignant mesothelioma. By studying the cytoskeletal dynamics and invasive properties of different malignant mesothelioma cell lines, it is possible to classify them into distinct categories which may aid in early diagnosis and development of new diagnostic tools. Additionally, the organization of key cytoskeletal components differs in highly malignant and invasive mesothelioma cells, with inactivation of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway observed in invasive cells.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Joachim Mathiesen, Gaute Linga, Marek Misztal, Francois Renard, Tanguy Le Borgne
Summary: Solute transport in multiphase flow through porous media plays a crucial role in natural systems and geoengineering applications. This study investigates dispersion in multiphase flows using highly resolved numerical simulations of immiscible two-phase flow. The results show that the activation and deactivation of different flow pathways under capillary forces accelerate solute spreading compared to single phase flow. The study establishes transport laws under dynamic multiphase flows and identifies the controlling factors for solute dispersion in porous media.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maud Rijnders, Hayri E. Balcioglu, Debbie G. J. Robbrecht, Astrid A. M. Oostvogels, Rebecca Wijers, Maureen J. B. Aarts, Paul Hamberg, Geert J. L. H. van Leenders, J. Alberto Nakauma-Gonzalez, Jens Voortman, Hans M. Westgeest, Joost L. Boormans, Ronald de Wit, Martijn P. Lolkema, Astrid A. M. van der Veldt, Reno Debets
Summary: This study identified early changes in T-cell subsets that correlate with anti-PD-1 treatment response in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC). The decrease in the fraction of circulating PD-1(+) CD4(+) T cells and the juxtaposition of Th1 cells with CD8(+) and myeloid cells are associated with treatment response.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Radoslaw J. Gora, Babette de Jong, Patrick van Hage, Mary Ann Rhiemus, Fjodor van Steenis, John van Noort, Thomas Schmidt, Marcel J. M. Schaaf
Summary: In this study, single-molecule microscopy was used to investigate the dynamics of H-Ras protein in zebrafish embryos. The results showed the presence of fast- and slow-diffusing subpopulations of molecules within the plasma membrane, which are influenced by the structure and composition of the membrane. Additionally, differences between cells within the same embryo were found to contribute to the variability in the data. These findings highlight the importance of single-molecule microscopy for studying factors influencing protein dynamics in an intact living organism.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hayri E. Balcioglu, Rolf Harkes, Erik H. J. Danen, Thomas Schmidt
Summary: This study used quantitative super-resolution microscopy to investigate cell-matrix adhesions and found that there is a quantitative relationship between cellular traction force and the number of cell-matrix adhesion proteins. The stoichiometry of these proteins changes with different substrate stiffness, indicating a substrate-stiffness-dependent modulation of cell-matrix adhesion.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rick Rodrigues de Mercado, Hedde VAN Hoorn, Martin DE Valois, Claude Backendorf, Julia Eckert, Thomas Schmidt
Summary: High-resolution and super-resolution techniques are commonly used in imaging life cells and tissue, but sample inhomogeneities and resulting astigmatism can affect the accuracy of observations. A simple model and a figure-of-merit are introduced to assess the importance of astigmatism in an experiment. Astigmatism caused by the cell's nucleus can result in significant aberrations beyond the accuracy of super-resolution techniques, while astigmatism generated by small objects may not be significant in typical super-resolution experimentation.
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chenlin Feng, Xuesong Wang, Willem Jespers, Rongfang Liu, Sofia Denise Zamarbide Losada, Marina Gorostiola Gonzalez, Gerard J. P. van Westen, Erik H. J. Danen, Laura H. Heitman
Summary: This study aims to explore the effects of cancer-patient-derived A(2A)AR mutations on ligand binding and receptor functions. The results show that 6 mutants decrease the binding affinity for agonist NECA, while the V275A mutant increases it. Mutations A165V and A265V also decrease the binding affinity for antagonist ZM241385.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qiuyu Liu, Victoria A. C. Palmgren, Erik H. J. Danen, Sylvia E. Le Devedec
Summary: Hypoxia is closely linked to therapeutic resistance in breast cancer and can induce an aggressive phenotype conducive to invasion and metastasis. However, there is currently no consensus on the duration of hypoxia and the presence of hypoxia-reoxygenation cycles. This review discusses current methods of hypoxia research, proposes a clear definition of acute, chronic, and intermittent hypoxia, and provides a foundation for in vitro (breast) cancer research related to hypoxia.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Yasmin Dekker, Sylvia E. Le Devedec, Erik H. J. Danen, Qiuyu Liu
Summary: This review studies the crosstalk between hypoxia and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in breast cancer. The findings suggest that hypoxia directly contributes to ECM remodeling, alters cell metabolism, and is regulated by the YAP/TAZ mechanotransduction pathway. The review highlights the importance of understanding these interactions for breast cancer progression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zi Wang, Bircan Coban, Chen-Yi Liao, Yao-Jun Chen, Qiuyu Liu, Erik H. J. Danen
Summary: GRHL2 has different roles in different breast cancer subtypes, promoting cancer growth in some subtypes and suppressing cancer progression in others. Its expression is increased in all subtypes of breast cancer and inversely correlated with overall survival in basal-like breast cancer patients. GRHL2 regulates cell-cell junction, epithelial migration, and proliferation in both luminal and basal A breast cancer subtypes, but has distinct effects on cell cycle arrest and migration in these subtypes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Alessandro Gregori, Cecilia Bergonzini, Mjriam Capula, Giulia Mantini, Fatemeh Khojasteh-Leylakoohi, Annalisa Comandatore, Ghazaleh Khalili-Tanha, Alireza Khooei, Luca Morelli, Amir Avan, Erik H. Danen, Thomas Schmidt, Elisa Giovannetti
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive and chemoresistant cancer, with a stiff stroma surrounding it playing a role in chemoresistance. High expression of the mechanical sensor ITGA2 correlated with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients, and increased matrix stiffness led to the expression of ITGA2 and chemoresistance to gemcitabine. ITGA2 could be a potential therapeutic target to overcome gemcitabine resistance.
Article
Oncology
Qiuyu Liu, Nasi Liu, Vera van der Noord, Wanda van der Stel, Bob van de Water, Erik H. J. Danen, Sylvia E. Le Devedec
Summary: Hypoxia is associated with disease progression and poor prognosis in breast cancer, but little is known about the response of different breast cancer subtypes to hypoxia. This study compared the response of luminal and basal A subtype cell lines to acute and chronic hypoxia. The results showed that both subtypes activate HIF-related pathways, but basal A cells are less affected by hypoxia compared to luminal cells. Notably, hypoxia-induced gene networks were associated with worse survival in breast cancer patients. Different adaptation programs were observed in these subtypes, indicating their contribution to the progression of breast cancer.
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Shweta Mahajan, Hayri E. Balcioglu, Astrid Oostvogels, Willem A. Dik, K. C. Allen Chan, Kwok-Wai Lo, Edwin P. Hui, Anna Tsang, Joanna Tong, Wai Kei Jacky Lam, Kenneth Wong, Anthony T. C. Chan, Brigette B. Y. Ma, Reno Debets
Summary: Post-radiotherapy clearance of plasma EBV DNA is associated with prognosis in NPC patients. T cells, particularly CD8+ T cells expressing CCR1, 4 and/or 5, play a role in this clearance process. Differences in chemo-attractants related to T-cell chemotaxis are also linked to clinical outcome. Validation in larger cohorts is needed to confirm these findings.
Article
Cell Biology
Pieter A. A. Roelofs, Mieke A. M. Timmermans, Bojana Stefanovska, Myrthe A. A. den Boestert, Amber W. M. van den Borne, Hayri E. E. Balcioglu, Anita M. M. Trapman, Reuben S. S. Harris, John W. M. Martens, Paul N. N. Span
Summary: APOBEC3B (A3B) is overexpressed in a subset of breast cancers and is associated with advanced disease, poor prognosis, and treatment resistance. The causes of A3B dysregulation in breast cancer remain unclear. In this study, A3B expression levels were quantified in cell lines and breast tumors and related to cell cycle markers. It was found that A3B expression is heterogeneous and strongly associated with the proliferation marker Cyclin B1. Dysregulated A3B overexpression in breast cancer is proposed to be the result of relief from repression and pathway activation during the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Mytiliniou, Joeri A. J. Wondergem, Thomas Schmidt, Doris Heinrich
Summary: Intracellular transport is crucial for cell growth and survival, and malfunction in this process is linked to neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the motion of lysosomes in neurites and reveals that the alignment of neurites significantly affects the lysosomal motion.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2022)
