Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kenji Nishizawa, Shao-Zhen Lin, Claire Chardes, Jean-Francois Rupprecht, Pierre-Francois Lenne
Summary: Biological tissues acquire reproducible shapes through dynamic cell behaviors, particularly the remodeling of cell-cell contacts. This study developed a technique to manipulate stress patterns on these contacts in the early epithelium of Drosophila embryos and found that Myosin -II activity responds to junction strain rate, facilitating junction shrinkage. These findings provide insights into the efficient deformation of cell-cell contacts in vivo and reveal the mechanosensitive features of their remodeling.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parisa Kakanj, Sourabh Bhide, Bernard Moussian, Maria Leptin
Summary: Our study reveals that autophagy plays a crucial role in the formation of multinucleated syncytium during wound healing in Drosophila. Autophagosomes near the wound edge acquire plasma membrane markers. Uncontrolled autophagy in the unwounded epidermis leads to degradation of endo-membranes and the lateral plasma membrane, while the apical and basal membranes and epithelial barrier function remain intact. Furthermore, autophagy induction affects other sub-cellular membranes.
Article
Cell Biology
Sadhana Panzade, Maja Matis
Summary: The study shows that the minus-end binding protein Patronin is essential for organizing microtubule arrays in histoblast cells that form the Drosophila abdomen, affecting the function and motility of these cells. Patronin plays a crucial role in mediating epithelium remodeling by regulating the microtubule cytoskeleton.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Yukun Jiang, Yuzhe Guan, Yuanchen Lan, Shuo Chen, Tiancheng Li, Shujuan Zou, Zhiai Hu, Qingsong Ye
Summary: The Piezo1 channel plays a critical role in mediating bone formation and osteoclastic activities during orthodontic tooth movement, particularly on the tension side. Inhibition of Piezo1 function leads to reduced expression of osteogenesis-associated transcription factors and disruptions in bone remodeling processes.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomoki Yano, Kazuto Tsukita, Hatsuho Kanoh, Shogo Nakayama, Hiroka Kashihara, Tomoaki Mizuno, Hiroo Tanaka, Takeshi Matsui, Yuhei Goto, Akira Komatsubara, Kazuhiro Aoki, Ryosuke Takahashi, Atsushi Tamura, Sachiko Tsukita
Summary: This study identified a system triggered by ppMLC at TJ-associated CRs for vertebrate apical constriction, involving microtubules, LUZP1, and myosin phosphatase. LUZP1 was found to inhibit myosin phosphatase at TJ-associated CRs in a microtubule-facilitated manner, significantly contributing to the understanding of apical constriction in vertebrates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Boya Zhang, Xinhui Du, Yichao Fan, Guoxin Qu, Lon Kai Pang, Ruiying Zhao, Weitao Yao
Summary: This study found that DLX2 is highly expressed in metastatic osteosarcoma and is closely related to clinical prognosis. By interacting with HOXC8, DLX2 enhances the transcriptional repression of CDH2, thereby promoting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and doxorubicin resistance in osteosarcoma cells.
Article
Cell Biology
Christina Lehmann, Christian Pohl
Summary: Selfish genetic elements, like sup-35/pha-1, play a crucial role in proper expression of apical junction components in epithelia in Caenorhabditis elegans. Loss of the antidote pha-1 leads to defects in epidermal morphogenesis and decreased cell bond tension, suggesting altered tissue material properties. The toxicity of sup-35 increases when pathways establishing basal epithelial characteristics are compromised.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Olga Boix, Marion Martinez, Santiago Vidal, Marta Gimenez-Alejandre, Lluis Palenzuela, Laura Lorenzo-Sanz, Laura Quevedo, Olivier Moscoso, Jorge Ruiz-Orera, Pilar Ximenez-Embun, Nikaoly Ciriaco, Paolo Nuciforo, Camille Stephan-Otto Attolini, M. Mar Alba, Javier Munoz, Tian V. Tian, Ignacio Varela, Ana Vivancos, Santiago Ramon Cajal, Purificacion Munoz, Carmen Rivas, Maria Abad
Summary: The human transcriptome contains small open reading frames (sORFs) that encode microproteins with largely unexplored functions. In this study, the authors show that TINCR lncRNA encodes a ubiquitin-like protein (UBL) called pTINCR, which is expressed in many epithelia and promotes epithelial differentiation through the SUMOylation and activation of CDC42. They also found that low expression of TINCR is associated with worse prognosis in several epithelial cancers.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Saranyaraajan Varadarajan, Shahana A. Chumki, Rachel E. Stephenson, Eileen R. Misterovich, Jessica L. Wu, Claire E. Dudley, Ivan S. Erofeev, Andrew B. Goryachev, Ann L. Miller
Summary: Epithelial cell-cell junctions undergo remodeling in response to mechanical stimuli, with local RhoA activation and intracellular calcium flashes playing important roles in repairing tight junction leaks. Mechanosensitive calcium channels are also crucial for maintaining barrier function.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Jaemin Kim, Erik Mailand, Mahmut Selman Sakar, Nikolaos Bouklas
Summary: Processes such as embryonic development and wound healing involve complex interactions between cellular contractility, migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanics, and remodeling. However, the regulatory principles underlying the coupled cell migration and contractility in dynamically morphing tissues are not well understood. In this study, a mechanosensitive transient nonlinear theory and a finite element implementation were proposed to capture the interplay between cell migration and contractility in 3D ECM. Simulation results from microtissue experimental setups demonstrated the changes in tissue shape and cell concentration for wounded and intact microtissues. This theoretical model and computational framework provide insights into experimental data and facilitate hypothesis-driven research.
EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Navish Wadhwa, Yuhai Tu, Howard C. Berg
Summary: Motility is crucial for the survival and dispersal of many bacteria, and plays a role during infections. Recent research has shown that the bidirectional flagellar motor of E. coli adjusts torque-generating units in response to changes in load, representing a robust strategy for quickly regulating output.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jing Qu, Shan-Zhong Yang, Yi Zhu, Ting Guo, Victor J. Thannickal, Yong Zhou
Summary: Aging is a significant risk factor for progressive human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), with MDM4 identified as a key regulator in fibrotic lung lesions. Inhibition of MDM4 and activation of the p53 pathway by reducing matrix stiffness promotes resolution of lung fibrosis in aged mice, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for persistent lung fibrosis associated with aging.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lulu Jiang, Yang Zhang, Dahao Lu, Tianfeng Huang, Keshi Yan, Wenjun Yang, Ju Gao
Summary: This study found that excessive mechanical stretch during ARDS induces the activation of Piezo1 channel and its downstream target, calpain, leading to the disassembly of endothelial adherens junctions and further facilitating lung endothelial barrier breakdown and increased vascular permeability.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmalee Sullivan, Marlayna Harris, Arnav Bhatnagar, Eric Guberman, Ian Zonfa, Erzsebet Ravasz Regan
Summary: The research demonstrates the significance of biophysical modulators in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), as full EMT can occur on stiff, nanopatterned substrates without biochemical induction. However, current models focus on biochemical triggers of EMT and overlook its mechanosensitive nature. In this study, a Boolean model of EMT triggered by mechanosensing - mitogen crosstalk was developed. The model successfully reproduces various phenotypes and provides testable predictions on partial EMT, molecular drivers, and the conflict between mitosis and hybrid E/M stability. The model has the potential to improve our understanding of the effects of the biomechanical environment on cancer cell stemness and the crosstalk between EMT and senescence.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shipu Xu, Xing Xu, Shidang Xu
Summary: A charge-gradient-induced ferroelectricity, featured with the first order phase transition, is achieved by modulating the stoichiometric oxygen in the Bi2O2Se/Bi2Se3O9 bilayer. The ferroelectric tunnel junction based on this bilayer exhibits a comparable electroresistance of 100 and can switch repeatedly or retain its state for 360 seconds.
Review
Oncology
Daniel Gradeci, Anna Bove, Guillaume Charras, Alan R. Lowe, Shiladitya Banerjee
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Robert J. Tetley, Michael F. Staddon, Davide Heller, Andreas Hoppe, Shiladitya Banerjee, Yanlan Mao
Article
Biology
Nikola Ojkic, Diana Serbanescu, Shiladitya Banerjee
Article
Cell Biology
Kate E. Cavanaugh, Michael F. Staddon, Edwin Munro, Shiladitya Banerjee, Margaret L. Gardel
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Kate E. Cavanaugh, Michael F. Staddon, Shiladitya Banerjee, Margaret L. Gardel
CURRENT OPINION IN GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Kate E. Cavanaugh, Theresa A. Chmiel, Margaret L. Gardel
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Laura Blackie, Rhian F. Walther, Michael F. Staddon, Shiladitya Banerjee, Franck Pichaud
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Jake Cornwall Scoones, Deb Sankar Banerjee, Shiladitya Banerjee
Article
Cell Biology
Diana Serbanescu, Nikola Ojkic, Shiladitya Banerjee
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Shiladitya Banerjee, Klevin Lo, Nikola Ojkic, Roisin Stephens, Norbert F. Scherer, Aaron R. Dinner
Summary: Cells must strike a balance between conserving resources for survival and utilizing resources for growth and division in order to maximize their fitness. This study combines single-cell experiments and theoretical modeling to propose a mechanism for antibiotic adaptation through mechanical feedback between cell growth and morphology. The increase in cell width and curvature promotes faster growth under protein synthesis inhibition, making bacteria more adaptive to surviving antibiotics.
Article
Biophysics
Nikola Ojkic, Shiladitya Banerjee
Summary: Research shows that the bacterium Bacillus subtilis exhibits highly robust cell geometry, with a well-conserved scaling relationship between surface area and volume regulated by nutrient-dependent production of metabolic enzymes. Theoretical predictions suggest different modes of cell shape transformations in various bacterial species, with mechanisms proposed for cell shape adaptation to different nutrient perturbations. Organisms with high surface-to-volume scaling exponent gamma, like B. subtilis, show less sensitivity in cell width to growth-rate changes compared to organisms with low gamma, such as Acinetobacter baumannii.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eirini Maniou, Michael F. Staddon, Abigail R. Marshall, Nicholas D. E. Greene, Andrew J. Copp, Shiladitya Banerjee, Gabriel L. Galea
Summary: Gap closure in mammalian embryos during embryonic hindbrain neuropore (HNP) closure follows specific mechanisms;
Asymmetric closure mechanisms involving pursestring contraction and directional cell motion accelerate the closure process;
Coordination of cellular and tissue-level mechanics is crucial for mammalian embryos to achieve this critical gap closure event.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Daniel Gradeci, Anna Bove, Giulia Vallardi, Alan R. Lowe, Shiladitya Banerjee, Guillaume Charras
Summary: Studies have shown that cell competition can be driven by short-range biochemical signalling or long-range mechanical stresses in the tissue. In mechanical competition, the key determinant is the difference in homeostatic density between winners and losers, while in biochemical competition, the outcome and kinetics are strongly influenced by local tissue organisation.