Article
Biology
Hiroaki Ishikawa, Jeremy Moore, Dennis R. Diener, Markus Delling, Wallace F. Marshall, Lotte B. Pedersen
Summary: This study investigates the length regulation of flagella and its impact on carrier transport. Although the concentration of calcium ions inside the flagella is weakly correlated with flagellar length, experiments demonstrate that calcium ions do not serve as the basis for a stable length control system.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Bauer, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Kimberly A. Wemmer, Nathan L. Hendel, Jane Kondev, Wallace F. Marshall
Summary: Cell-to-cell variation is mainly influenced by cell size, while within-cell variation is caused by dynamic fluctuations. Tubulin assembly is not directly related to intraflagellar transport, and length fluctuations reflect tubulin assembly and disassembly events involving large numbers of tubulin dimers. Length variation increases in long-flagella mutants, consistent with theoretical models for flagellar length regulation.
Article
Biology
Karl F. Lechtreck, Yi Liu, Jin Dai, Rama A. Alkhofash, Jack Butler, Lea Alford, Pinfen Yang
Summary: Intraflagellar transport (IFT) plays a crucial role in protein transportation into flagella, but the interaction between IFT trains and diverse proteins remains largely unknown. This study reveals that ARMC2/PF27 is necessary for IFT of radial spokes in Chlamydomonas, providing insights into the assembly process of flagella.
Article
Cell Biology
Cecile Fort, Peter Collingridge, Colin Brownlee, Glen Wheeler
Summary: In Chlamydomonas, the movement of adhesive glycoproteins in flagella membrane for gliding motility is directed by transient interactions with intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains. Flagella Ca2+ elevations initiate the movement of paused retrograde IFT trains, while high-frequency Ca2+ elevations on highly adherent surfaces prevent the accumulation of these trains. Ca2+ disrupts the interaction between retrograde IFT trains and flagella membrane glycoproteins, allowing precise control of traction force and gliding motility.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Zhu, Jieling Wang, Shufen Li, Karl Lechtreck, Junmin Pan
Summary: This study revealed that the IFT-B protein IFT54 interacts with both kinesin-II and IFT dynein, regulating anterograde transport. Deletions of specific residues in IFT54 resulted in disrupted anterograde trafficking of IFT, with accumulations of IFT motors and complexes in different regions of cilia. This suggests a central role for IFT54 in binding IFT motors during anterograde transport.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marko Nedeljkovic, Diego Emiliano Sastre, Eric John Sundberg
Summary: The bacterial flagellum is a complex nanomachine that propels bacteria through liquids, playing critical roles in survival, reproduction, and pathogenicity. Additionally, flagellins have potential as adjuvants in vaccine development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Nikolai Klena, Gaia Pigino
Summary: Cilia are eukaryotic organelles that play a crucial role in cell motility and signaling. Recent advances in cryo-electron tomography and single-particle analysis cryo-electron microscopy have provided important insights into the structure and function of cilia.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Limei Wang, Xuecheng Li, Guang Liu, Junmin Pan
Summary: FBB18 plays a crucial role in the assembly of dynein arms by facilitating the folding/stabilization of almost all axonemal dyneins. Mutations in FBB18 result in short or absent cilia with partial loss of dynein arms. FBB18 interacts with multiple DNAAFs simultaneously, indicating the importance of dynein folding/stability in axonemal dynein preassembly.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Zheng, Hongjuan Bai, Ye Tao, Mounia Achak, Yannick Rossez, Edvina Lamy
Summary: This study analyzed the transport and deposition behavior of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with different flagellar phenotypes in porous media. The results showed that flagellar motility promotes bacterial transport and deposition, and non-motile flagella enhance bacterial adhesion. Flagella phases and methylation also affect bacterial movement and attachment capabilities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takashi Ishikawa
Summary: Two studies have revealed the atomic structure of IFT-B, showcasing the arrangement of its component proteins and the dynamic interplay between them, using cutting-edge technology.
Article
Biology
Paul E. Schavemaker, Michael Lynch
Summary: Flagellar-driven motility enables unicellular organisms to gather food and avoid predators. The costs of constructing and operating flagella are high and depend on the balance between fitness gains and energy costs. Comparison between bacterial and eukaryotic flagella reveals a common trend in cost-effectiveness.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Qi Li, Yize Wang, Wei Zheng, Jing Guo, Shunji Zhang, Fei Gong, Guang-Xiu Lu, Ge Lin, Jing Dai
Summary: Deficiency in IQCN causes sperm flagellar assembly defects and male infertility. Biallelic variants in IQCN were identified in infertile men, and the affected sperm showed irregular flagellar structure and abnormal sperm parameters. A mouse model confirmed these findings, and IQCN-binding proteins involved in flagellar assembly were also identified.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Tohru Minamino, Yusuke Morimoto, Miki Kinoshita, Keiichi Namba
Summary: The flagellar export chaperones, including FlgN, FliS, and FliT, play crucial roles in facilitating the efficient export of essential component proteins for filament formation. Dynamic interactions between these chaperones and the transmembrane export gate protein FlhA are believed to determine the order of substrate export.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Karl Lechtreck
Summary: The assembly and maintenance of cilia and eukaryotic flagella rely on intraflagellar transport (IFT), which involves the movement of IFT trains along microtubules. Adapters are used to transport ciliary proteins and complexes between the cell body and the organelle. These adapters expand the cargo range of IFT trains.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Xinhui Shen, Phu N. Tran, Benjamin Z. Tay, Marcos
Summary: This study investigates the role of different subunit domains in regulating the rigidity of bacterial flagellar filaments. The results show that the absence of two outer subunit domains has little effect on the bending stiffness of Bacillus subtilis' flagellar filament, suggesting that the rigidity mainly comes from the inner domains.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Songtao Hu, Weifeng Huang, Jinbang Li, Tom Reddyhoff, Xiaobao Cao, Xi Shi, Zhike Peng, Andrew Demello, Daniele Dini
Summary: The study introduces a rigid-flexible hybrid surface design that enables fast droplet sliding and waterproof performance, and retains its water-repellent properties even after a certain number of wear cycles.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Yilun Xu, Daniel S. Balint, Christian Greiner, Daniele Dini
Summary: Discrete dislocation plasticity calculations are used to investigate the response of a single crystal under sliding loading conditions with a rigid sinusoidal asperity contact. The study identifies lattice rotations and stored energy as the key factors causing microstructure change in the dislocation structure. Maps of surface slip initiation and substrate permanent deformation obtained from the calculations suggest ways to optimize the interface and microstructural material properties for different frictional loads.
Review
Biophysics
Mohamed A. A. Abdelbar, James P. P. Ewen, Daniele Dini, Stefano Angioletti-Uberti
Summary: When polymer chains are densely grafted to solid surfaces, they form brushes that can alter surface properties and reduce friction in water-lubricated systems. Molecular simulations have been used to understand the mechanisms of friction reduction and improve the design of polymer brushes. This review focuses on the progress in molecular simulations of polymer brush friction, from simple models to more detailed ones that capture brush topology, chemistry, and electrostatic interactions. Matching experimental data and addressing remaining challenges are discussed to enhance the predictive capability of molecular simulations for optimizing brush structures and reducing friction.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zilin Feng, Min Yu, Simos A. Evangelou, Imad M. Jaimoukha, Daniele Dini
Summary: This article presents a combined mu-synthesis PID control scheme, employing a frequency separation paradigm, for a recently proposed novel active suspension, the Parallel Active Link Suspension (PALS). The developed mu-synthesis control scheme is superior to the conventional H-infinity control, previously designed for the PALS, in terms of ride comfort and road holding (higher frequency dynamics), with important realistic uncertainties, such as in vehicle payload, taken into account. The developed PID control method is applied to guarantee good chassis attitude control capabilities and minimization of pitch and roll motions (low frequency dynamics).
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian Yuan, Yi Yang, Wenbo Zhan, Daniele Dini
Summary: Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can be used as a drug delivery system in brain diseases. However, achieving desired drug distribution patterns in the complex microstructure of brain tissues, particularly the white matter, is still unclear. In this study, a mathematical model was used to investigate the effects of key parameters on MNP diffusion in the brain white matter. The results show that a uniform distribution of MNPs can be achieved by adjusting particle size and magnetic field, and particle size plays a key role in determining MNPs' diffusion behaviors. Axon tortuosity may affect MNP transport, but this can be mitigated by applying an external magnetic field perpendicular to the local axon track.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Marco Paolino, Paola Varvara, Mario Saletti, Annalisa Reale, Mariangela Gentile, Eugenio Paccagnini, Germano Giuliani, Hartmut Komber, Mariano Licciardi, Andrea Cappelli
Summary: A coating technology using low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) and ferulic acid (FA) was applied to coat low generation poly(propylene imine) dendrimers, and the resulting HA-FA-HEG-PPID dendrimeric materials showed excellent loading capability for the anticancer drug doxorubicin. The stable nanostructured loaded delivery systems were able to internalize into CD44-expressing cells and exhibit high cytotoxicity comparable to free doxorubicin.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Francesca Paola Luongo, Alice Luddi, Rosetta Ponchia, Rossella Ferrante, Sara Di Rado, Eugenio Paccagnini, Mariangela Gentile, Pietro Lupetti, Raffaella Guazzo, Alfredo Orrico, Liborio Stuppia, Paola Piomboni
Summary: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal ciliary motion. A case study reports a male patient with severe asthenozoospermia but no respiratory symptoms, who carries a homozygote mutation in the CCDC103 gene. The spermatozoa of the patient showed complete loss of inner and outer dynein arms and immotility, while the respiratory cilia still had partial presence of dynein arms. This case enriches the understanding of CCDC103 variants and associated clinical phenotypes in PCD.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Tian Yuan, Wenbo Zhan, Daniele Dini
Summary: This study reveals the impact of interactions between neurons and surrounding fluid on the macroscopic transport behavior of brain tissue, shedding light on unresolved issues related to brain functions and medical treatments. For the first time, a microstructure-informed permeability tensor was established to accurately model the transport properties of brain tissue. This study is important for improving the prediction accuracy of brain tissue transport properties and neural tissue engineering.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fernando Patino-Ramirez, Catherine O'Sullivan, Daniele Dini
Summary: This paper proposes two algorithms to identify the network of percolating contacts that control the response of loaded granular media, and to decompose this network into the individual force chains. The results show that the contribution of force chains in the network is highly centralized, composed by a small set of strong and long-lived force chains, plus a large set of weak and short-lived force chains.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Muhammad Rizwanur Rahman, Li Shen, James P. Ewen, Benjamin Collard, D. M. Heyes, Daniele Dini, E. R. Smith
Summary: Using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the retraction of thin films and correct the Taylor-Culick (TC) theory for nanoscale films by deriving a new mathematical formulation for surface shape and considering locally varying surface tension.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
D. M. Heyes, D. Dini, S. Pieprzyk, A. C. Branka
Summary: This work provides new theoretical tools and criteria to determine the extent of deviation from perfect isomorphicity for pair potentials using the Lennard-Jones system as a test case. A simple prediction method using the freezing line as a reference is shown to accurately predict isomorphs in the fluid range for the LJ system. The physical significance of correlations found previously in the literature can be evaluated using this method.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Navraj S. Lalli, Li Shen, Daniele Dini, Andrea Giusti
Summary: Previous studies have shown that a magnetic field can alter the drainage in soap films containing magnetic particles. However, it is still unclear whether a magnetic field can control the rate of drainage and film stability, as well as its effect on key drainage mechanisms. This experimental study investigates the behavior of soap films containing magnetite nanoparticles, revealing that a magnetic field can have a stabilizing or destabilizing effect on magnetic soap films depending on their composition.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Mert Yusuf Cam, Matteo Giacopini, Daniele Dini, Luca Biancofiore
Summary: Hydrodynamic lubrication plays a fundamental role in mechanical systems by reducing energy losses and preventing mechanical breakdown. The classical linear Reynolds equation is insufficient for describing the lubricant characteristics on engineered surfaces, and non-linearities introduced by wall slip and cavitation need to be considered. Therefore, a modified two-dimensional Reynolds equation is proposed to capture both the cavitation presence and wall slippage, leading to improved accuracy and computational efficiency.
TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Amer Ahmed, Alfonso Trezza, Mariangela Gentile, Eugenio Paccagnini, Alice Panti, Pietro Lupetti, Ottavia Spiga, Sergio Bova, Fabio Fusi
Summary: A study demonstrates that mdivi-1 and dynasore, inhibitors of mitochondrial fission, have vasodilator effects by blocking IBa1.2 and stimulating IKCa1.1 in rat tail artery myocytes. However, the analogue dyngo-4a, while inhibiting mitochondrial fission and stimulating IKCa1.1, does not affect IBa1.2 and potentiates contractions induced by high K+ and phenylephrine. These results caution against using dynasore, mdivi-1, and dyngo-4a as tools to investigate the role of mitochondrial fission in vascular contraction.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Erik Weiand, Francisco Rodriguez-Ropero, Yuri Roiter, Peter H. H. Koenig, Stefano Angioletti-Uberti, Daniele Dini, James P. P. Ewen
Summary: The adsorption behavior of surfactants at solid-liquid interfaces is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Cationic surfactants adsorb in two stages, forming monolayers and then bilayers at high concentrations. Anionic surfactants weakly adsorb via hydrophobic interactions, forming only monolayers. Applying cationic surfactant solutions to bleached hair restores low friction and increases hydrophobicity.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
