Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoying Cui, Renata Ap. Nedel Pertile, Zilong Du, Wei Wei, Zichun Sun, Darryl W. Eyles, James P. Kesby
Summary: The dopaminergic system plays a crucial role in various brain functions, with subcortical DA development preceding cortical maturation. Dysfunctions in DA systems have been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. Transcriptional factors and newly discovered non-coding RNAs play a crucial role in the fate of DA neurons, with HOTAIRM1 potentially having a key modulatory role in early DA neuron development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bernd Zechmann, Stefan Moestl, Guenther Zellnig
Summary: Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and serial sectioning transmission electron microscopy (ssTEM) are powerful tools for the 3D reconstruction and volumetric extraction of plant cells, and there are differences between the two methods.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haofei Zhao, Yuchen Zhu, Huanyu Ye, Yang He, Hao Li, Yifei Sun, Feng Yang, Rongming Wang
Summary: Nanocrystals play a crucial role in material sciences and industry. Designing nanocrystals with desired structures and properties is a major challenge that requires a deep understanding of atomic-scale dynamics. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), especially environmental TEM, has provided valuable insights into nanocrystals. This comprehensive review highlights the progress in the understanding of nanocrystal dynamics, including nucleation and growth, structure evolution, and dynamics in reaction conditions.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Tong Xin, Yanan Lv, Haoran Chen, Linlin Li, Lijun Shen, Guangcun Shan, Xi Chen, Hua Han
Summary: This article proposes a new method for serial section registration using an unsupervised optical flow network to measure feature similarity and eliminate nonlinear deformation. The optical flow network is also used to estimate and compensate for cumulative registration error, enabling the reconstruction of biological tissue structures. Experimental results demonstrate that this method effectively improves the spatial continuity of serial sections and enhances the accuracy of registration and reconstruction for biological tissue structures.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jin-Hu Dou, Maxx Q. Arguilla, Yi Luo, Jian Li, Weizhe Zhang, Lei Sun, Jenna L. Mancuso, Luming Yang, Tianyang Chen, Lucas R. Parent, Grigorii Skorupskii, Nicole J. Libretto, Chenyue Sun, Min Chieh Yang, Phat Vinh Dip, Edward J. Brignole, Jeffrey T. Miller, Jing Kong, Christopher H. Hendon, Junliang Sun, Mircea Dinca
Summary: Researchers have successfully grown single crystals of 2D metal-organic frameworks up to 200 µm in size by balancing in-plane and out-of-plane interactions, revealing anisotropic transport and a clear correlation between conductivity and the nature of the metal cation in the sheets.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zonglin Li, Mingxin Xie, Guozheng Nie, Junhui Wang, Lujun Huang
Summary: In this study, we developed an optical biosensor based on an all-dielectric metasurface with broken symmetry. The biosensor exhibited excellent performance, thanks to the high-Q quasi-bound states in the continuum (qBICs) and the efficient field confinement. It has potential applications in extreme biochemical sensing, such as COVID-19 detection at ultralow concentrations.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Omar Robayo Avendano, Ximena Alvira Botero, Miguel Garzon
Summary: The Locus Coeruleus (LC) is involved in controlling the sleep/wake cycle through a high density of opioid receptors, with microinjections of morphine leading to synchronized brain activity. A study in cats found that MOR and DOR are mainly located in dendrites, with a possibility of co-expression and formation of heterodimers, while differences in DOR distribution compared to rats suggest diverse mechanisms for opioid modulation of LC activity.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elizaveta Tyukalova, Joseph Vimal Vas, Reinis Ignatans, Aaron David Mueller, Rohit Medwal, Masaaki Imamura, Hironori Asada, Yasuhiro Fukuma, Rajdeep Singh Rawat, Vasiliki Tileli, Martial Duchamp
Summary: This article discusses the challenges and potential applications of using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and spectroscopy at low temperatures. The study shows the potential for atomic-resolution imaging at cryogenic temperatures to be generalized to most Li-based materials. Furthermore, real-time TEM imaging in a continuous and variable temperature range has shown promise for studying the evolution of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic domain walls.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tae Gyu Yun, Yelyn Sim, Younghwan Lim, Dongho Kim, Ji-Sang An, Hyungdoh Lee, Yingge Du, Sung-Yoon Chung
Summary: This paper discusses the electrochemical electrolysis with aqueous electrolyte, focusing on the oxygen evolution reaction at the anode side. It identifies four significant origins affecting the stability of oxide-based OER catalysts and emphasizes the importance of research in this area.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jialin Zhang, Yuan Ji, Huating Liu, Ningyan Cheng, Siqi Guo, Ming Yang, Long Ren, Binghui Ge
Summary: Atomic understanding of chemical reactions enables programmable design and synthesis of desired products. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, combined with first-principle calculations, are used to monitor the carbothermal reduction (CTR) reactions and reveal the migration route of Co atoms during phase transition and the effect of interfacial edge-dislocations/stress-gradient on morphology variation. Controllable synthesis of Co-based nanostructures with desirable phase and structure is achieved, providing insights into CTR reactions and offering a novel strategy for designing functional nanostructures in emerging energy technologies.
Article
Biology
Georg Brenneis
Summary: Through neuroanatomical analysis, the study investigates the visual system of sea spiders and other taxa, finding that the visual system of sea spiders is similar to that of horseshoe crabs, supporting the hypothesis that horseshoe crabs are nested within arachnids, and revealing ancestral traits of this group.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jing Wang, Steven Randolph, Qian Wu, Aurelien Botman, Jenna Schardt, Cedric Bouchet-Marquis, Xiaolin Nan, Chad Rue, Marcus Straw
Summary: A CLEM workflow based on a novel FIB/SEM technology using an OSSM process was proposed, which achieved high resolution and imaging efficiency while improving throughput. By combining with iPALM technique, successful 3D imaging of mitochondria was carried out, demonstrating the advantages of OSSM-SEM in CLEM applications.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mengyu Gao, Yoonjae Park, Jianbo Jin, Peng-Cheng Chen, Hannah Devyldere, Yao Yang, Chengyu Song, Zhenni Lin, Qiuchen Zhao, Martin Siron, Mary C. Scott, David T. Limmer, Peidong Yang
Summary: Halide perovskite is a unique dynamical system with complex structural and chemical processes, but its intrinsic instability makes real-time investigation challenging. However, our research reveals that atomically thin carbon materials can stabilize ultrathin halide perovskite nanostructures and enable atomic-level visualization of their movement. Protected by carbon shells, these structures maintain their integrity under high electron dose rate and exhibit unusual dynamical behaviors. Our work provides a new method to protect beam-sensitive materials and study structure dynamics of nanomaterials.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao-Chin Huang, Kai-Yuan Hsiao, Yu-Han Tseng, Yan-De Chen, Ming-Yen Lu
Summary: In this study, an in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) heating system was used to investigate the morphological changes of cubic Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and Ag-based core-shell structures induced by sublimation, as well as the influence of shell coverage on thermal stability. It was found that large Ag NPs (>50 nm) showed a three-stage sublimation-induced morphological change, while small Ag NPs (<30 nm) showed a uniform sublimation. The sublimation process of core-shell NPs started at stage II, and the thermal stability was enhanced by carbon shell passivation.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Junpeng Xie, Jinliang Li, Wenjie Mai, Guo Hong
Summary: Advanced rechargeable batteries (ARBs) have attracted attention for their green resource, safe operation, and low cost properties. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides high temporal and spatial resolutions for real-time observation, revealing the evolution and mechanisms of electrode materials during charge and discharge processes. This advanced technique can help address the main challenges of ARBs and further promote the design of electrode materials.
Article
Neurosciences
Laurent Formery, Francois Orange, Antoine Formery, Shunsuke Yaguchi, Christopher J. Lowe, Michael Schubert, Jenifer C. Croce
Summary: The study investigated the neural anatomy of early juveniles of three echinoderm classes, revealing common neural structures such as basiepidermal nerve plexus, radial nerve cords, and peripheral nerves. The results supported the existence of two neural units in echinoderms and laid the foundation for more comprehensive comparisons with other animals to address controversies about deuterostome nervous system evolution.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Angelica Miglioli, Laura Canesi, Isa D. L. Gomes, Michael Schubert, Remi Dumollard
Summary: Nuclear Receptors (NRs) are transcription factors specific to metazoans that directly translate signaling molecule information. They play crucial roles in vertebrate and marine invertebrate development. Marine invertebrates are important for understanding NR superfamily evolution and ancestral states of NR-ligand interactions.
Article
Neurosciences
Matteo Bozzo, Thurston C. Lacalli, Valentina Obino, Federico Caicci, Emanuela Marcenaro, Tiziana Bachetti, Lucia Manni, Mario Pestarino, Michael Schubert, Simona Candiani
Summary: The study reveals that amphioxus glial lineages express genes typical of vertebrate astroglia and radial glia, segregate early in development, and form a spatially separate cell proliferation zone. This provides strong evidence for the presence of vertebrate-type glial cells in amphioxus, shedding light on the role of segregated progenitor cell pools in CNS development and offering insights into precursor cell deployment in the chordate nerve cord in an evolutionary context.
Article
Cell Biology
Matteo Bozzo, Simone Costa, Valentina Obino, Tiziana Bachetti, Emanuela Marcenaro, Mario Pestarino, Michael Schubert, Simona Candiani
Summary: The study identified three glycine transporter genes in amphioxus, with two closely related to vertebrate glycine transporters and one belonging to an ancestral clade. These transporters are widely expressed in the nervous system of amphioxus, with differential expression patterns in neurons and glia. Despite genetic divergence, evidence suggests conservation in the role of glycinergic neurotransmission during larval swimming, indicating potential homology in the neural networks controlling rhythmic movement in chordates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alejandro Gil-Galvez, Sandra Jimenez-Gancedo, Alberto Perez-Posada, Martin Franke, Rafael D. Acemel, Che-Yi Lin, Cindy Chou, Yi-Hsien Su, Jr-Kai Yu, Stephanie Bertrand, Michael Schubert, Hector Escriva, Juan J. Tena, Jose Luis Gomez-Skarmeta
Summary: This study suggests that the increased interconnectivity between signaling pathways and gene regulatory networks in vertebrates may have played a critical role in the origins of new cell types and morphological novelties.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Pascal Schmidt, Eva Leman, Ronan Lagadec, Michael Schubert, Sylvie Mazan, Ram Reshef
Summary: This study investigates the role of retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of chordate and vertebrate pronephros formation through a comparative developmental approach. The results show that the conservation of Pax2 and Lim1 expressions in chordate pronephros homologs is present, but the responsiveness to RA and Hox-dependent regulation is a novelty in gnathostomes.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Stephan M. Schulreich, David A. Salamanca-Diaz, Elisabeth Zieger, Andrew D. Calcino, Andreas Wanninger
Summary: The study found that in the invasive freshwater bivalve Dreissena rostriformis, all four genes are expressed during mesoderm formation, with some showing additional, individual sites of expression during ontogeny.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Elisabeth Zieger, Thomas Schwaha, Katharina Burger, Ina Bergheim, Andreas Wanninger, Andrew D. Calcino
Summary: Intercellular lumen formation is crucial for animal development and physiology. The recruitment of aquaporin to cytokinetic bridges influences cavity expansion, and disrupting cytokinetic bridge microtubules impairs cellular osmoregulation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Matteo Bozzo, Claudio Pasquale, Francesco Cuccaro, Sara Ferrando, Angelina Zekiy, Simona Candiani, Andrea Amaroli
Summary: This study evaluated the reliability of photobiomodulation therapy using a novel delivery probe on regenerating amphioxus. The results demonstrated that PBM improved wound healing and tissue regeneration, with daily irradiation showing better outcomes.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Nicolas Serge Matthieu Robert, Fatih Sarigol, Elisabeth Zieger, Oleg Simakov
Summary: This method bridges the gap between micro- and macrosynteny detection, providing detailed information on both synteny conservation and transformation throughout the evolutionary history of animal genomes.
Article
Cell Biology
Laurent Formery, Axel Wakefield, Maeva Gesson, Ludovic Toisoul, Guy Lhomond, Laurent Gilletta, Regis Lasbleiz, Michael Schubert, Jenifer C. C. Croce
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive description of the development of the sea urchin species Paracentrotus lividus, including details on embryonic, larval, and juvenile stages. It is an important resource for researchers in the fields of ecotoxicology, developmental biology, and evolutionary studies, as well as those interested in using marine invertebrates as alternative model systems for biomedical investigations.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Amato, Monica Averna, Diego Guidolin, Cristina Ceccoli, Elena Gatta, Simona Candiani, Marco Pedrazzi, Michela Capraro, Guido Maura, Luigi F. Agnati, Chiara Cervetto, Manuela Marcoli
Summary: The interaction between oxytocin and dopamine through facilitatory D2-OT receptor-receptor interaction is considered to play roles in social or emotional behavior and has potential therapeutic benefits. However, the potential receptor-receptor interaction in astrocytes has been neglected. This study demonstrates the presence of D2-OT receptor heterodimers in striatal astrocytes and their involvement in the control of glutamatergic synapse functioning through modulation of astrocytic glutamate release.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael Schubert, Pierre Germain
Article
Cell Biology
Matteo Bozzo, Deianira Bellitto, Andrea Amaroli, Sara Ferrando, Michael Schubert, Simona Candiani
Summary: POU genes are a conserved family of transcription factors that play key roles in cell type specification and neurogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the role of retinoic acid (RA) signaling in the regulation of POU genes. Using amphioxus as a model, the expression patterns of POU genes were examined during development. It was found that RA signaling regulates the expression of Brn1/2/4 and Pou4 genes in specific tissues, indicating a dual role of RA signaling in providing patterning information and specifying neural cell types.