Article
Biology
Qixin Yang, Yuchuan Miao, Leonard J. Campanello, Matt J. Hourwitz, Bedri Abubaker-Sharif, Abby L. Bull, Peter N. Devreotes, John T. Fourkas, Wolfgang Losert
Summary: Electrotaxis is the directional migration of cells in an electric field, which is both similar to and different from other chemical gradient sensing pathways. This study demonstrates that electric fields guide cell movement by controlling the propagation of waves within cells, primarily through polarization.
Article
Biology
Ashley L. Arthur, Amy Crawford, Anne Houdusse, Margaret A. Titus
Summary: This study reveals that filopodia initiation requires close collaboration between an actin-binding protein, the state of the actin cytoskeleton, and MF myosin activity.
Article
Cell Biology
Wenjing Huang, Tsubasa S. Matsui, Takumi Saito, Masahiro Kuragano, Masayuki Takahashi, Tomohiro Kawahara, Masaaki Sato, Shinji Deguchi
Summary: Cells adapt to cyclic stretch by selectively disassembling actin stress fibers in the stretch direction, primarily through the mechanosensitive behavior of myosin II. Fast cell shortening can enhance the disassembly of actomyosin bundle stress fibers, with myosin regulatory light-chain mutants affecting the rate of disassembly. Additionally, the presence of an active LIM-kinase-1 mutant can induce similar disassembly of stress fibers by deactivating cofilin, suggesting a previously proposed mechanism may be dispensable.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chiara Porro, Antonio Pennella, Maria Antonietta Panaro, Teresa Trotta
Summary: Myosins are a superfamily of actin-based motor proteins that play important roles in various cellular functions, with non-muscle myosin II (NM II) being expressed in neurons and non-neuronal brain cells. In the nervous system, NM II modulates functions such as vesicle transport, phagocytosis, cell migration, and inflammation, and inhibition of NM II could be a potential therapeutic target for CNS diseases. Microglia cells, as the principal regulators of immune processes in the CNS, react to stimuli and produce mediators that contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Gregorio Ragazzini, Jessica Guerzoni, Andrea Mescola, Domenico Di Rosa, Lorenzo Corsi, Andrea Alessandrini
Summary: Mechanobiology has become a key topic in Biological Sciences, requiring interdisciplinary knowledge in biology, physics, and engineering. A cell stretcher device can simulate mechanical stimuli on living cells, providing insights into cell behavior under different conditions. The device's low-cost reproduction potential makes it valuable for project-oriented courses in biology, biotechnology, and medical engineering.
ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cong Liu, Irina Legchenkova, Libao Han, Wenna Ge, Cunjing Lv, Shile Feng, Edward Bormashenko, Yahua Liu
Summary: The research reported experimental studies on the impact of droplets on superhydrophobic circular groove arrays, resulting in directional droplet transport. The influence of factors such as Weber number, ridge height, and deviation distance on lateral offset distance of bouncing drops was further explored. The study confirmed the suggested theoretical analysis, showing the importance of wetting transition and dynamic pressure in directional droplet transport.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nabila Founounou, Reza Farhadifar, Giovanna M. Collu, Ursula Weber, Michael J. Shelley, Marek Mlodzik
Summary: The study highlights the critical role of the Nemo molecule in regulating the transition from solid to viscoelastic tissues in the process of cell migration, emphasizing the importance of junctional remodeling regulation for tissue fluidity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Takumi Saito, Wenjing Huang, Tsubasa S. Matsui, Masahiro Kuragano, Masayuki Takahashi, Shinji Deguchi
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics of nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) in actin stress fibers in nonmuscle cells and proposes factors that determine the number of NMII. Experimental results confirm that the number of NMII lies between the functions of bearing cellular tension under static conditions and promptly disintegrating upon forced cell shortening, allowing cells to adaptively respond to mechanical stress.
BIOMECHANICS AND MODELING IN MECHANOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Debdatta Halder, Ditipriya Mallick, Ananya Chatterjee, Siddhartha S. Jana
Summary: Cell migration is a crucial process in cancer metastasis, immune-cell navigation, stem cell homing, and development, influenced by the diverse migratory mechanisms utilized by cells due to the heterogeneity of tissue environments. The activity and complexity of actomyosin networks play a significant role in cell motility mechanisms. Understanding the regulation and function of nonmuscle myosin IIs is important for designing therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer metastasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yizeng Fan, Yang Gao, Li Nie, Tao Hou, Weichao Dan, Zixi Wang, Tianjie Liu, Yi Wei, Yuzhao Wang, Bo Liu, Taotao Que, Yuzeshi Lei, Jin Zeng, Jian Ma, Wenyi Wei, Lei Li
Summary: Research has shown that LYPLAL1-mediated depalmitoylation of cGAS can enhance its activity, thus improving the efficacy of anti-tumor immune responses.
Article
Biology
Yuuki Hayakawa, Masak Takaine, Kien Xuan Ngo, Taiga Imai, Masafumi D. Yamada, Arash Badami Behjat, Kenichi Umeda, Keiko Hirose, Ayhan Yurtsever, Noriyuki Kodera, Kiyotaka Tokuraku, Osamu Numata, Takeshi Fukuma, Toshio Ando, Kentaro Nakano, Taro Q. P. Uyeda
Summary: Sub-stoichiometric binding of an actin-binding protein can induce structural changes in actin filaments and inhibit their movement, affecting actomyosin interactions and force generation.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
S. Huber, S. Guenther, E. Cambria, M. Leunig, Sj Ferguson
Summary: The study found that physiological stretching can regulate gene expression and play an important role in the homeostasis and regeneration of the acetabular labrum tissue.
EUROPEAN CELLS & MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Joerg Isensee, Marianne van Cann, Patrick Despang, Dioneia Araldi, Katharina Moeller, Jonas Petersen, Achim Schmidtko, Jan Matthes, Jon D. Levine, Tim Hucho
Summary: Depolarization activates protein kinase A type II in nociceptive neurons, leading to sensitization. This process involves calcium influx through Ca(V)1.2 channels, calpains modulation, and phosphorylation of Ca(V)1.2, ultimately resulting in local peripheral hyperalgesia.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shohei Okuda, Mariko Sato, Saho Kato, Shun Nagashima, Ryoko Inatome, Shigeru Yanagi, Toshifumi Fukuda
Summary: This study reveals that the CAMDI gene is degraded and restabilized in migrating neurons in the mouse brain development under the regulation of Cdc20-APC/C system, which is crucial for dilation formation and neuronal migration. These findings suggest that CAMDI plays a role in proper cortical migration through oscillatory regulation by Cdc20-APC/C system.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Physiology
Lu Wang, Pasquale Chitano, Chun Y. Seow
Summary: Smooth muscle, a key component of hollow organs, is constantly influenced by mechanical forces. The evanescence of myosin filaments may play a critical role in smooth muscle's ability to adapt to external forces and maintain optimal function.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Y. Nakashima, M. Kounoura, C. Malasuk, K. Nakakubo, N. Watanabe, S. Iwata, K. Morita, Y. Oki, S. Kuhara, K. Tashiro, Y. Nakanishi
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masatsune Tsujioka, Taro Q. P. Uyeda, Yoshiaki Iwadate, Hitesh Patel, Keitaro Shibata, Tenji Yumoto, Shigenobu Yonemura
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
C. Malasuk, K. Nakakubo, R. Ishimatsu, Y. Nakashima, H. Yoshioka, K. Morita, Y. Oki
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
(2019)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Daisuke Imoto, Nen Saito, Akihiko Nakajima, Gen Honda, Motohiko Ishida, Toyoko Sugita, Sayaka Ishihara, Koko Katagiri, Chika Okimura, Yoshiaki Iwadate, Satoshi Sawai
Summary: This study uses machine learning techniques to extract features, comparing real cell data with outputs of a conceptual model and identifying critical parameters for migratory morphologies. The approach allows systematic and objective comparison of model outputs with real data, providing an important basis for quantitative testing of future mathematical models.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Yuta Nakashima, Mami Akaike, Masaki Kounoura, Keita Hayashi, Kinichi Morita, Yuji Oki, Yoshitaka Nakanishi
Summary: The study found that vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) treatment can increase the adhesion of osteoblastic cells on titanium surfaces, but it can also decrease their activity and differentiation ability, particularly with 18.7 J/cm² VUV irradiation.
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takeru Takagi, Tasuku Ueno, Keisuke Ikawa, Daisuke Asanuma, Yusuke Nomura, Shin-nosuke Uno, Toru Komatsu, Mako Kamiya, Kenjiro Hanaoka, Chika Okimura, Yoshiaki Iwadate, Kenzo Hirose, Tetsuo Nagano, Kaoru Sugimura, Yasuteru Urano
Summary: The discovery of a new actin-binding small molecule presents an important advance in the field, offering the opportunity to design and synthesize new functional molecules. This molecule enables visualization of the actin cytoskeleton and allows for highly specific control of actin filaments in living cells.
Article
Oncology
Yoichi Saito, Yukio Fujiwara, Yusuke Shinchi, Remi Mito, Yuji Miura, Tomoya Yamaguchi, Koei Ikeda, Shinji Urakami, Yuta Nakashima, Takuro Sakagami, Makoto Suzuki, Yasuhiko Tabata, Yoshihiro Komohara
Summary: This study evaluated tissue samples from patients with lung adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma. It found that PD-L1 expression was lower in renal cell carcinoma compared to non-small cell lung cancer, and CD8(+) T-cell infiltration was low in all cancers. The study also identified diverse PD-L1 expression patterns depending on the organ or tissue type.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chika Okimura, Misaki Iwanaga, Tatsunari Sakurai, Tasuku Ueno, Yasuteru Urano, Yoshiaki Iwadate
Summary: This study reveals that leading-edge elongation in collective cell migration is achieved through the insertion of follower cells. Follower cells and adjacent leader cells are connected by actomyosin cables, and the contractile forces along the cables transform follower cells into leaders.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hiroki Toda, Wataru Iwasaki, Nobutomo Morita, Taisei Motomura, Kenshin Takemura, Masaya Nagano, Yoshitaka Nakanishi, Yuta Nakashima
Summary: A thermo-responsive valve was fabricated by plasma-induced graft polymerization, allowing for control of opening and closing based on temperature. Results suggest that this valve can effectively open and close without subsequent loss of performance.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Seitaro Kumamoto, Souichiro Fukuyama, Seiya Nagano, Keiichiro Yasuda, Yusuke Kitamura, Masaaki Iwatsuki, Hideo Baba, Toshihiro Ihara, Yoshitaka Nakanishi, Yuta Nakashima
Summary: This study successfully fabricated metal structures that can dynamically deform using a combination of photolithography and electroforming technology. The structures have a high aspect ratio and no defects, making them suitable for applications in environmental science, agriculture, and medicine.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Seitaro Kumamoto, Kenshiro Nakatake, Souichiro Fukuyama, Keiichiro Yasuda, Yusuke Kitamura, Masaaki Iwatsuki, Hideo Baba, Toshihiro Ihara, Yoshitaka Nakanishi, Yuta Nakashima
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Chika Okimura, Yuichi Sakumura, Katsuya Shimabukuro, Yoshiaki Iwadate