Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zeynab Mousavikhamene, Daniel J. Sykora, Milan Mrksich, Neda Bagheri
Summary: This research successfully introduced an algorithm that could distinguish cancer from non-cancer cells in high-resolution single cell images by exploiting structural differences in the cytoskeleton. Overcoming the barrier of insufficient data in machine learning methodologies, the study identified the most discriminatory features to predict cell type accurately with as few as 100 cells per line. Furthermore, normalizing cell shape improved discrimination of cell lines with difficult-to-distinguish phenotypes, demonstrating the generalizability of the algorithm across various tissue origins.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julea Vlassakis, Louise L. Hansen, Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria, Yun Zhou, C. Kimberly Tsui, Andrew Dillin, Haiyan Huang, Amy E. Herr
Summary: This research introduces a novel method to simultaneously detect protein complexes in stressed cell populations, revealing potential cellular responses to specific treatments. The study also highlights the impact of non-chemical stress on cellular heterogeneity of F-actin. The assay developed in this work overcomes selectivity limitations to biochemically quantify single-cell protein complexes perturbed with diverse stimuli.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Mario Romani, Johan Auwerx
Summary: The use of phalloidin-based dyes to stain actin filaments in C. elegans research is important, but existing protocols typically involve fixation steps with harmful compounds, preparation of specific buffers, and large numbers of worms. By implementing a safer and more flexible experimental procedure that bypasses fixation steps, uses conventional buffers, and requires a limited number of worms, a more efficient and faster method has been developed for staining actin filaments and visualizing muscle fibers in C. elegans.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeynab Alborzi, Maria-Dolors Piulachs
Summary: The transcription factor Ftz-f1 plays multiple roles in insect development, including the regulation of steroidogenic enzymes in insect ovaries. Injecting dsftz-f1 into female Blattella germanica at different time points prevented oviposition and resulted in changes in gene expression related to steroidogenesis. These findings suggest that Ftz-f1 regulates the expression of steroidogenic genes in B. germanica, with phm possibly being a key target.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Qilin Wang, Xingyan Lin, Juanjuan Wang
Summary: This study developed an optimized method for labeling and analyzing rabbit retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which improved upon conventional techniques. The method was found to be reliable and accurate for both normal and ONI animals, offering a potential tool for longitudinal observation of RGCs in the same eyes.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seung-Yeon Joe, Seul-Gi Yang, Jae-Ho Lee, Hyo-Jin Park, Deog-Bon Koo
Summary: This study investigated the effects of paclitaxel, a microtubule stabilizer, on the developmental potential of pig blastocysts. The findings suggest that the stabilization of F-actin cytoskeleton through P38 MAPK activation can improve the developmental competence of pig blastocysts. However, high concentrations of paclitaxel disrupt blastocyst development by causing F-actin aggregation, cytokinesis defects, and over-expression of p-P38 MAPK protein.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takahiro Tsuji, Tomoya Murase, Yoshiyuki Konishi, Masaru Inatani
Summary: Glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) causes blindness by damaging retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Mitochondria play a crucial role in maintaining the health of RGCs and their axons. Research has shown that optic nerve crush (ONC) induces mitochondrial fission without disrupting their distribution in unmyelinated axons, potentially preventing axonal degeneration and apoptosis. The visualization system of axonal mitochondria in RGCs may be useful in studying GON and detecting its progression in animal and human studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Minqi Liang, Yizhe Li, Kexin Zhang, Yujia Zhu, Jingyao Liang, Minjie Liu, Shuqing Zhang, Delin Chen, Hao Liang, Linyue Liang, Shu An, Xun Zhu, Zhenjian He
Summary: In this study, we found that the host factor DUSP5 was upregulated after dengue virus infection and demonstrated its role in inhibiting viral replication. DUSP5 restricts viral entry into host cells by negatively regulating the ERK-MLCK-Myosin IIB signaling axis and suppressing F-actin rearrangement. Furthermore, DUSP5 exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral effects against dengue and Zika viruses.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan-Fang Zhang, Shu-Tong Chen, Yun Gao, Long Yang, Hua Yu
Summary: Nicotiana alata, widely used in landscaping, has both ornamental and commercial/medical value. The global potential habitat and environmental factors affecting its distribution are not well understood. In this study, the MaxEnt model was used to predict the global suitable habitats of N. alata under current and future climate conditions. The results identified key bioclimatic variables and revealed the distribution patterns of N. alata. The findings provide valuable information for the reasonable planting of N. alata.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Tanushree Kundu, Sooraj Siva Das, Lisas K. Sewatkar, Divya S. Kumar, Dhriti Nagar, Aurnab Ghose
Summary: The study found that Fmn2 regulates the formation of axonal collateral protrusions in chick and zebrafish, localizing to the protrusion-initiating axonal F-actin patches and regulating their lifetime and size. The F-actin nucleation activity of Fmn2 is necessary for patch stability but not for patch formation. Fmn2 insulates the F-actin patches from disassembly by ADF, promoting long-lived, larger patches that can initiate axonal protrusions.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liyuan Xu, Lingyan Cao, Jiejie Li, Christopher J. Staiger
Summary: By combining genetic and small molecule inhibitor approaches, this study reveals the roles of two classes of actin filament nucleator in maintaining the homeostatic cortical cytoskeleton array in Arabidopsis epidermal cells. The findings suggest that multiple actin nucleation mechanisms cooperate to generate and maintain the unique cytoskeletal arrays within a common cytoplasm.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Biljana Ermanoska, Bob Asselbergh, Laura Morant, Maria-Luise Petrovic-Erfurth, Seyyedmohsen Hosseinibarkooie, Ricardo Leitao-Goncalves, Leonardo Almeida-Souza, Sven Bervoets, Litao Sun, LaTasha Lee, Derek Atkinson, Akram Khanghahi, Ivaylo Tournev, Patrick Callaerts, Patrik Verstreken, Xiang-Lei Yang, Brunhilde Wirth, Avital A. Rodal, Vincent Timmerman, Bruce L. Goode, Tanja A. Godenschwege, Albena Jordanova
Summary: Mutations in tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and other tRNA ligases cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathy, with dysregulation of F-actin organization playing a role. A gain-of-function mechanism is implicated in the pathogenicity. Genetic modulation of F-actin improves neuronal features in flies expressing the disease-causing mutations. This study reveals the evolutionary-conserved role of YARS1 as an F-actin organizer and its link to tRNA-synthetase-induced neurodegeneration.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael P. Vu, Catherine Cheng
Summary: The lens in the eye focuses light onto the retina, and its specialized fiber cells have complex interdigitations and are tightly opposed to neighboring cells. This protocol demonstrates a method to preserve and immunostain mouse lens fiber cells, allowing detailed understanding of protein localization. The representative data shows staining of different types of fiber cells across all regions of the lens, and this method can potentially be applied on fiber cells from lenses of other species.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryan K. Hylton, Jessica E. Heebner, Michael A. Grillo, Matthew T. Swulius
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate that filopodial actin filaments switch between bundles of fascin-crosslinked actin and cofilin-decorated filaments. The authors also observe that cofilactin is associated with various dynamic events within filopodia. Furthermore, the hyper-twisting of actin due to cofilin binding leads to a rearrangement of filament packing, which excludes fascin from the base of filopodia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Yolla German, Loan Vulliard, Anton Kamnev, Laurene Pfajfer, Jakob Huemer, Anna-Katharina Mautner, Aude Rubio, Artem Kalinichenko, Kaan Boztug, Audrey Ferrand, Joerg Menche, Loic Dupre
Summary: The immunological synapse decodes stimulatory signals into adapted lymphocyte responses, and high-content imaging is used to analyze T and NK cells. The study demonstrates how actin cytoskeleton remodeling shapes synapse architecture and affects lytic granule positioning. Analysis of immunodeficient individuals' CD8(+) T cells reveals the roles of ARPC1B and WASP in synapse assembly.
Article
Ophthalmology
He-Yan Li, Li Dong, Xu-Han Shi, Rui-Heng Zhang, Wen-Da Zhou, Hao-Tian Wu, Chu-Yao Yu, Yi-Tong Li, Yi-Fan Li, Jost B. Jonas, Wen-Bin Wei, Yue-Ming Liu
Summary: This study aimed to examine the intraocular tolerability of cetuximab when applied intravitreally, and its effect on axial elongation. The results showed that intravitreal injections of cetuximab could reduce axial elongation in a dose-dependent and number of treatment-dependent manner, without causing intraocular toxic effects.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Ophthalmology
James D. Cole, John A. McDaniel, Joelle Nilak, Ashley Ban, Carlos Rodriguez, Zuhaad Hameed, Marta Grannonico, Peter A. Netland, Hu Yang, Ignacio Provencio, Xiaorong Liu
Summary: Aniridia is a panocular condition characterized by the loss of iris, caused mainly by mutations in the PAX6 gene. This study assessed the effects of Pax6-haploinsufficiency on retinal morphology and vision in Pax6Sey mice. The results showed elevated intraocular pressure and declining visual acuity in Pax6Sey mice, along with local retinal damage and a possible neuroinflammatory response.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Ophthalmology
Subao Jiang, Ning Xia, Francesco Buonfiglio, Elsa W. Boehm, Qi Tang, Norbert Pfeiffer, Dominik Olinger, Huige Li, Adrian Gericke
Summary: This study found that a high-fat diet induces endothelial dysfunction in the ophthalmic artery, leading to impaired vascular function in the eye. The high-fat diet triggers oxidative stress and involves RAGE and NOX2.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2024)
Review
Ophthalmology
Mala Upadhyay, Vera L. Bonilha
Summary: The sodium iodate (NaIO3) model is a valuable tool in studying dry AMD and evaluating the retinal structure. Through extensive research, it has been found that the death of RPE cells caused by NaIO3 injection is closely related to vision loss in patients with dry AMD. Therefore, studying NaIO3 can provide insights into the mechanisms of RPE and photoreceptor cell death and contribute to understanding RPE degeneration in AMD.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Ophthalmology
Vicki Chrysostomou, Katharina C. Bell, Sze Woei Ng, Samyuktha Suresh, Gayathri Karthik, Marion Millet, Yingying Chung, Jonathan G. Crowston
Summary: We present a new experimental model for inducing retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction and degeneration in mice. This model allows for the reliable induction of RGC dysfunction and loss, with the resilience of the optic nerve being dependent on the age of the animal. The time-defined nature of the functional and structural changes observed in this model will facilitate the study of glial responses and the evaluation of neuroprotective treatments after intraocular pressure (IOP) injury.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2024)
