Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
D. Wenzel, A. Voigt
Summary: Using multiphase field models, the study simulates structural arrangements and collective flows in cell monolayers and epithelia tissues, investigating the influence of microscopic details on active forces. By comparing different approaches, the importance of microscopic details in predictive simulations of patterns and correlations in cell colonies is highlighted.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kazuo Katoh
Summary: The study revealed that Src protein tyrosine kinases play crucial roles in cell polarity formation and elongation, with the expression and regulation of Src being essential for polarity formation during cell elongation.
Review
Cell Biology
Anne Aalto, Adan Olguin-Olguin, Erez Raz
Summary: This article discusses the migration mechanism of zebrafish primordial germ cells during embryonic development, which involves a bleb-driven amoeboid migration mode controlled by chemical and physical cues.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Shinuo Weng, Robert J. Huebner, John B. Wallingford
Summary: Convergent extension is an evolutionarily conserved cell movement that elongates organ systems. Studies have shown that cell crawling and junction contraction are two distinct cellular mechanisms, and integrating these two modes via mechano-reciprocity can enhance the effectiveness of CE.
Article
Oncology
Courtney A. Dreyer, Kacey VanderVorst, Dean Natwick, George Bell, Prachi Sood, Maria Hernandez, James M. Angelastro, Sean R. Collins, Kermit L. Carraway III
Summary: In this study, we found that the non-canonical Wnt planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) signaling pathway components Vangl1 and Fzd7 promote the malignancy of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by enhancing cellular proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. They also activate Rho GTPases to regulate cytoskeletal rearrangements and actin dynamics in migrating GBM cells. We discovered a novel Vangl1/Fzd7 complex at the leading edge of migratory GBM cells, which is critical for recruiting downstream effectors to promote tumor progression. Depletion of FZD7 resulted in suppressed tumor growth, delayed latency, and improved overall survival in a mouse xenograft model, suggesting that targeting the Wnt/PCP pathway could be a potential therapeutic strategy for GBM patients.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dennis W. Zhou, Marc A. Fernandez-Yaguee, Elijah N. Holland, Andres F. Garcia, Nicolas S. Castro, Eric B. O'Neill, Jeroen Eyckmans, Christopher S. Chen, Jianping Fu, David D. Schlaepfer, Andres J. Garcia
Summary: The coupling of traction force and FAK signaling coordinates cell migration and tissue-scale forces to promote microtissue repair. This process relies on actomyosin contractility, talin-FAK binding, and vinculin to convert forces into FAK signaling events regulating cell migration and tissue repair.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chikahiro Imashiro, Byungjun Kang, Yunam Lee, Youn-Hoo Hwang, Seonghun Im, Dae-Eun Kim, Kenjiro Takemura, Hyungsuk Lee
Summary: Collective cell migration is critical in various physiological and pathological processes, and this study investigated the effect of propagating acoustic waves on such migration behavior. The research found that cell migration was enhanced at a critical wave intensity but suppressed at higher intensities. The observed increased migration was potentially due to cell orientation alignment and thicker actin bundles indicative of higher traction force in response to the acoustic stimulation.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fioranna Renda, Alexey Khodjakov
Summary: A new study discovers the "fibrous corona" as an independent site for microtubule nucleation and reveals the molecular cascade responsible for this process.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amalia Hadjitheodorou, George R. R. Bell, Felix Ellett, Shashank Shastry, Daniel Irimia, Sean R. Collins, Julie A. Theriot
Summary: Neutrophils migrate with stable front-rear polarization, and myosin II plays a role in promoting this stability by suppressing receptor inputs at the cell rear. Subcellular optogenetic receptor activation can reorient weakly polarized cells but is refractory to strongly polarized cells, indicating that the cell rear's sensitivity to receptor input is key for directional reversal. Additionally, the RhoA/ROCK/myosin II pathway limits the ability of receptor inputs to signal to Cdc42 in reprogramming migrating neutrophils.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jinqi Ren, Dong Li, Juyuan Liu, Hao Liu, Xiumin Yan, Xueliang Zhu, Wei Feng
Summary: This study reveals the molecular mechanism of how calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated proteins (Camsaps) bind to WD40-repeat 47 (Wdr47) to generate axonemal central-pair microtubules (CP-MTs) in mammalian multicilia. The researchers determine the structures of Wdr47 and Camsap3 in complex and identify the key interaction sites. Disrupting this interaction impairs the formation of CP-MTs and ciliary beat in ependymal cells. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of multicilia beating.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amita Arora, Annukka M. Kivela, Ling Wang, Rimante Minkeviciene, Juuso H. Taskinen, Birong Zhang, Annika Koponen, Jing Sun, Michiko Shirane, You Zhou, Pirta Hotulainen, Camilla Raiborg, Vesa M. Olkkonen
Summary: During angiogenesis, Protrudin plays a key role in regulating angiogenic tube formation and promoting endothelial cell migration through its effects on FAK activation.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Sarthak Gupta, Alison E. Patteson, J. M. Schwarz
Summary: The ability of cells to move through small spaces relies on the mechanical properties of the cytoskeleton and nuclear deformability, with recent studies showing the importance of vimentin in confined cell motility. A minimal model incorporating effects of actin, vimentin, and microtubules reveals that the absence of vimentin leads to increased cell speed, nuclear deformation, and altered nuclear positioning. This suggests a new polarity mechanism linking cell directional motion with cytoskeletal strength and nuclear positioning, impacting cell autonomy and response to external cues.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco J. Kuhn, Henriette Macmillan, Lorenzo Tala, Yuki Inclan, Ramiro Patino, Xavier Pierrat, Zainebe Al-Mayyah, Joanne N. Engel, Alexandre Persat
Summary: The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa adapts to solid surfaces to enhance virulence and infect its host. Type IV pili (T4P), long and thin filaments that power surface-specific twitching motility, allow single cells to sense surfaces and control their direction of movement. T4P distribution is polarized to the sensing pole by the chemotaxis-like Chp system via a local positive feedback loop.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hyunchul Ryu, Haeryung Lee, Jiyeon Lee, Hyuna Noh, Miram Shin, Vijay Kumar, Sejeong Hong, Jaebong Kim, Soochul Park
Summary: The interaction between ANKS1A and FOP is crucial for transforming subdistal appendages from an unpolarized structure to a polarized structure with a basal foot, which affects the coordinated beating of cilia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chao Xie, Yuxiang Jiang, Zhiwen Zhu, Shanjin Huang, Wei Li, Guangshuo Ou
Summary: The evolutionarily conserved coronin family protein POD-1 debranches Arp2/3-nucleated actin filaments in migrating neuroblasts and asymmetrically dividing embryos, contributing to cell polarity and migration. Fluorescence live imaging analysis revealed POD-1 colocalization with Arp2/3 at the leading edge of neuroblasts, indicating their synergistic role in organizing actin networks and cell polarity. Conditional mutations of POD-1 disrupted actin assembly, cell polarity, and migration, highlighting the importance of F-actin debranching in regulating these cellular processes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kyuho Jeong, James M. Murphy, Yelitza A. R. Rodriguez, Jun-Sub Kim, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James M. Murphy, Kyuho Jeong, Yelitza A. R. Rodriguez, Jung-Hyun Kim, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James M. Murphy, Kyuho Jeong, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James M. Murphy, Yelitza A. R. Rodriguez, Kyuho Jeong, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lana Vukadin, Jung-Hyun Kim, Eun Young Park, Joshua K. Stone, Nathan Ungerleider, Melody C. Baddoo, Hyun Kyung Kong, Alexander Richard, Johnny Tran, Hannah Giannini, Erik K. Flemington, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim, Eun-Young Erin Ahn
Summary: This study reveals that the chromosome 21-encoded protein SON inhibits megakaryocytic differentiation by suppressing RUNX1 and megakaryocytic gene expression. Overexpression of SON in AMKL cells leads to impaired differentiation, while knockdown of SON induces the onset of megakaryocytic differentiation.
CANCER GENE THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
James M. Murphy, Kyuho Jeong, Donna L. Cioffi, Pamela Moore Campbell, Hanjoong Jo, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
Summary: The study reveals that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a crucial role in regulating sustained NF-kappa B activation in endothelial cells (ECs) stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Inhibition of FAK disrupts the formation of TNF-alpha receptor complex-I (TNFRC-I) and diminishes recruitment of downstream proteins, leading to reduced NF-kappa B activity. Targeting FAK may hold promise for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kyuho Jeong, James M. Murphy, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
Summary: This study shows that FAK regulates the expression of CDK inhibitors p27 and p21 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by reducing the stability of Skp2. FAK interacts with Skp2 and Fzr1 in the nucleus, promoting their ubiquitination and degradation. Inhibition of FAK leads to reduced Skp2 expression and elevated levels of p27 and p21, resulting in decreased intimal hyperplasia.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra C. Finney, Matthew L. Scott, Kaylea A. Reeves, Dongdong Wang, Mabruka Alfaidi, Jake C. Schwartz, Connor M. Chitmon, Christina H. Acosta, James M. Murphy, J. Steven Alexander, Christopher B. Pattillo, Ssang-Taek Lim, A. Wayne Orr
Summary: The study reveals that EphA2 plays a crucial role in regulating fibrillar adhesion elongation and its deficiency affects fibronectin deposition by influencing cell contractility and RhoA signaling.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jung-Hyun Kim, Kyuho Jeong, Jianfeng Li, James M. Murphy, Lana Vukadin, Joshua K. Stone, Alexander Richard, Johnny Tran, G. Yancey Gillespie, Erik K. Flemington, Robert W. Sobol, Ssang-Teak Steve Lim, Eun-Young Erin Ahn
Summary: SON is identified as a master regulator in glioblastoma, activating oncogenic splicing mediated by PTBP1 and suppressing non-oncogenic neuronal splicing mediated by RBFOX2. Overexpression of SON in GBM patients leads to failure in intron removal from PTBP1 transcript, resulting in downregulation of PTBP1 and inhibition of its downstream oncogenic splicing.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kyuho Jeong, James M. Murphy, Jung-Hyun Kim, Pamela Moore Campbell, Hyeonsoo Park, Yelitza Rodriguez, Chungsik Choi, Jun-Sub Kim, Sangwon Park, Hyun Joon Kim, Jonathan G. Scammell, David S. Weber, Richard E. Honkanen, David D. Schlaepfer, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
Summary: This study identified FAK activation as a regulator of SMC dedifferentiation by stabilizing DNMT3A. Inhibition of FAK catalytic activity can suppress DNMT3A expression in injured vessels, maintaining SMC differentiation. The findings suggest that FAK inhibitors may be a potential treatment option to block SMC phenotypic switching during vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chung-Sik Choi, Meredith Gwin, Sarah Voth, Claire Kolb, Chun Zhou, Amy R. Nelson, Althea DeWeever, Anna Koloteva, Naga S. Annamdevula, James M. Murphy, Brant M. Wagener, Jean-Francois Pittet, Ssang-Taek S. Lim, Ron Balczon, Troy Stevens, Mike T. Lin
Summary: Patients recovering from nosocomial pneumonia may experience long-term cognitive impairment similar to that seen in Alzheimer's disease. Research has found that lung endothelial cells express various tau isoforms, with some capable of inducing neuronal tau aggregation. Infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa leads to the release of cytotoxic tau from lung endothelial cells, which can propagate a neuronal tauopathy.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mike T. Lin, Chung-Sik Choi, Meredith Gwin, Sarah Voth, Claire Kolb, Chun Zhou, Amy R. Nelson, Althea Deweever, Anna Koloteva, Naga S. Annamdevula, James M. Murphy, Brant M. Wagener, Jean-Francois Pittet, Ssang-Taek S. Lim, Ron T. Balczon, Troy T. Stevens
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James M. Murphy, Kyuho Jeong, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
Summary: This study reveals that FAK plays a crucial role in regulating cell cycle progression potentially through the CDK4/6 pathway. Inhibition of FAK leads to increased nuclear localization and G1 arrest in melanoma cells. Mechanistically, nuclear FAK interacts with CDK4/6 and promotes their degradation through recruitment of CDH1. In vivo, pharmacological FAK inhibition reduces tumor size and increases nuclear FAK localization while decreasing CDK4/6 expression.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
James M. Murphy, Kyuho Jeong, Duyen Thi Kieu Tran, Donna L. Cioffi, Pamela Moore Campbell, Jin H. Kim, Hanjoong Jo, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
Summary: Hyperlipidemia increases FAK activity and NF-icB activation in endothelial cells, leading to vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis progression. Inhibiting FAK activity can reduce vascular inflammation and atherosclerotic lesions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jun-Sub Kim, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
Summary: This study investigated the changes in cell signaling mechanisms induced by different wavelengths and intensities of LED in skin cells. The results showed that red LED light had a mitogenic effect through low levels of ROS-FAK-ERK, while green and blue LED lights had cytotoxic effects through high levels of ROS and apoptosis signaling pathways.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)