Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yasuhide Kuwabara, Allen J. York, Suh-Chin Lin, Michelle A. Sargent, Kelly M. Grimes, James P. Pirruccello, Jeffery D. Molkentin
Summary: We identified a variant in the FLII gene that is associated with cardiac remodeling in heart disease. Further studies showed that Flii protein binds to sarcomeric actin thin filament and affects its length. Deletion of Flii or introduction of the R1245H amino acid substitution in mice resulted in cardiomyopathy due to shortening of actin thin filaments. The FLII variant increases the risk of cardiomyopathy by altering sarcomere structure and contractile dynamics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ajuan Song, Sijia Zhao, Yijun Cao, Chao Li
Summary: This study investigates the effect of oscillatory air flow on bubble size in a porous sparger. The results show that hydrophilic plates significantly reduce bubble size, while hydrophobic plates have no impact. The influence of oscillatory air flow on bubble size decreases with increasing chamber volume.
Article
Biology
Aynur Kaya-Copur, Fabio Marchiano, Marco Y. Hein, Daniel Alpern, Julie Russeil, Nuno Miguel Luis, Matthias Mann, Bart Deplancke, Bianca H. Habermann, Frank Schnorrer
Summary: Research has shown that the regulated activity of core members of the Hippo pathway is necessary for muscle growth, with Dlg5 and Slmap identified as regulators of the STRIPAK phosphatase to enable post-mitotic muscle growth. This pathway controls the timing and levels of sarcomeric gene expression during development, potentially contributing to muscle or cardiomyocyte growth in humans.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
M. Bonati, L. D. Wittwer, S. Aland, E. Fischer-Friedrich
Summary: The actin cortex of an animal cell plays a crucial role in cell division and shape regulation. Mechanosensitivity of cross-linker molecules enhances pattern diversity and enables self-organized formation of contractile rings. Concentration-dependent shear viscosities stabilize ring-like patterns and active surface constriction.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yoshiya Matsukawa, Kazuki Dewa, Koki Era, Takayuki Aoki, Hideyuki Aoki
Summary: The coalescence behavior of soot and carbon black, as well as its rate, are discussed in this paper. The rate of coalescence is obtained by measuring the decrease in mobility diameter using a tandem differential mobility analyzer. It is found that the ease of coalescence varies with particle size, and the mechanism may differ depending on temperature. However, a coalescence kinetics model based on crystallinity cannot accurately represent the experimental results.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Geological
Liwang Liu, Haibo Li, Xiaofeng Li
Summary: The mechanical properties and failure behavior of rocks with flaws or discontinuities have been extensively studied in the field of rock mechanics. This paper provides a systematic review of experimental results on pre-cracked rocks under quasi-static compression. The influence of flaw geometries, filling conditions, and confining pressure on the mechanical characteristics of rocks is discussed. The cracking process is evaluated in terms of crack initiation, coalescence, and failure patterns.
JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Raunaq Hasib, Vikky Anand, Vijay M. Naik, Vinay A. Juvekar, Rochish M. Thaokar
Summary: This study proposes a method to enhance the separation efficiency of electrocoalescence in crude oil-brine emulsion by modulating the AC electric field. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated through experiments and analysis, with the design and optimization of electrical waveform. Modulation of the electric field facilitates droplet chaining and effective coalescence during different voltage periods.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lindsey A. Lee, Samantha K. Barrick, Artur Meller, Jonathan Walklate, Jeffrey M. Lotthammer, Jian Wei Tay, W. Tom Stump, Gregory Bowman, Michael A. Geeves, Michael J. Greenberg, Leslie A. Leinwand
Summary: MYH7b is a member of the sarcomeric myosin family, and its expression differs between mammals and reptiles. Although the sequence identity of MYH7b is high across species, the motor activity of python MYH7b is slower than human MYH7b, suggesting functional divergence.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Shoichiro Ono, Mario Lewis, Kanako Ono
Summary: This study demonstrates the mutual dependence of tropomodulin and tropomyosin in sarcomere assembly and regulation of actin filaments in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
J. Michael Henderson, Nina Ljubojevic, Sevan Belian, Thibault Chaze, Daryl Castaneda, Aude Battistella, Quentin Giai Gianetto, Mariette Matondo, Stephanie Descroix, Patricia Bassereau, Chiara Zurzolo
Summary: Tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) are specialized actin-based protrusions that bridge distant cells to facilitate direct intercellular communication and cargo transfer in both physiological and pathological contexts. Linear actin filament elongation induced by Eps8 and IRSp53 is shown to promote functional and stable TNT formation. A micropatterning approach shows that TNTs originate via actin polymerization rather than cell dislodgement and exceed the length of conventional filopodia. Inhibition of Arp2/3 activity promotes functional TNT formation due to enhanced actin filament polymerization and elongation, suggesting a shift from branched to linear actin. An interaction between Eps8 and the I-BAR domain protein IRSp53 promotes formation of functional TNTs with an increased lifetime. Arp2/3 inhibition leads to reduction of Eps8 interactions with proteins facilitating actin filament depolymerization and turnover. Inhibition of branched actin networks reveals the role of linear actin filament polymerization in the formation of functional tunnelling nanotubes.
Article
Physics, Nuclear
Jan Rais, Hendrik van Hees, Carsten Greiner
Summary: This study focuses on the temporal formation of quantum-mechanical bound states within a one-dimensional attractive square-well potential. By solving the Schrodinger equation and studying an external time-dependent potential, it explores the effects of different Gaussian potentials, subsequent pulses, and random noisy potentials on the bound states. The main goal is to analyze the timescales for state occupation and depopulation, as well as the potential connection between the uncertainty relation for energy and time and the transition time between different energy eigenstates.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qiang Chen, Yaqing Chen, Meng Ju, Xuan Shi, Peng Wang, Hong Chen, Hongkuan Yuan
Summary: The study found that depositing magnetic Sm-13 clusters on a specific template can form a cluster superlattice with high magnetism, which can be used for magnetic storage.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Minhyeok Chang, O-Chul Lee, Gayun Bu, Jaeho Oh, Na-Oh Yunn, Sung Ho Ryu, Hyung-Bae Kwon, Anatoly B. Kolomeisky, Sang-Hee Shim, Junsang Doh, Jae-Hyung Jeon, Jong-Bong Lee
Summary: The study discovered that membrane nanotubes are formed from double filopodial bridges through physical contact and helical deformation. The transition of a double filopodial bridge to a closed-end membrane nanotube is likely triggered by the disruption of adhesion between two filopodia due to accumulated mechanical energy in the twisted double filopodial bridge.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dongwei Zhang, Jian Guan, Chao Shen, Songzhen Tang, Junjie Zhou
Summary: In this work, molecular dynamics simulation was used to study the formation and development mechanisms of near-surface nanobubbles and analyze the effects of wettability on their dynamic behaviors. The results showed the presence of nanobubbles and a gas-enriched layer in the system. The formation of nanobubbles can be divided into two stages, namely, the initial stage and steady stage. Wettability was found to have a significant impact on the formation of nanobubbles. During the coalescence process, vapor molecules from small bubbles actively moved into larger ones, leading to continuous changes in the shape of the coalesced bubbles. Hydrophobic walls were found to be more favorable for gaseous molecules, making it easier to form surface nanobubbles. This work provides theoretical guidance for the practical application of near-surface nanobubbles.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Cosimo Brondi, Ernesto Di Maio, Luigi Bertucelli, Vanni Parenti, Thomas Mosciatti
Summary: The influence of air bubbles inclusion on the foaming of water blown and water-pentane blown rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams is dependent on whether air bubbles are included during the mixing process, which affects the evolution of foam morphology.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Harikrishnan Rajendran, Amir Haluts, Nir S. Gov, Ofer Feinerman
Summary: Social groups often need to overcome differences in individual interests and knowledge to reach consensus decisions. In the case of emigrating ant colonies, cohesive emigration is achieved only by intermediate-sized colonies, and individuals are willing to concede their potential benefit to promote social consensus.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Anton Solovev, Benjamin M. Friedrich
Summary: This study investigates the phenomenon of metachronal synchronization in cilia systems through a multi-scale model and experimental data, and predicts different wave modes. The study finds that global order does not exist in infinite systems, but synchronization transitions do exist in finite systems and are related to frequency disorder.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Correction
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Raj Kumar Sadhu, Samo Penic, Ales Iglic, Nir S. Gov
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Uwe Topfer, Karla Yanin Guerra Santillan, Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich, Christian Dahmann
Summary: This study systematically analyzed the molecular composition and mechanical properties of the basement membrane underlying the follicle epithelium in Drosophila egg chambers. The results showed that Collagen IV played a major role in the stiffness of the basement membrane, while Perlecan and Collagen IV contributed greatly to the elongation and resistance against osmotic stress of the egg chambers.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Andrea Auconi, Maja Novak, Benjamin M. Friedrich
Summary: Bayesian chemotaxis is an information-based target search problem inspired by biological chemotaxis. In this study, we extend a previous point-like agent model to a circle-shaped agent model. We identify gradient sensing and a Laplacian correction to concentration sensing as the dominant factors affecting the expected entropy variation. Numerical results show that gradient sensing is the most relevant factor in breaking the symmetry of likelihood distributions generated by concentration sensing.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dan Deviri, Samuel A. Safran
Summary: The volume of the cell nucleus is not solely determined by the size of the genome and chromatin compaction, but also by the osmotic pressure of localized proteins and RNA molecules. A physical model based on this localized protein pressure predicts a constant ratio between cell and nuclear volumes, which is robust to various manipulations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Saroj Kumar Nandi, Daniel Osterle, Meta Heidenreich, Emmanuel D. Levy, Samuel A. Safran
Summary: Biomolecular self-assembly can spatially segregate proteins with a limited number of binding sites into condensates that coexist with a dilute phase. By comparing experimental phase diagrams to model predictions, we find that the extent of phase separation exponentially increases with binding site affinity and valency. Valency alone determines the symmetry of the phase diagram.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Adel Al Jord, Gaelle Letort, Soline Chanet, Feng-Ching Tsai, Christophe Antoniewski, Adrien Eichmuller, Christelle Da Silva, Jean-Rene Huynh, Nir S. Gov, Raphael Voituriez, Marie-Emilie Terret, Marie-Helene Verlhac
Summary: Cells can regulate the function of nuclear condensates through the use of cytoplasmic forces generated by cytoskeletal motors. This finding has implications for understanding and studying diseases associated with nuclear condensates.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Rituparno Mandal, Saroj Kumar Nandi, Chandan Dasgupta, Peter Sollich, Nir S. Gov
Summary: This study simulated the behavior of active glass and found that the activity parameters have an impact on the relaxation time of the structural arrangement. In the case of high activity, the extended model predicts qualitative changes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Ram M. Adar, Amit Singh Vishen, Jean-Francois Joanny, Pierre Sens, Samuel A. Safran
Summary: The volume of adhered cells decreases during spreading due to a modulation of ion transport rates. Swollen cells are more susceptible to volume loss when tension increases. This explains the discrepancies between recent experiments on adhered cells, where both the magnitude of volume change and its dynamics varied substantially. The roles of cell swelling and surface tension in cellular volume regulation and their microscopic origins are discussed.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Raj Kumar Sadhu, Sarah R. Barger, Samo Penic, Ales Iglic, Mira Krendel, Nils C. Gauthier, Nir S. Gov
Summary: Phagocytosis is the process of cells engulfing large particles, and the presence of curved proteins and the recruitment of cytoskeletal forces can enhance this process. Our model provides a mechanism for the self-organization of the actin cytoskeleton at the phagocytic cup, leading to faster engulfment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Apratim Mukherjee, Jonathan Emanuel Ron, Hooi Ting Hu, Tamako Nishimura, Kyoko Hanawa-Suetsugu, Bahareh Behkam, Yuko Mimori-Kiyosue, Nir Shachna Gov, Shiro Suetsugu, Amrinder Singh Nain
Summary: This study investigates the role of IRSp53 as a regulator of membrane curvature during cell migration on single, suspended 1D fibers. IRSp53 depletion reduces actin stress fibers, protrusive activity, and contractility, leading to uncoupling of the nucleus from cellular movements. The findings demonstrate the unique role of IRSp53 in controlling cell migration in 3D.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Gaurav Bajpai, Samuel Safran
Summary: Chromosomes in animal cells are arranged in distinct territories within the nucleus, but recent experiments have shown that these territories overlap, indicating partial mixing during interphase. Knocking down of condensin II proteins during interphase increases chromosome mixing, demonstrating control of the mixing process. This study uses a polymer simulation to quantify the dynamics of chromosome mixing and introduces a chromosome mixing index to quantify the mixing of distinct chromosomes in the nucleus.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Daria Amiad Pavlov, C. P. Unnikannan, Dana Lorber, Gaurav Bajpai, Tsviya Olender, Elizabeth Stoops, Adriana Reuveny, Samuel Safran, Talila Volk
Summary: The LINC complex is essential for minimizing chromatin repression in muscle tissue by controlling the binding of Polycomb repressors and RNA-Pol II to muscle genes. It also regulates the repressive modifications and activation of chromatin in muscle fibers. Computer simulation indicates that the dissociation of chromatin from the nuclear envelope leads to the growth of repressive H3K27 tri-methylated clusters. These findings suggest that the LINC complex plays a crucial role in directing robust transcription in muscle fibers.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kamran Hosseini, Palina Trus, Annika Frenzel, Carsten Werner, Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich
Summary: The study reveals that EMT can change the mechanical properties of skin epithelial cells in a cell-cycle dependent manner. Additionally, EMT can boost cellular proliferation and result in changes in the actin cortex. These changes are primarily dependent on the transcription factor snail, which is upregulated during EMT.
