Article
Cell Biology
Andrew Y. Wang, Nuno M. Coelho, Pamma D. Arora, Yongqiang Wang, Denise Eymael, Chenfan Ji, Qin Wang, Wilson Lee, Jessica Xu, Andras Kapus, Karina M. M. Carneiro, Christopher A. McCulloch
Summary: Fibrosis is characterized by excessive deposition of densely packed collagen fibrils, which hampers organ structure and function. A key player in collagen-rich lesions is the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), which is associated with increased collagen compaction through Ca2+-dependent nonmuscle myosin IIA (NMIIA). This study reveals a functional relationship between DDR1 and the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channel, showing that DDR1 regulates Ca2+ influx through TRPV4 to promote critical processes involved in collagen compaction and alignment in fibrotic lesions.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yee Han Tee, Wei Jia Goh, Xianbin Yong, Hui Ting Ong, Jinrong Hu, Ignacius Yan Yun Tay, Shidong Shi, Salma Jalal, Samuel F. H. Barnett, Pakorn Kanchanawong, Wenmao Huang, Jie Yan, Yong Ann Ben Lim, Visalatchi Thiagarajan, Alex Mogilner, Alexander D. Bershadsky
Summary: Deviations from mirror symmetry in bilateral organisms are common, but the mechanisms of initial symmetry breaking are unclear. This study identifies actin polymerisation regulators involved in the chiral organisation of the actin cytoskeleton in individual cells and the alignment of cells in groups. This provides insights into the underlying mechanism of tissue and organ asymmetry.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
James M. Cowan, Jacob J. Duggan, Breanne R. Hewitt, Ryan J. Petrie
Summary: This review discusses the distinct modes of 3D cell migration and the role of non-muscle myosin II (NMII) in generating mechanical forces for migration. It also highlights the potential roles of tropomyosins and septins in regulating NMII activity during 3D cell migration. Investigating the mechanisms controlling NMII activity is important for understanding how cells transition between different modes of 3D migration in response to the physical environment.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
X. Chen, Y. Xu, Y. Cheng, S. W. Pang
Summary: This paper examines cell migration in the vertical direction and finds that taller barriers hinder the vertical migration of MC3T3 cells, while grating and arrows in channels promote it. By fabricating barriers with sloped sidewalls of specific heights, the probability of MC3T3 cells climbing and descending increases.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Xuechen Shi, Zezhou Liu, Luyi Feng, Tiankai Zhao, Chung-Yuen Hui, Sulin Zhang
Summary: The study investigates the elastocapillary effect at cell-matrix contacts and its impact on tissue morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. By observing cell colonies indenting soft hydrogels, the researchers propose a two-step traction force microscopy to separate active cell traction from interfacial stresses. The study provides a foundation for understanding elastocapillarity-induced mechanobiological processes in cells and tissues.
Article
Biophysics
Roberto Alonso-Matilla, Paolo P. Provenzano, David J. Odde
Summary: This study generalized the motor-clutch analytical framework to include imbalanced motor-clutch regimes, with clutch reinforcement and catch bonding, and investigated optimality with respect to all parameters. The results found that cells could tune their clutch mechanical properties to perform a specific function and could regulate their myosin repertoire and activity to maximize force transmission. In addition, the study revealed that clutch reinforcement shifted the optimum substrate stiffness to larger values. These findings have important implications for the design of molecular tension sensors and the prediction and control of cell adhesion and migration in immunotherapy and cancer.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shuyi Qian, Yixiao Dong, Ju Qu, Xuechun Wang, Wang Zhang, Jia Chen, Fan Xu, Meihua Cui, Monica Giomo, Chenhan Liao, Manli Hu, Juan Xu, Ganlu Hu, Jie Zheng, Xianmin Zhu, Anna Urciuolo, Guoping Fan, Nicola Elvassore
Summary: In this study, a facile strategy was proposed to produce precise channel-like hydrogel confinements on a microfluidic device for investigating cancer cell migration and mechanical interactions. The results demonstrated that breast cancer cells migrated faster in stiffer confinements with an adapted migratory phenotype, and the activation of YAP was involved in this process.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ya-jing Ye, Yi-fan Xu, Ya-bo Hou, Da-chuan Yin, Dan-bo Su, Zi-xu Zhao
Summary: This study demonstrates that nano porous topography scaffold promotes the proliferation, cytoskeleton orientation, and tenogenic differentiation of tendon stem cells (TSCs).
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kaustav Bera, Alexander Kiepas, Ines Godet, Yizeng Li, Pranav Mehta, Brent Ifemembi, Colin D. Paul, Anindya Sen, Selma A. Serra, Konstantin Stoletov, Jiaxiang Tao, Gabriel Shatkin, Se Jong Lee, Yuqi Zhang, Adrianna Boen, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Daniele M. Gilkes, John D. Lewis, Chen-Ming Fan, Andrew P. Feinberg, Miguel A. Valverde, Sean X. Sun, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos
Summary: Cells can respond to changes in extracellular fluid viscosity, and higher viscosity can increase cell motility and dissemination. This is achieved through the formation of a dense actin network and the activation of specific signaling pathways. Additionally, cancer cells exposed to high viscosity can acquire mechanical memory and enhance migration and metastasis through transcriptional control.
Review
Cell Biology
Andrea Ravasio, Eugenia Morselli, Cristina Bertocchi
Summary: Cells respond to mechanical forces and physical cues from their environment, with autophagy playing a major role in maintaining cellular processes and regulating interactions with the environment. This review summarizes the interaction between autophagy and mechanotransduction machinery associated with cell adhesions, termed as "Mechanoautophagy".
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yin Tong, Priscilla S. W. Cheng, Chung Sze Or, Sarah S. K. Yue, Hoi Cheong Siu, Siu Lun Ho, Simon Y. K. Law, Wai Yin Tsui, Dessy Chan, Stephanie Ma, Siu Po Lee, Annie S. Y. Chan, April S. Chan, Shui Wa Yun, Ho Sang Hui, Siu Tsan Yuen, Suet Yi Leung, Helen H. N. Yan
Summary: Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions play a critical role in gastric cancer progression, especially in gastric cancer with dysregulated RHO signaling.
Article
Cell Biology
Komaki Ninomiya, Kai Ohta, Kazunari Yamashita, Kensaku Mizuno, Kazumasa Ohashi
Summary: PLEKHG4B plays a crucial role in epithelial cell-cell junction formation by regulating actin remodeling and modulating the activities of Cdc42 and RhoA. Knockdown of PLEKHG4B leads to open junctions and aberrant myosin activity.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karen G. Soans, Ana Patricia Ramos, Jaydeep Sidhaye, Abhijeet Krishna, Anastasia Solomatina, Karl B. Hoffmann, Raimund Schluessler, Jochen Guck, Ivo F. Sbalzarini, Carl D. Modes, Caren Norden
Summary: Cell migration is crucial for organismal development, but the influence of physical properties on migration phenomena in vivo remains unclear. In this study, the researchers used zebrafish optic cup formation to investigate the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) properties in cell migration. They found that rim cells migrate over an immobile ECM and require cryptic lamellipodia for movement. The topology of the ECM changes along the migration path and is accompanied by changes in cell-matrix interactions. Matrix porosity is linked to efficient migration.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ellen Emi Kato, Luciana Araujo Pimenta, Maira Estanislau Soares de Almeida, Vanessa Olzon Zambelli, Marinilce Fagundes dos Santos, Sandra Coccuzzo Sampaio
Summary: The study demonstrated that CTX inhibits major events involved in angiogenesis, such as tube formation and cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. These actions were particularly effective against tumor stimuli, highlighting the importance of CTX's anti-angiogenic action in inhibiting tumor progression.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Amanda Haage, Archana Dhasarathy
Summary: Cells are able to sense environmental changes, transmit signals, and influence adaptive changes in cell behavior. Mechanosensing, involving various macromolecular structures, plays a role in integrating physical stimuli and regulating cellular behavior. The extracellular matrix and cell adhesion proteins are crucial components of the cellular microenvironment, and their disruption can lead to disease. Recent advances in microscopy and genomic technologies have enhanced our understanding of the impact of nuclear localization of adhesion proteins. This review will cover the migration of adhesion proteins to the nucleus and their downstream functions.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chao Dong, Liwei An, Cheng-han Yu, Michael S. Y. Huen
Summary: The DYRK1B kinase plays a crucial role in maintaining rDNA stability, nucleolar reorganization, and inhibition of rRNA synthesis. Inhibition of DYRK1B results in sustained nucleolar transcription, hypersensitivity to DSBs at rDNA arrays, and requirement for DSB repair and rDNA copy number maintenance. These findings highlight the importance of DYRK1B as a key signaling intermediate in coordinating DSB repair and rDNA transcriptional activities within the nucleolus.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tan P. Nguyen, Alexandra D. Easley, Nari Kang, Sarosh Khan, Soon-Mi Lim, Yohannes H. Rezenom, Shaoyang Wang, David K. Tran, Jingwei Fan, Rachel A. Letteri, Xun He, Lu Su, Cheng-Han Yu, Jodie L. Lutkenhaus, Karen L. Wooley
Summary: The rapid development of lithium-ion batteries has brought substantial benefits to society, but also highlighted ethical and environmental challenges. Organic redox-active materials may offer a potential alternative for sustainable batteries in the future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhen Feng, Cheng-han Yu
Summary: The production of PI(3,4)P2 promotes invasive cell migration by stimulating the trafficking of integrin receptor at the invadopodium.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander Purtsas, Marco Rosenkranz, Evgenia Dmitrieva, Olga Kataeva, Hans-Joachim Knoelker
Summary: In this paper, the oxygenation and amination reactions of tertiary arylamines are described. The key steps of these coupling reactions involve iron-catalyzed oxidative C-O or C-N bond formation, which typically provide the desired products in high yields and with excellent regioselectivity. These transformations are carried out using hexadecafluorophthalocyanine-iron(II) (FePcF16) as catalyst, with the presence of an acid or base additive, and only require ambient air as the oxidant.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yun Cheng, Xiao-Zhuo Kang, Tao Cheng, Zi-Wei Ye, George L. Tipoe, Cheng-Han Yu, Chi-Ming Wong, Baohua Liu, Chi-Ping Chan, Dong-Yan Jin
Summary: A novel protein called FACI, induced by fasting and CREB-H, was found to inhibit intestinal lipid absorption and alleviate diet-induced obesity in mice. Furthermore, deficiency of FACI worsened obesity and metabolic dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Gabriele Theumer, Ingmar Bauer, Anne Jaeger, Lorenz Schwark, Hans-Joachim Knoelker
Summary: This study successfully synthesized seven C-2-alkylcarbazoles using a series of methods, providing analytical standards for identifying them in petroleum samples and source rocks.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pamela Swiatlowska, Brian Sit, Zhen Feng, Emilie Marhuenda, Ioannis Xanthis, Simona Zingaro, Matthew Ward, Xinmiao Zhou, Qingzhong Xiao, Cathy Shanahan, Gareth E. Jones, Cheng-han Yu, Thomas Iskratsch
Summary: The study shows that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) undergo a phenotypic switch when exposed to a combination of hypertensive pressure and matrix compliance, which are prevalent during atherosclerosis. The molecular mechanism involves the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton through cofilin via distinct pathways.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Raphael F. Fritsche, Tristan Schuh, Olga Kataeva, Hans-Joachim Knoelker
Summary: We report an iron-catalyzed asymmetric oxidative C-C coupling reaction which takes place at room temperature using air as the final oxidant. By using hexadecafluorophthalocyanine-iron(II) as the catalyst and the presence of catalytic amounts of an axially chiral biarylphosphoric acid, chiral 2,2'-diamino-1,1'-biaryls with up to 90% enantiomeric excess (ee) were obtained as confirmed by chiral HPLC analysis. A detailed mechanism involving a radical cation-chiral phosphate ion pair as the key intermediate leading to the observed asymmetric induction is proposed.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Marie Pascaline Rahelivao, Ingmar Bauer, Tilo Luebken, Olga Kataeva, Anne Vehlow, Nils Cordes, Hans-Joachim Knoelker
Summary: The relative configuration of the marine sesquiterpenoid oxyfungiformin, isolated from the soft coral Capnella fungiformis, was confirmed by synthesis and comparison of values for optical rotation. The cytotoxic activity of oxyfungiformin and a diastereoisomer was observed in lung, breast, and cervical cancer cells.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Pamela Swiatlowska, Brian Sit, Zhen Feng, Emilie Marhuenda, Xinmiao Zhou, Qingzhong Xiao, Cathy Shanahan, Cheng-Han Yu, Thomas Iskratsch
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tristan Schuh, Olga Kataeva, Hans-Joachim Knoelker
Summary: We report the synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of mu-oxo-bis[(octacosafluoro-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)iron(iii)] [(FeTPPF28)(2)O]. This novel iron complex acts as an efficient catalyst for oxidative biaryl coupling reactions of diarylamines and carbazoles. The asymmetric oxidative coupling, in the presence of an axially chiral biaryl phosphoric acid as co-catalyst, provides 2,2'-bis(arylamino)-1,1'-biaryls with 96% ee. Additionally, the Wacker-type oxidation of alkenes to ketones with (FeTPPF28)(2)O as catalyst and phenylsilane as reductant proceeds at room temperature with air as the terminal oxidant, resulting in increased ketone/alcohol product ratios for internal and aliphatic alkenes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana P. Gomez-Escribano, Carlos Mora-Martinez, Marta Roca, Denise S. Walker, Joaquin Panadero, Maria D. Sequedo, Ratni Saini, Hans-Joachim Knoelker, Jose Blanca, Juan Burguera, Agustin Lahoz, Joaquin Canizares, Jose M. Millan, Nick O. Burton, William R. Schafer, Rafael P. Vazquez-Manrique
Summary: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases are caused by mutations that enhance protein aggregation. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in these pathways is still limited, hindering the development of effective treatments. In this study, we investigated the protective mechanisms against dysregulated homeostasis by screening for mutations that enhance aggregation in Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that the stomatin homologue UNC-1 activates neurohormonal signalling to modulate protein homeostasis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yun Cheng, Xiao-Zhuo Kang, Pearl Chan, Pak-Hin Hinson Cheung, Tao Cheng, Zi-wei Ye, Chi-Ping Chan, Cheng-Han Yu, Dong-Yan Jin
Summary: The study revealed that FACI protein interacts with the AP2 complex and facilitates LDL endocytosis. Overexpression of FACI enhances LDL uptake, while depletion of FACI impairs endocytosis.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haoqing Hu, Derek Hoi Hang Ho, Daisylyn Senna Tan, Caitlin M. MacCarthy, Cheng-han Yu, Mingxi Weng, Hans Robert Schoeler, Ralf Jauch
Summary: A engineered SOX17 variant called SOX17FNV is found to be more effective in inducing pluripotency than SOX2, although the exact mechanism is unclear. SOX17FNV outperforms SOX2 in mouse and human pluripotency reprogramming, even with considerable sequence differences from SOX2 and upregulated genes expressed in cleavage-stage embryos. Mechanistically, SOX17FNV binds to OCT4 more cooperatively than SOX2 in the presence of the canonical SoxOct DNA element.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Glenn Prazere Lobo, Rakesh Radhakrishnan, Venkateshwara Dronamraju, Grace Song, Heidi Roehrich, Vladimir Tsuprun, Rene Martin, Sebahattin Cureoglu, Hans-Joachim Knolker, Erik J. Van Kuijk, Robert B. Hufnagel, Sandra R. Montezuma, Rafael da Costa Monsanto
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)