Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Jifan Yuan, Ling Guo, Jiaxin Wang, Zhongjun Zhou, Chuanyue Wu
Summary: The protein α-Parvin plays a crucial role in bone development. Knocking out α-Parvin leads to defects in endochondral ossification and dwarfism, affecting chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation, survival, and organization. The study demonstrates that α-Parvin regulates chondrocyte rotation, binucleation, cell death, and the structure of growth plates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jose Miguel Simoes, Joshua I. Levy, Emanuela E. Zaharieva, Leah T. Vinson, Peixiong Zhao, Michael H. Alpert, William L. Kath, Alessia Para, Marco Gallio
Summary: The study demonstrates that the avoidance of heat in fruit flies is not as hard-wired as previously believed, and actually exhibits unexpected plasticity. Fruit flies use small temperature differences between their antennae to steer away from thermal danger, suggesting that their heat avoidance behavior involves decision-making, rapid learning, and is robust to new conditions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jie Tang, Yi-Cheng Ma, Yuan-Li Chen, Rui-Qiu Yang, Heng-Chen Liu, Xin Wang, Baosen Ni, Cheng-Gang Zou, Ke-Qin Zhang
Summary: The maintenance of proteostasis is crucial for cellular and organism healthspan, yet the impact of proteostasis collapse on reproductive span is not fully understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, excess accumulation of vitellogenins, major components in yolk proteins, is vital for embryonic development and occurs during the aging process. Our study reveals that vitellogenin accumulation leads to reproductive cessation by impairing lysosomal activity in the intestine and germline. Lysosomal function in the germline is necessary for reproductive span by maintaining oocyte quality. Autophagy and sperm depletion are not involved in vitellogenin accumulation-induced reproductive aging. These findings provide insights into the influence of proteome imbalance on reproductive aging and suggest that improving lysosomal function could be an effective intervention for maintaining reproductive health in mammals.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeroen Dobbelaere, Tiffany Y. Su, Balazs Erdi, Alexander Schleiffer, Alexander Dammermann
Summary: Cilia are cellular projections that perform sensory and motile functions in eukaryotic cells. In this study, a set of 386 human genes associated with cilium assembly or motility were identified by analyzing the presence and absence pattern in the genomes of diverse eukaryotes. The novel genes were further characterized and found to be related to cilium defects in fruit flies and nematodes. This dataset defines the core set of genes required for cilium assembly and motility across eukaryotes and provides a valuable resource for future studies.
Review
Cell Biology
Stephen F. Goodwin, Oliver Hobert
Summary: Male and female brains exhibit anatomical and functional differences, which have been well-studied in animal species including humans. Recent advances have revealed insights into how the worm and fly brains develop sexually dimorphic features, with each system offering unique advantages for studying sex-specific behaviors.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, VOL 37
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Suhayl Mulla, Adele R. Ludlam, Aiman Elragig, Cathy Slack, Zita Balklava, Michael Stich, Alex Cheong
Summary: Ageing research aims to identify factors that affect lifespan and understand their effects. This study introduces a bilogistic model to describe the shape of lifespan curves in Caenorhabditis elegans. The model provides a better fit to experimental data than other models, and can identify and confirm biphasic lifespan data.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fang Zhang, Liying Wang, Jiayu Jin, Yulu Pang, Hao Shi, Ziyi Fang, Han Wang, Yujie Du, Yufan Hu, Yingchun Zhang, Xiaoyue Ding, Zuobin Zhu
Summary: This study investigated the impact of Escherichia coli mutant strains on fruit fly lifespan and found that feeding E. coli purE strain resulted in the longest lifespan in fruit flies, which was also validated in Caenorhabditis elegans. RNA sequencing and analysis revealed that E. coli mutant strains affect lifespan by regulating protein synthesis rate and ATP levels. This research provides new insights into the genetic influences of gut microbiota on host lifespan and offers a foundation for developing anti-aging probiotics and drugs.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ni Huang, Wei Qiang Seow, Alex Appert, Yan Dong, Przemyslaw Stempor, Julie Ahringer
Summary: Nuclear organization and chromatin interactions are crucial for genome function, but accurately determining chromatin connections at a high resolution remains challenging. This study introduces a new tool called ARC-C, which allows for the analysis of interactions between regulatory elements throughout the entire genome, while also providing insights into the structure and domain-level architecture of chromatin.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Xinlu Guo, Junjie Luo, Jingyi Qi, Xiya Zhao, Peng An, Yongting Luo, Guisheng Wang
Summary: The increasing elderly proportion of the population poses burdens on society, the economy, and the medical field. Polysaccharides have gained attention for their potential use in anti-aging therapies due to their natural and efficient biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulatory activities.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Diogo Carregosa, Sara Mota, Sofia Ferreira, Beatriz Alves-Dias, Natasa Loncarevic-Vasiljkovic, Carolina Lage Crespo, Regina Menezes, Rita Teodoro, Claudia Nunes dos Santos
Summary: The rise of neurodegenerative diseases in an aging population poses significant health, social, and economic consequences. Diets rich in (poly)phenols have been shown to have health benefits in preventing cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. The role of gut microbiota in metabolizing (poly)phenols and the potential brain effects of low molecular weight (poly)phenol metabolites still require further research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ranjay Jayadev, Mychel R. P. T. Morais, Jamie M. Ellingford, Sandhya Srinivasan, Richard W. Naylor, Craig Lawless, Anna S. Li, Jack F. Ingham, Eric Hastie, Qiuyi Chi, Maryline Fresquet, Nikki-Maria Koudis, Huw B. Thomas, Raymond T. O'Keefe, Emily Williams, Antony Adamson, Helen M. Stuart, Siddharth Banka, Damian Smedley, David R. Sherwood, Rachel Lennon
Summary: By utilizing bioinformatic and in vivo approaches, we have identified a network of proteins involved in basement membrane regulation and function. This study highlights the complexity of basement membranes and their impact on human health.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carina C. Kern, Shivangi Srivastava, Marina Ezcurra, Kuei Ching Hsiung, Nancy Hui, StJohn Townsend, Dominik Maczik, Bruce Zhang, Victoria Tse, Viktoras Konstantellos, Juerg Bahler, David Gems
Summary: The post-reproductive C. elegans exhibits destructive somatic biomass repurposing to produce yolk as food for the offspring, resembling the suicidal reproductive effort typically seen in semelparous organisms. A comparison between Caenorhabditis and Pristionchus species revealed that yolk venting and pathological changes occur only in hermaphrodites, which also have shorter lifespans. Germline removal in hermaphrodites suppresses senescent pathology and significantly increases lifespan, suggesting the presence of reproductive death in C. elegans that is suppressed by germline ablation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carina C. Kern, StJohn Townsend, Antoine Salzmann, Nigel B. Rendell, Graham W. Taylor, Ruxandra M. Comisel, Lazaros C. Foukas, Jurg Bahler, David Gems
Summary: The study shows that post-reproductive C. elegans mothers vent yolk to support offspring growth, resembling a form of lactation, providing new insights into their rapid senescence. Furthermore, this process is regulated by the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tomomi Komura, Asami Takemoto, Hideki Kosaka, Toshio Suzuki, Yoshikazu Nishikawa
Summary: This study revealed the anti-aging effects of Lactococcus cremoris subsp. cremoris strain FC through the SKN-1/Nrf2 pathway, and its beneficial effects on perception and inhibition of AGEs in nematodes.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Anja Wagner, Markus Schosserer
Summary: RNA modifications play a regulatory role in gene expression, but the underlying molecular mechanisms and physiological consequences are still poorly understood. This review systematically examines different types of RNA modifications, analysis methods, challenges in the field, and associations with human diseases. Furthermore, evidence is compiled for the connection between RNA modification enzymes and lifespan in yeast, worms, and flies.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Benjamin Yeoman, Gabriel Shatkin, Pranjali Beri, Afsheen Banisadr, Parag Katira, Adam J. Engler
Summary: The study demonstrates that differences in cell migration and durotaxis between weakly and strongly adherent cells are driven by differences in intra-cellular actomyosin activity, providing insights into how metastatic cancer cells navigate against stiffness gradients.
Article
Cell Biology
Ritusree Biswas, Avinanda Banerjee, Sergio Lembo, Zhihai Zhao, Vairavan Lakshmanan, Ryan Lim, Shimin Le, Manando Nakasaki, Vassily Kutyavin, Graham Wright, Dasaradhi Palakodeti, Robert S. Ross, Colin Jamora, Valeri Vasioukhin, Yan Jie, Srikala Raghavan
Summary: Vinculin, a key mechanotransducer in cell junctions, is essential for maintaining the quiescence of bulge stem cells and regulating hair follicle cycling. Conditional knockout of vinculin in murine skin leads to weakened AJs, despite increased expression of Ecadherin and α-catenin. Mechanistically, vinculin functions by maintaining α-catenin in a stretched/open conformation, which controls the retention of YAP1 at the AJs, revealing a novel regulatory link between mechanical stability of cell junctions and maintenance of stem cell quiescence.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoshitake Cho, Shizuko Tachibana, Kayla Lam, Yoh Arita, Shamim Khosrowjerdi, Oliver Zhang, Alex Liang, Ruixia Li, Aleksander Andreyev, Anne N. Murphy, Robert S. Ross
Summary: Perm1 is a novel protein enriched in skeletal and cardiac-muscle mitochondria, interacting with PGC-1 and ERR to promote mitochondrial biogenesis and protect cardiomyocytes from stress-induced damage, potentially serving as a novel therapeutic to restore cardiac dysfunction induced by ischemic injury.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Orthopedics
Severin Ruoss, Scott T. Ball, Shanelle N. Dorn, Jesal N. Parekh, Alexander J. Whitehead, Adam J. Engler, Samuel R. Ward
Summary: Biologically augmented surgical treatments for orthopedic conditions are increasingly popular, with a focus on reducing morbidity, surgery time, and cost. The use of a novel acetabular approach during total hip arthroplasty has significantly simplified the process of biologic augmentation with bone marrow aspirate concentrate in a large patient cohort.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Biomedical
Adam J. Engler, Yingxiao Wang
Summary: Cells are constantly exposed to mechanical forces in their daily lives, which can lead to disease if excessive. Endothelial cells sense and transduce these forces, potentially affecting their morphology and fate. Seminal studies in endothelial cells over the past several decades have begun to elucidate some of these signals.
APL BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joseph D. Powers, Natalie J. Kirkland, Canzhao Liu, Swithin S. Razu, Xi Fang, Adam J. Engler, Ju Chen, Andrew D. McCulloch
Summary: Mutations in the FLNC gene can lead to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and play a key role in regulating systolic force transmission and DCM remodeling in cardiomyocytes. In experiments, loss of FLNC resulted in reduced systolic force development, defects in Z-disk alignment, changes in myofilament lattice geometry, and disruption of longitudinal force production during contraction in cardiac muscle cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Gisselle Gonzalez, Alyssa R. Holman, Aileena C. Nelson, Adam J. Engler
Summary: The applications of stem cells are diverse, but current methods have limitations. Combining newer three-dimensional methods with engineered niche can significantly improve cell maturity and enable new applications.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Biomedical
Jan Lammerding, Adam J. J. Engler, Roger Kamm
APL BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jaimie M. Mayner, Evan M. Masutani, Elena Demeester, Aditya Kumar, Gail Macapugay, Pranjali Beri, Valentina Lo Sardo, Adam J. Engler
Summary: 9p21.3 locus polymorphisms show the strongest correlation with coronary artery disease, but the connection is unclear due to its noncoding nature. The lncRNA ANRIL in 9p21.3 may regulate VSMC phenotype to contribute to disease risk. Different subpopulations of risk haplotype cells exhibit variable morphology, proliferation, contraction, and adhesion, suggesting that variable lncRNA penetrance may drive mixed functional outcomes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Gisselle Gonzalez, Aileena C. Nelson, Alyssa R. Holman, Alexander J. Whitehead, Erin Lamontagne, Rachel Lian, Ritwik Vatsyayan, Shadi A. Dayeh, Adam J. Engler
Summary: Electrospun conductive polymer fiber mesh promotes electrical signal propagation and maturation in hPSC-CMs, providing a potential tool for modeling cardiac diseases and developing targeted therapies.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Thomas G. Molley, Adam J. Engler
Summary: With the development of induced pluripotent stem cells and modern differentiation protocols, significant progress has been made in in vitro disease modeling, sometimes replacing animal models. However, the rigid cell culture substrates often used in vitro may limit the ability to fully reproduce human diseases. Recent studies suggest that combining biomaterials and advanced microphysiological systems with stem cells expressing disease mimicking genetics could greatly enhance current disease modeling efforts.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jason M. Duran, Maria Manso, Paul Bushway, Kerry Kao, Tsui-Min Wang, Sofie Maisel, Yusu Gu, Joshua Fong, Chao Chen, Angel Soto-Hermida, Marina Cruz, Wei Feng, Yoshi Cho, Julius Bogomolovas, Robert S. Ross, Ju Chen, Cat A. Makarewich, Andrew D. McCulloch, Michael Regnier, Eric D. Adler
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Edward Wang, Amanda Lu, Andrew Lin, Robert S. Ross
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yoshitake Cho, Shizuko Tachibana, Kayla Lam, Yoh Arita, Shamim Khosrowjerdi, Oliver L. Zhang, Alex Liang, Ruixia Li, Aleksander Andreyev, Anne N. Murphy, Robert S. Ross
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jason M. Duran, Paul Bushway, Maria Manso, Yusu Gu, Yoshitake Cho, Joshua Fong, Robert S. Ross, Eric D. Adler