Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ipsita Pani, Fidha K. M. Nazreen, Monika Sharma, Santanu Kumar Pal
Summary: The study explores interactions between mitochondrial cardiolipin and membrane-associated cytochrome c using aqueous LC dispersions, unveiling lipid-protein interactions that drive reorientation at the LC droplet interface. This insight is fundamental for designing functional interfaces for a spectrum of interfacial applications.
Article
Crystallography
Johannes Hermann, Daniel Bischoff, Phillip Grob, Robert Janowski, Dariusch Hekmat, Dierk Niessing, Martin Zacharias, Dirk Weuster-Botz
Summary: Protein crystallization is essential for protein purification or formulation, requiring a comprehensive understanding of protein-protein interactions for reproducibility. Engineered charge-charge interactions and hydrophobic effects can improve crystallizability, with free energy simulations being a useful tool for understanding crystal contacts and guiding protein engineering strategies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paul Campitelli, Liskin Swint-Kruse, S. Banu Ozkan
Summary: Substitutions at nonconserved protein positions can have noncanonical and long-distance effects on protein function, potentially resulting from changes in the internal protein communication network and structural flexibility. Substitutions were found to have long-range effects on flexibilities and dynamic coupling of DNA-binding positions, with the degree of flexibility change correlating with experimentally measured changes in DNA binding. This study proposes that long-range and noncanonical substitution outcomes arise from rewiring long-range communication among functionally important positions.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Tieyi Lu, Li Fu, Yu Qiu, Jifeng Zhang, Zhan Chen
Summary: The interaction between antibodies and silicone oil was studied, and it was found that surfactant can reduce the adsorption of antibodies on silicone oil but may not completely prevent it. Different antibodies require different concentrations of surfactant to prevent adsorption.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Baowen Li, Xiaofei Liu, Wanlin Guo
Summary: A comprehensive quantitative investigation was conducted on interactions at the interfaces of BN-BN, BN-molybdenum disulfide, and BN-graphite using a BN-wrapped atomic force microscope tip and first-principle theory. The adhesion forces at BN-molybdenum disulfide and BN-graphite interfaces increase after exposure to radiation, highlighting the crucial roles of dispersion and electrostatic interactions in two-dimensional heterostructures.
Review
Optics
Tong Cui, Lin Sun, Benfeng Bai, Hong-Bo Sun
Summary: Photonic spin-orbit interactions in nanostructures have attracted significant interest in nanophotonics, offering new opportunities for enhancing light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. Various phenomena such as the photonic spin-Hall effect and spin-vortex conversion have been demonstrated, highlighting the potential of PSOIs in shaping light wavefronts. The review systematically covers experimental observations and detections of PSOIs, discussing the advantages, challenges, and future perspectives in probing these interactions.
LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Tamara Heermann, Henri G. Franquelim, Philipp Glock, Leon Harrington, Petra Schwille
Summary: This study describes an in vitro assay in a 96-well plate format that harnesses the emergent behavior of the Escherichia coli Min system to provide a readout of biomolecular interactions. By fusing foreign molecular entities to the minimal MinE peptide, researchers were able to induce MinD ATPase activity and quantitatively correlate with the affinity of the fused binding partners, enabling a highly sensitive assay for biomolecular interactions.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ding Xu, Arkajit Mandal, James M. Baxter, Shan-Wen Cheng, Inki Lee, Haowen Su, Song Liu, David R. Reichman, Milan Delor
Summary: Semiconductor excitations can form exciton-polaritons with light-like energy flow and matter-like interactions. By using nonlinear momentum-resolved optical approach, the authors directly image the exciton-polaritons in real space on femtosecond scales. It is found that exciton-phonon interactions result in a renormalization of exciton-polariton velocities, but ballistic transport can be maintained for half-exciton polaritons. Upon increasing the excitonic character, rapid decoherence leads to diffusive transport.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
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
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue-Rou Zhang, Dao-Fu Yuan, Lai-Sheng Wang
Summary: Although the adiabatic potential energy surfaces are crucial in understanding the electronic structure and spectroscopy of molecular systems, nonadiabatic effects due to electronic states coupling by nuclear motions are common in complex molecular systems. In this study, the complex vibronic levels of the triazolyl radical were completely unraveled using photodetachment spectroscopy and resonant photoelectron imaging. The experimental vibronic information obtained will be valuable in validating theoretical models for treating nonadiabatic effects involving multiple electronic states.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Rita Gulotta, Serena Vittorio, Rosaria Gitto, Ugo Perricone, Laura De Luca
Summary: Investigating the molecular recognition pattern of the MUC1-CIN85 PPI provides new structural information for the design of potential anti-metastatic agents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jun Dong, Francesco Turci, Robert L. Jack, Malcolm A. Faers, C. Patrick Royall
Summary: Colloidal dispersions are valuable model systems for studying material properties and are widely used in various industries. Resolving particle coordinates in 3D has been a key development in using colloids to address challenges in condensed matter. However, relating mechanical properties to microscopic structure remains problematic in amorphous materials. In this study, the contacts, forces, and positions between particles were studied using a colloidal model system, allowing insights into the failure mechanisms of soft amorphous solids.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qi Han, Yuyu Su, Kate M. Smith, Jack Binns, Calum J. Drummond, Connie Darmanin, Tamar L. Greaves
Summary: Ions play an important role in modulating protein properties, and ionic liquids (ILs) have the potential to control protein properties through specific ion binding. This study investigates the specific ion binding effect of ILs on the behavior of lysozyme protein, including phase behavior, activity, size, conformational change, aggregation, and intermolecular interactions. The results provide new insights into protein-IL binding interactions and the use of ILs to modulate protein properties.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Optics
Zhenfei Jiao, Zhou Zhou, Zhongyun Chen, Jinze Xie, Yu Mu, Jiulin DU, Ling Fu
Summary: To understand the functional neural circuits, it is crucial to acquire the firing sequence of neurons at different depths with cellular resolution. The Simple Multi-Plane Imaging Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (SIMPLE-LSFM) combines multi-plane illumination and spherical-aberration-assisted point spread function to simultaneously image neurons at different depths. This method was successfully demonstrated in capturing the firing sequences of neurons at six depths in larval zebrafish, providing fast and high-resolution mapping of anatomical structure and dynamics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammad Ahmad, Liviu Movileanu
Summary: Using an intermolecular FRET biosensing approach, we visualized and localized HRAS-CRAF interactions in living cells, simultaneously probing EGFR activation and HRAS-CRAF complex formation. This method discriminated EGF-stimulated HRAS-CRAF interactions at the cell and organelle membranes. Additionally, we provided quantitative FRET measurements for assessing transient PPIs in a cell-free environment. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effectiveness of an EGFR-binding compound as a potent inhibitor of HRAS-CRAF interactions. These findings lay a fundamental basis for further exploration of spatiotemporal dynamics in signaling networks.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2023)
Article
Optics
Olivier Leveque, Caroline Kulcsar, Antony Lee, Pierre Bon, Laurent Cognet, Francois Goudail
Summary: This paper investigates the validity boundary of using the maximum-likelihood estimator in localization microscopy methods with enhanced depth-of-field. Through experimental verification, it is found that the maximum-likelihood estimator is efficient when the signal-to-noise ratio is below a certain threshold.
JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA A-OPTICS IMAGE SCIENCE AND VISION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
A. Badon, J. -B Marceau, C. Allard, F. Fossard, A. Loiseau, L. Cognet, E. Flahaut, G. Recher, N. Izard, R. Martel, E. Gaufres
Summary: By confining alpha-sexithiophene (6T) molecules in boron nitride nanotubes (6T@BNNTs), fluorescence anisotropy can be induced in a transparent host. The experiments show that individual 6T@BNNTs exhibit high polarization extinction ratio at room temperature, and the fluorescence anisotropy is consistent with the alignment of encapsulated 6T molecules along the nanotube axis. By stretching a flexible transparent polymer film mixed with 6T@BNNTs, macroscopic fluorescence anisotropy can be induced within the film. This work demonstrates the use of dyes@BNNT system as a convenient platform to induce fluorescence anisotropy in photonic materials.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ria Thielhorn, Isabelle Heing-Becker, Nadja Huempfer, Jakob Rentsch, Rainer Haag, Kai Licha, Helge Ewers
Summary: Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a technique that enlarges a hydrogel-embedded facsimile of a biological sample to improve resolution below the diffraction limit. However, gel formation and digestion cause a loss in label. In this study, a small molecule agent combining targeting, fluorescent labeling, and gel linkage was developed to overcome this issue, resulting in improved fluorescence signal retention and the resolution of nuclear pores. Mechanistic insight into dye retention in ExM was also provided.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Thomas Pradeu, Bertrand Daignan-Fornier, Andrew Ewald, Pierre-Luc Germain, Samir Okasha, Anya Plutynski, Sebastien Benzekry, Marta Bertolaso, Mina Bissell, Joel S. Brown, Benjamin Chin-Yee, Ian Chin-Yee, Hans Clevers, Laurent Cognet, Marie Darrason, Emmanuel Farge, Jean Feunteun, Jerome Galon, Elodie Giroux, Sara Green, Fridolin Gross, Fanny Jaulin, Rob Knight, Ezio Laconi, Nicolas Larmonier, Carlo Maley, Alberto Mantovani, Violaine Moreau, Pierre Nassoy, Elena Rondeau, David Santamaria, Catherine M. Sawai, Andrei Seluanov, Gregory D. Sepich-Poore, Vanja Sisirak, Eric Solary, Sarah Yvonnet, Lucie Laplane
Summary: Understanding cancer requires interdisciplinary research and integration of applied sciences with conceptual and theoretical approaches. By combining experimental and clinical research with philosophical methods, we can facilitate dialogue between different scientific communities and improve our understanding of cancer.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Serge Mostowy, Aurelie Bertin, Helge Ewers
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elise Prin, Chenghui Xia, Yu-Ho Won, Eunjoo Jang, Serguei V. Goupalov, Philippe Tamarat, Brahim Lounis
Summary: We used frequency- and time-resolved magneto-photoluminescence spectroscopy to investigate the optical properties of single zinc-blende InP/ZnSe/ZnS nanocrystals (NCs). Spectral fingerprints of the band-edge exciton fine structure were obtained and identified, revealing the presence of a ground dark exciton level 0(L) below the bright exciton doublet ±1(L) due to shape anisotropy. These findings match well with a model accounting for the InP core's shape anisotropy. Furthermore, the spectroscopic measurements provide highly sensitive information on the NC morphologies, showing highly uniform shapes with deviations of less than 3% from perfect sphericity.
Article
Optics
Quentin Gresil, Antony Lee, Olivier Leveque, Karen Caicedo, Blanca Martin Munoz, Caroline Kulcsar, Francois Goudail, Pierre Bon, Laurent Cognet
Summary: Important applications of single-particle tracking (SPT) aim at deciphering the diffusion properties of single fluorescent nanoparticles in heterogeneous environments. This study shows that a binary phase mask combined with spherical aberration induced by thick sample inhomogeneities can extend the depth-of-focus (DOF) of a single-molecule fluorescence microscope over 4 μm. This enables the recording of longer SPT trajectories for diffusing nanoparticles.
OPTICS COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Optics
Siddharatha Thakur, Philippe Tamarat, Antonine Rochet, Joschka Birk, Ivan S. Veshchunov, Malo Bezard, Alexander I. Buzdin, Jean-Baptiste Trebbia, Brahim Lounis
Summary: Magneto-optical imaging of quantized magnetic flux tubes in superconductors, known as Abrikosov vortices, is achieved by measuring Faraday rotation of polarized light using a magneto-optical indicator placed on top of the superconductor. However, the spatial resolution of these vortices is usually limited due to aberrations induced by the thick indicator substrate. In this study, we demonstrate wide field optical imaging of single flux quanta in a Niobium film with a resolution better than 600 nm and sub-second acquisition periods by using a high refractive index solid immersion lens. Vectorial field simulations are also used to optimize the experimental features of vortex images.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael C. A. Dyhr, Mohsen Sadeghi, Ralitsa Moynova, Carolin Knappe, Burcu Kepsutlu Cakmak, Stephan Werner, Gerd Schneider, James McNally, Frank Noe, Helge Ewers
Summary: Cryo-soft X-ray tomography (cryo-SXT) is a powerful method for investigating cell ultrastructure, offering high resolution and contrast without the need for labeling. A new automated 3D segmentation pipeline based on semi-supervised deep learning enables high-throughput analysis of tomographic data with limited manual annotations and variations in conditions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Diego Grassi, Agata Idziak, Antony Lee, Ivo Calaresu, Jean-Baptiste Sibarita, Laurent Cognet, Laurent Groc
Summary: The extracellular space (ECS) and its constituents have important functions in brain development, plasticity, circadian rhythm, and behavior, as well as brain diseases. However, exploring the nanoscale dimensions of the ECS in live tissue is challenging due to its complex geometry and small size. In this study, using single-nanoparticle tracking and super-resolution microscopy, the nanoscale dimensions of the ECS in the rodent hippocampus were mapped. The results show that these dimensions are heterogeneous between different areas of the hippocampus, and the dynamics and distribution of extracellular molecules are affected by these differences.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tina Ghelani, Marc Escher, Ulrich Thomas, Klara Esch, Janine Luetzkendorf, Harald Depner, Marta Maglione, Pierre Parutto, Scott Gratz, Tanja Matkovic-Rachid, Stefanie Ryglewski, Alexander M. Walter, David Holcman, Kate O'Connor Giles, Martin Heine, Stephan J. Sigrist
Summary: In this study, dynamic intravital single-molecule imaging was used to investigate the interaction between scaffold proteins and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) during presynaptic homeostatic potentiation in Drosophila AZs. It was found that the interaction between the intracellular carboxyl terminus of the Cac channel and the amino-terminal region of the ELKS-family protein Bruchpilot played a crucial role in the sustained potentiation of AZs.
Article
Physics, Applied
M. D. Croitoru, B. Lounis, A. I. Buzdin
Summary: We provide a theoretical analysis of using circularly polarized radiation to switch between two different quantum states of a superconducting nanoring subjected to the half quantum flux. Numerical modeling reveals the condition for on-demand switching between current-carrying states with different helicities with 100% probability. An experimental demonstration of this effect will be unambiguous evidence of the inverse Faraday effect in superconductors and open up possibilities for light-operated superconducting devices.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhao Tang, Shannon L. Eichmann, Brahim Lounis, Laurent Cognet, Frederick C. MacKintosh, Matteo Pasquali
Summary: Studying the Brownian motion of fibers and semi-flexible filaments in porous media is crucial for understanding transport and mechanical properties. This study uses video microscopy to visualize the motion and transport of semi-flexible carbon nanotubes in packed-colloid porous media. The results show that the structure of the porous media controls the diffusion and reorientation of the nanotubes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Asuncion Carmona, Si Chen, Florelle Domart, Daniel Choquet, Richard Ortega
Summary: Neurons form growth cones during neurodevelopment to establish synaptic connections, and the distributions of F-actin and various biologically active elements in the growth cones play important roles. Calcium is crucial in this process, but other elements are also involved. Deficiencies in these elements, such as iron or zinc, may lead to learning and memory deficits in children.
