A5090832752- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
- thermodynamics and calorimetric analyses
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Kruppel-like factors research
- ATP Synthase and ATPases Research
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
2017-2024
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems
2017-2021
TU Dresden
2015-2020
Center for Systems Biology Dresden
2019-2020
Marine Biological Laboratory
2020
Woodwell Climate Research Center
2019
Max Planck Institute for Physics
2017
Cell stiffness is a sensitive indicator of physiological and pathological changes in cells, with many potential applications biology medicine. A new method, real-time deformability cytometry, probes cell at high throughput by exposing cells to shear flow microfluidic channel, allowing for mechanical phenotyping based on single-cell deformability. However, observed deformations the channel not only are determined stiffness, but also depend size relative size. Here, we disentangle mutual...
Loop extrusion by structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes has been proposed as a mechanism to organize chromatin in interphase and metaphase. However, the requirements for organization these cell cycle phases are different, it is unknown whether loop dynamics that extrude DNA also differ. Here, we used Xenopus egg extracts reconstitute image single molecules during cycle. We show loops form both metaphase interphase, but with distinct dynamic properties. Condensin extrudes...
Abstract Biomolecular condensates are dense assemblies of proteins that form distinct biochemical compartments without being surrounded by a membrane. Some, such as P granules and stress granules, behave droplets contain many millions molecules. Others, transcriptional on the surface DNA, small thousands The physics behind formation DNA surfaces is still under discussion. Here we investigate nature transcription factor using pioneer Krüppel-like 4 (Klf4). We show Klf4 can phase separate its...
Abstract Interactions between liquids and surfaces generate forces 1,2 that are crucial for many processes in biology, physics engineering, including the motion of insects on surface water 3 , modulation material properties spider silk 4 self-assembly microstructures 5 . Recent studies have shown cells assemble biomolecular condensates via phase separation 6 In nucleus, these thought to drive transcription 7 heterochromatin formation 8 nucleolus assembly 9 DNA repair 10 Here we show...
Abstract The mechanical fingerprint of cells is inherently linked to the structure cytoskeleton and can serve as a label‐free marker for cell homeostasis or pathologic states. How cytoskeletal composition affects physical response external loads has been intensively studied with spectrum techniques, yet quantitative statistically powerful investigations in form titration assays are hampered by low throughput most available methods. In this study, we employ real‐time deformability cytometry...
Cellular organelles such as the mitotic spindle adjust their size to dimensions of cell. It is widely understood that scaling governed by regulation microtubule polymerization. Here, we use quantitative microscopy in living zebrafish embryos and Xenopus egg extracts combination with theory show polymerization dynamics are insufficient scale spindles only contribute below a critical cell size. In contrast, nucleation governs for all sizes. We this hierarchical arises from partitioning...
The directed motility of unicellular organisms is critical for their survival and ecological success, yet the mechanisms that enable rigid-walled cells to dynamically reorient alter shape trajectories remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate gliding Craspedostauros australis, a raphid pennate diatom moves rapidly across submerged surfaces using an intracellular actomyosin complex adhesive mucilage strand secretion. Using high-precision single-cell tracking, scanning electron microscopy...
In the last decade, extensive studies on properties of non-membrane-bound compartments in cellular cytoplasm have shown that concepts phase separation drawn from physical chemistry can describe their formation and behaviour 1–4 . Current evidence also suggests plays a role organization inside cell nucleus 5–8 However, influence DNA is not well understood. Here, we are interested interactions between separating proteins surface. The interaction liquid phases with surfaces has been extensively...
The mechanical properties of cells are known to be a label-free, inherent marker biological function in health and disease. Wide-spread utilization has so far been impeded by the lack convenient measurement technique with sufficient throughput. To address this unmet need, we have recently introduced real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC) for continuous single-cell classification heterogeneous cell populations at rates several hundred per second. Cells driven through constriction zone...
The energetic costs of development were measured during early embryogenesis in zebrafish using calorimetry. heat dissipated by the embryo increased with time. dissipation scaled increasing surface area plasma membrane, suggesting that are associated maintaining and/or producing membrane.
Abstract Interactions between liquids and surfaces generate forces 1,2 that are crucial for many processes in biology, physics, engineering, including the motion of insects on surface water 3 , modulation material properties spider silk 4 self-assembly microstructures 5 . Recent studies have shown cells assemble biomolecular condensates via phase separation 6 In nucleus, these thought to drive transcription 7 heterochromatin formation 8 nucleolus assembly 9 DNA repair 10 Here, we show...
Abstract Chromatin undergoes a dramatic reorganization during the cell cycle 1–3 . In interphase, chromatin is organized into compartments and topological-associating domains (TADs) that are cell-type specific 4–7 , whereas in metaphase, chromosomes undergo large-scale compaction, leading to loss of boundaries shutdown transcription 8–12 Loop extrusion by structural maintenance complexes (SMCs) has been proposed as mechanism organize interphase metaphase 13–19 However, requirements for...
Abstract Directed evolution has been used for decades to engineer biological systems from the top-down. Generally, it applied at or below organismal level, by iteratively sampling mutational landscape in a guided search genetic variants of higher function. Above small number studies have attempted artificially select microbial communities and ecosystems, with uneven generally modest success. Our theoretical understanding artificial ecosystem selection is still limited, particularly large...
Abstract Cellular organelles such as the mitotic spindle adjust their size to dimensions of cell. It is widely understood that scaling governed by regulation microtubule polymerization. Here we use quantitative microscopy in living zebrafish embryos and Xenopus egg extracts combination with theory show polymerization dynamics are insufficient scale spindles only contribute below a critical cell size. In contrast, nucleation governs for all sizes. We this hierarchical arises from partitioning...
Abstract How do early embryos apportion the resources stored in sperm and egg? Recently, we established isothermal calorimetry (ITC) to measure heat dissipation by living zebrafish estimate energetics of specific developmental events. During reductive cleavage divisions, rate increases from ∼60 nJ·s −1 at 2-cell stage ∼90 1024-cell stage. Here ask, which cellular process(es) drive these increasing energetic costs? We present evidence that cost is due increase total surface area all cells...