2025
Cell-guiding microporous hydrogels by photopolymerization-induced phase separation
An innovative method to produce cell-guiding microporous hydrogels has just been published in Nature Communications by the Qin lab at D-HEST in collaboration with the Michaels lab (within the Bringing Materials to Life Consortium).
Ubinuclein 2 is essential for mouse development and functions in X chromosome inactivation
A new study in PLoS Genetics by the Wutz group (IMHS) characterizes the two Ubinuclein genes in mouse development. While mutation of Ubinuclein 1 causes no overt phenotype, Ubinuclein 2 is shown to be critical for embryogenesis with a function in X chromosome inactivation in female embryos advancing our understanding of mammalian dosage compensation.
Phylogenetic inference reveals clonal heterogeneity in circulating tumor cell clusters
In a recent "Nature genetics" paper, the Aceto group (IMHS) in collaboration with the Beerenwinkel group (D-BSSE) interrogate clonal heterogeneity in individual circulating tumor cell clusters (CTC clusters), thereby improving our understanding of metastasis-relevant clonal dynamics.
Structure of the microtubule-anchoring factor NEDD1 bound to the γ-tubulin ring complex
In a recent article in the “Journal of Cell Biology”, the Wieczorek Group reports cryo-EM structures that reveal how the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC)-associated protein NEDD1 anchors the complex at microtubule-organizing centers without interfering with microtubule nucleation.
Label-free Characterization of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation
In a “Nature Communications” paper researchers of the Allain lab (IBC) describe an NMR-based approach to characterize molecular condensates without the need to tag or otherwise label the involved molecules. Besides eliminating alteration of results through labels, the method allows the determination of several quantifiable properties at once.