@article{15182, abstract = {Thermoelectric materials convert heat into electricity, with a broad range of applications near room temperature (RT). However, the library of RT high-performance materials is limited. Traditional high-temperature synthetic methods constrain the range of materials achievable, hindering the ability to surpass crystal structure limitations and engineer defects. Here, a solution-based synthetic approach is introduced, enabling RT synthesis of powders and exploration of densification at lower temperatures to influence the material's microstructure. The approach is exemplified by Ag2Se, an n-type alternative to bismuth telluride. It is demonstrated that the concentration of Ag interstitials, grain boundaries, and dislocations are directly correlated to the sintering temperature, and achieve a figure of merit of 1.1 from RT to 100 °C after optimization. Moreover, insights into and resolve Ag2Se's challenges are provided, including stoichiometry issues leading to irreproducible performances. This work highlights the potential of RT solution synthesis in expanding the repertoire of high-performance thermoelectric materials for practical applications.}, author = {Kleinhanns, Tobias and Milillo, Francesco and Calcabrini, Mariano and Fiedler, Christine and Horta, Sharona and Balazs, Daniel and Strumolo, Marissa J. and Hasler, Roger and Llorca, Jordi and Tkadletz, Michael and Brutchey, Richard L. and Ibáñez, Maria}, issn = {1614-6840}, journal = {Advanced Energy Materials}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{A route to high thermoelectric performance: Solution‐based control of microstructure and composition in Ag2Se}}, doi = {10.1002/aenm.202400408}, year = {2024}, } @article{12543, abstract = {Treating sick group members is a hallmark of collective disease defence in vertebrates and invertebrates alike. Despite substantial effects on pathogen fitness and epidemiology, it is still largely unknown how pathogens react to the selection pressure imposed by care intervention. Using social insects and pathogenic fungi, we here performed a serial passage experiment in the presence or absence of colony members, which provide social immunity by grooming off infectious spores from exposed individuals. We found specific effects on pathogen diversity, virulence and transmission. Under selection of social immunity, pathogens invested into higher spore production, but spores were less virulent. Notably, they also elicited a lower grooming response in colony members, compared with spores from the individual host selection lines. Chemical spore analysis suggested that the spores from social selection lines escaped the caregivers’ detection by containing lower levels of ergosterol, a key fungal membrane component. Experimental application of chemically pure ergosterol indeed induced sanitary grooming, supporting its role as a microbe-associated cue triggering host social immunity against fungal pathogens. By reducing this detection cue, pathogens were able to evade the otherwise very effective collective disease defences of their social hosts.}, author = {Stock, Miriam and Milutinovic, Barbara and Hönigsberger, Michaela and Grasse, Anna V and Wiesenhofer, Florian and Kampleitner, Niklas and Narasimhan, Madhumitha and Schmitt, Thomas and Cremer, Sylvia}, issn = {2397-334X}, journal = {Nature Ecology and Evolution}, pages = {450--460}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Pathogen evasion of social immunity}}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-023-01981-6}, volume = {7}, year = {2023}, } @article{12863, abstract = {In the present study, essential and nonessential metal content and biomarker responses were investigated in the intestine of fish collected from the areas polluted by mining. Our objective was to determine metal and biomarker levels in tissue responsible for dietary intake, which is rarely studied in water pollution research. The study was conducted in the Bregalnica River, reference location, and in the Zletovska and Kriva Rivers (the Republic of North Macedonia), which are directly influenced by the active mines Zletovo and Toranica, respectively. Biological responses were analyzed in Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis; Karaman, 1928), using for the first time intestinal cytosol as a potentially toxic cell fraction, since metal sensitivity is mostly associated with cytosol. Cytosolic metal levels were higher in fish under the influence of mining (Tl, Li, Cs, Mo, Sr, Cd, Rb, and Cu in the Zletovska River and Cr, Pb, and Se in the Kriva River compared to the Bregalnica River in both seasons). The same trend was evident for total proteins, biomarkers of general stress, and metallothioneins, biomarkers of metal exposure, indicating cellular disturbances in the intestine, the primary site of dietary metal uptake. The association of cytosolic Cu and Cd at all locations pointed to similar pathways and homeostasis of these metallothionein-binding metals. Comparison with other indicator tissues showed that metal concentrations were higher in the intestine of fish from mining-affected areas than in the liver and gills. In general, these results indicated the importance of dietary metal pathways, and cytosolic metal fraction in assessing pollution impacts in freshwater ecosystems.}, author = {Filipović Marijić, Vlatka and Krasnici, Nesrete and Valić, Damir and Kapetanović, Damir and Vardić Smrzlić, Irena and Jordanova, Maja and Rebok, Katerina and Ramani, Sheriban and Kostov, Vasil and Nastova, Rodne and Dragun, Zrinka}, issn = {1614-7499}, journal = {Environmental Science and Pollution Research}, pages = {63510--63521}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Pollution impact on metal and biomarker responses in intestinal cytosol of freshwater fish}}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-023-26844-2}, volume = {30}, year = {2023}, } @article{14404, abstract = {A light-triggered fabrication method extends the functionality of printable nanomaterials}, author = {Balazs, Daniel and Ibáñez, Maria}, issn = {1095-9203}, journal = {Science}, number = {6665}, pages = {1413--1414}, publisher = {AAAS}, title = {{Widening the use of 3D printing}}, doi = {10.1126/science.adk3070}, volume = {381}, year = {2023}, } @article{14786, abstract = {Acanthocephalans, intestinal parasites of vertebrates, are characterised by orders of magnitude higher metal accumulation than free-living organisms, but the mechanism of such effective metal accumulation is still unknown. The aim of our study was to gain new insights into the high-resolution localization of elements in the bodies of acanthocephalans, thus taking an initial step towards elucidating metal uptake and accumulation in organisms under real environmental conditions. For the first time, nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) was used for high-resolution mapping of 12 elements (C, Ca, Cu, Fe, N, Na, O, P, Pb, S, Se, and Tl) in three selected body parts (trunk spines, inner part of the proboscis receptacle and inner surface of the tegument) of Dentitruncus truttae, a parasite of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Krka River in Croatia. In addition, the same body parts were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and correlated with NanoSIMS images. Metal concentrations determined using HR ICP-MS confirmed higher accumulation in D. truttae than in the fish intestine. The chemical composition of the acanthocephalan body showed the highest density of C, Ca, N, Na, O, S, as important and constitutive elements in living cells in all studied structures, while Fe was predominant among trace elements. In general, higher element density was found in trunk spines and tegument, as body structures responsible for substance absorption in parasites. The results obtained with NanoSIMS and TEM-NanoSIMS correlative imaging represent pilot data for mapping of elements at nanoscale resolution in the ultrastructure of various body parts of acanthocephalans and generally provide a contribution for further application of this technique in all parasite species.}, author = {Filipović Marijić, Vlatka and Subirana, Maria Angels and Schaumlöffel, Dirk and Barišić, Josip and Gontier, Etienne and Krasnici, Nesrete and Mijošek, Tatjana and Hernández-Orts, Jesús S. and Scholz, Tomáš and Erk, Marijana}, issn = {0048-9697}, journal = {Science of The Total Environment}, keywords = {Pollution, Waste Management and Disposal, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{First insight in element localisation in different body parts of the acanthocephalan Dentitruncus truttae using TEM and NanoSIMS}}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164010}, volume = {887}, year = {2023}, } @article{14799, abstract = {A round-robin study has been carried out to estimate the impact of the human element in small-angle scattering data analysis. Four corrected datasets were provided to participants ready for analysis. All datasets were measured on samples containing spherical scatterers, with two datasets in dilute dispersions and two from powders. Most of the 46 participants correctly identified the number of populations in the dilute dispersions, with half of the population mean entries within 1.5% and half of the population width entries within 40%. Due to the added complexity of the structure factor, far fewer people submitted answers on the powder datasets. For those that did, half of the entries for the means and widths were within 44 and 86%, respectively. This round-robin experiment highlights several causes for the discrepancies, for which solutions are proposed.}, author = {Pauw, Brian R. and Smales, Glen J. and Anker, Andy S. and Annadurai, Venkatasamy and Balazs, Daniel and Bienert, Ralf and Bouwman, Wim G. and Breßler, Ingo and Breternitz, Joachim and Brok, Erik S. and Bryant, Gary and Clulow, Andrew J. and Crater, Erin R. and De Geuser, Frédéric and Giudice, Alessandra Del and Deumer, Jérôme and Disch, Sabrina and Dutt, Shankar and Frank, Kilian and Fratini, Emiliano and Garcia, Paulo R.A.F. and Gilbert, Elliot P. and Hahn, Marc B. and Hallett, James and Hohenschutz, Max and Hollamby, Martin and Huband, Steven and Ilavsky, Jan and Jochum, Johanna K. and Juelsholt, Mikkel and Mansel, Bradley W. and Penttilä, Paavo and Pittkowski, Rebecca K. and Portale, Giuseppe and Pozzo, Lilo D. and Rochels, Leonhard and Rosalie, Julian M. and Saloga, Patrick E.J. and Seibt, Susanne and Smith, Andrew J. and Smith, Gregory N. and Spiering, Glenn A. and Stawski, Tomasz M. and Taché, Olivier and Thünemann, Andreas F. and Toth, Kristof and Whitten, Andrew E. and Wuttke, Joachim}, issn = {1600-5767}, journal = {Journal of Applied Crystallography}, number = {6}, pages = {1618--1629}, title = {{The human factor: Results of a small-angle scattering data analysis round robin}}, doi = {10.1107/S1600576723008324}, volume = {56}, year = {2023}, } @article{10791, abstract = {The mammalian neocortex is composed of diverse neuronal and glial cell classes that broadly arrange in six distinct laminae. Cortical layers emerge during development and defects in the developmental programs that orchestrate cortical lamination are associated with neurodevelopmental diseases. The developmental principle of cortical layer formation depends on concerted radial projection neuron migration, from their birthplace to their final target position. Radial migration occurs in defined sequential steps, regulated by a large array of signaling pathways. However, based on genetic loss-of-function experiments, most studies have thus far focused on the role of cell-autonomous gene function. Yet, cortical neuron migration in situ is a complex process and migrating neurons traverse along diverse cellular compartments and environments. The role of tissue-wide properties and genetic state in radial neuron migration is however not clear. Here we utilized mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM) technology to either sparsely or globally delete gene function, followed by quantitative single-cell phenotyping. The MADM-based gene ablation paradigms in combination with computational modeling demonstrated that global tissue-wide effects predominate cell-autonomous gene function albeit in a gene-specific manner. Our results thus suggest that the genetic landscape in a tissue critically affects the overall migration phenotype of individual cortical projection neurons. In a broader context, our findings imply that global tissue-wide effects represent an essential component of the underlying etiology associated with focal malformations of cortical development in particular, and neurological diseases in general.}, author = {Hansen, Andi H and Pauler, Florian and Riedl, Michael and Streicher, Carmen and Heger, Anna-Magdalena and Laukoter, Susanne and Sommer, Christoph M and Nicolas, Armel and Hof, Björn and Tsai, Li Huei and Rülicke, Thomas and Hippenmeyer, Simon}, issn = {2753-149X}, journal = {Oxford Open Neuroscience}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Academic}, title = {{Tissue-wide effects override cell-intrinsic gene function in radial neuron migration}}, doi = {10.1093/oons/kvac009}, volume = {1}, year = {2022}, } @article{10117, abstract = {Proximity labeling provides a powerful in vivo tool to characterize the proteome of subcellular structures and the interactome of specific proteins. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the most intensely studied organisms in biology, offering many advantages for biochemistry. Using the highly active biotin ligase TurboID, we optimize here a proximity labeling protocol for C. elegans. An advantage of TurboID is that biotin's high affinity for streptavidin means biotin-labeled proteins can be affinity-purified under harsh denaturing conditions. By combining extensive sonication with aggressive denaturation using SDS and urea, we achieved near-complete solubilization of worm proteins. We then used this protocol to characterize the proteomes of the worm gut, muscle, skin, and nervous system. Neurons are among the smallest C. elegans cells. To probe the method's sensitivity, we expressed TurboID exclusively in the two AFD neurons and showed that the protocol could identify known and previously unknown proteins expressed selectively in AFD. The active zones of synapses are composed of a protein matrix that is difficult to solubilize and purify. To test if our protocol could solubilize active zone proteins, we knocked TurboID into the endogenous elks-1 gene, which encodes a presynaptic active zone protein. We identified many known ELKS-1-interacting active zone proteins, as well as previously uncharacterized synaptic proteins. Versatile vectors and the inherent advantages of using C. elegans, including fast growth and the ability to rapidly make and functionally test knock-ins, make proximity labeling a valuable addition to the armory of this model organism.}, author = {Artan, Murat and Barratt, Stephen and Flynn, Sean M. and Begum, Farida and Skehel, Mark and Nicolas, Armel and De Bono, Mario}, issn = {1083-351X}, journal = {Journal of Biological Chemistry}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Interactome analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans synapses by TurboID-based proximity labeling}}, doi = {10.1016/J.JBC.2021.101094}, volume = {297}, year = {2021}, } @article{9429, abstract = {De novo loss of function mutations in the ubiquitin ligase-encoding gene Cullin3 lead to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In mouse, constitutive haploinsufficiency leads to motor coordination deficits as well as ASD-relevant social and cognitive impairments. However, induction of Cul3 haploinsufficiency later in life does not lead to ASD-relevant behaviors, pointing to an important role of Cul3 during a critical developmental window. Here we show that Cul3 is essential to regulate neuronal migration and, therefore, constitutive Cul3 heterozygous mutant mice display cortical lamination abnormalities. At the molecular level, we found that Cul3 controls neuronal migration by tightly regulating the amount of Plastin3 (Pls3), a previously unrecognized player of neural migration. Furthermore, we found that Pls3 cell-autonomously regulates cell migration by regulating actin cytoskeleton organization, and its levels are inversely proportional to neural migration speed. Finally, we provide evidence that cellular phenotypes associated with autism-linked gene haploinsufficiency can be rescued by transcriptional activation of the intact allele in vitro, offering a proof of concept for a potential therapeutic approach for ASDs.}, author = {Morandell, Jasmin and Schwarz, Lena A and Basilico, Bernadette and Tasciyan, Saren and Dimchev, Georgi A and Nicolas, Armel and Sommer, Christoph M and Kreuzinger, Caroline and Dotter, Christoph and Knaus, Lisa and Dobler, Zoe and Cacci, Emanuele and Schur, Florian KM and Danzl, Johann G and Novarino, Gaia}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nature Communications}, keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Cul3 regulates cytoskeleton protein homeostasis and cell migration during a critical window of brain development}}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-021-23123-x}, volume = {12}, year = {2021}, } @unpublished{7800, abstract = {De novo loss of function mutations in the ubiquitin ligase-encoding gene Cullin3 (CUL3) lead to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we used Cul3 mouse models to evaluate the consequences of Cul3 mutations in vivo. Our results show that Cul3 haploinsufficient mice exhibit deficits in motor coordination as well as ASD-relevant social and cognitive impairments. Cul3 mutant brain displays cortical lamination abnormalities due to defective neuronal migration and reduced numbers of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. In line with the observed abnormal columnar organization, Cul3 haploinsufficiency is associated with decreased spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory activity in the cortex. At the molecular level, employing a quantitative proteomic approach, we show that Cul3 regulates cytoskeletal and adhesion protein abundance in mouse embryos. Abnormal regulation of cytoskeletal proteins in Cul3 mutant neuronal cells results in atypical organization of the actin mesh at the cell leading edge, likely causing the observed migration deficits. In contrast to these important functions early in development, Cul3 deficiency appears less relevant at adult stages. In fact, induction of Cul3 haploinsufficiency in adult mice does not result in the behavioral defects observed in constitutive Cul3 haploinsufficient animals. Taken together, our data indicate that Cul3 has a critical role in the regulation of cytoskeletal proteins and neuronal migration and that ASD-associated defects and behavioral abnormalities are primarily due to Cul3 functions at early developmental stages.}, author = {Morandell, Jasmin and Schwarz, Lena A and Basilico, Bernadette and Tasciyan, Saren and Nicolas, Armel and Sommer, Christoph M and Kreuzinger, Caroline and Knaus, Lisa and Dobler, Zoe and Cacci, Emanuele and Danzl, Johann G and Novarino, Gaia}, booktitle = {bioRxiv}, publisher = {Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory}, title = {{Cul3 regulates cytoskeleton protein homeostasis and cell migration during a critical window of brain development}}, doi = {10.1101/2020.01.10.902064 }, year = {2020}, } @article{6819, abstract = {Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) and its commercial herbicide formulations have been shown to exert toxicity via various mechanisms. It has been asserted that glyphosate substitutes for glycine in polypeptide chains leading to protein misfolding and toxicity. However, as no direct evidence exists for glycine to glyphosate substitution in proteins, including in mammalian organisms, we tested this claim by conducting a proteomics analysis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells grown in the presence of 100 mg/L glyphosate for 6 days. Protein extracts from three treated and three untreated cell cultures were analysed as one TMT-6plex labelled sample, to highlight a specific pattern (+/+/+/−/−/−) of reporter intensities for peptides bearing true glyphosate treatment induced-post translational modifications as well as allowing an investigation of the total proteome.}, author = {Antoniou, Michael N. and Nicolas, Armel and Mesnage, Robin and Biserni, Martina and Rao, Francesco V. and Martin, Cristina Vazquez}, issn = {1756-0500}, journal = {BMC Research Notes}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, title = {{Glyphosate does not substitute for glycine in proteins of actively dividing mammalian cells}}, doi = {10.1186/s13104-019-4534-3}, volume = {12}, year = {2019}, } @misc{9784, abstract = {Additional file 1: Table S1. Kinetics of MDA-MB-231 cell growth in either the presence or absence of 100Â mg/L glyphosate. Cell counts are given at day-1 of seeding flasks and following 6-days of continuous culture. Note: no differences in cell numbers were observed between negative control and glyphosate treated cultures.}, author = {Antoniou, Michael N. and Nicolas, Armel and Mesnage, Robin and Biserni, Martina and Rao, Francesco V. and Martin, Cristina Vazquez}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{MOESM1 of Glyphosate does not substitute for glycine in proteins of actively dividing mammalian cells}}, doi = {10.6084/m9.figshare.9411761.v1}, year = {2019}, } @article{7415, author = {Morandell, Jasmin and Nicolas, Armel and Schwarz, Lena A and Novarino, Gaia}, issn = {0924-977X}, journal = {European Neuropsychopharmacology}, number = {Supplement 6}, pages = {S11--S12}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{S.16.05 Illuminating the role of the e3 ubiquitin ligase cullin3 in brain development and autism}}, doi = {10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.09.040}, volume = {29}, year = {2019}, } @article{1848, abstract = {The ability to escape apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer-initiating cells and a key factor of resistance to oncolytic therapy. Here, we identify FAM96A as a ubiquitous, evolutionarily conserved apoptosome-activating protein and investigate its potential pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor function in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Interaction between FAM96A and apoptotic peptidase activating factor 1 (APAF1) was identified in yeast two-hybrid screen and further studied by deletion mutants, glutathione-S-transferase pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. Effects of FAM96A overexpression and knock-down on apoptosis sensitivity were examined in cancer cells and zebrafish embryos. Expression of FAM96A in GISTs and histogenetically related cells including interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), “fibroblast-like cells” (FLCs) and ICC stem cells (ICC-SCs) was investigated by Northern blotting, reverse transcription—polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and Western immunoblotting. Tumorigenicity of GIST cells and transformed murine ICC-SCs stably transduced to re-express FAM96A was studied by xeno- and allografting into immunocompromised mice. FAM96A was found to bind APAF1 and to enhance the induction of mitochondrial apoptosis. FAM96A protein or mRNA was dramatically reduced or lost in 106 of 108 GIST samples representing three independent patient cohorts. Whereas ICCs, ICC-SCs and FLCs, the presumed normal counterparts of GIST, were found to robustly express FAM96A protein and mRNA, FAM96A expression was much reduced in tumorigenic ICC-SCs. Re-expression of FAM96A in GIST cells and transformed ICC-SCs increased apoptosis sensitivity and diminished tumorigenicity. Our data suggest FAM96A is a novel pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor that is lost during GIST tumorigenesis.}, author = {Schwamb, Bettina and Pick, Robert and Fernández, Sara and Völp, Kirsten and Heering, Jan and Dötsch, Volker and Bösser, Susanne and Jung, Jennifer and Beinoravičiute Kellner, Rasa and Wesely, Josephine and Zörnig, Inka and Hammerschmidt, Matthias and Nowak, Matthias and Penzel, Roland and Zatloukal, Kurt and Joos, Stefan and Rieker, Ralf and Agaimy, Abbas and Söder, Stephan and Reid Lombardo, Kmarie and Kendrick, Michael and Bardsley, Michael and Hayashi, Yujiro and Asuzu, David and Syed, Sabriya and Ördög, Tamás and Zörnig, Martin}, journal = {International Journal of Cancer}, number = {6}, pages = {1318 -- 1329}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{FAM96A is a novel pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor in gastrointestinal stromal tumors}}, doi = {10.1002/ijc.29498}, volume = {137}, year = {2015}, } @article{1678, abstract = {High-throughput live-cell screens are intricate elements of systems biology studies and drug discovery pipelines. Here, we demonstrate an optogenetics-assisted method that avoids the need for chemical activators and reporters, reduces the number of operational steps and increases information content in a cell-based small-molecule screen against human protein kinases, including an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase. This blueprint for all-optical screening can be adapted to many drug targets and cellular processes.}, author = {Inglés Prieto, Álvaro and Gschaider-Reichhart, Eva and Muellner, Markus and Nowak, Matthias and Nijman, Sebastian and Grusch, Michael and Janovjak, Harald L}, journal = {Nature Chemical Biology}, number = {12}, pages = {952 -- 954}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {{Light-assisted small-molecule screening against protein kinases}}, doi = {10.1038/nchembio.1933}, volume = {11}, year = {2015}, } @article{2410, abstract = {Here, we describe a novel virulent bacteriophage that infects Bacillus weihenstephanensis, isolated from soil in Austria. It is the first phage to be discovered that infects this species. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of this podovirus. }, author = {Fernandes Redondo, Rodrigo A and Kupczok, Anne and Stift, Gertraud and Bollback, Jonathan P}, journal = {Genome Announcements}, number = {3}, publisher = {American Society for Microbiology}, title = {{Complete genome sequence of the novel phage MG-B1 infecting bacillus weihenstephanensis}}, doi = {10.1128/genomeA.00216-13}, volume = {1}, year = {2013}, }