@article{6867, abstract = {A novel magnetic scratch method achieves repeatability, reproducibility and geometric control greater than pipette scratch assays and closely approximating the precision of cell exclusion assays while inducing the cell injury inherently necessary for wound healing assays. The magnetic scratch is affordable, easily implemented and standardisable and thus may contribute toward better comparability of data generated in different studies and laboratories.}, author = {Fenu, M. and Bettermann, T. and Vogl, C. and Darwish-Miranda, Nasser and Schramel, J. and Jenner, F. and Ribitsch, I.}, issn = {20452322}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{A novel magnet-based scratch method for standardisation of wound-healing assays}}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-48930-7}, volume = {9}, year = {2019}, } @article{7225, abstract = {This is a literature teaching resource review for biologically inspired microfluidics courses or exploring the diverse applications of microfluidics. The structure is around key papers and model organisms. While courses gradually change over time, a focus remains on understanding how microfluidics has developed as well as what it can and cannot do for researchers. As a primary starting point, we cover micro-fluid mechanics principles and microfabrication of devices. A variety of applications are discussed using model prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms from the set of bacteria (Escherichia coli), trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), slime molds (Physarum polycephalum), worms (Caenorhabditis elegans), flies (Drosophila melangoster), plants (Arabidopsis thaliana), and mouse immune cells (Mus musculus). Other engineering and biochemical methods discussed include biomimetics, organ on a chip, inkjet, droplet microfluidics, biotic games, and diagnostics. While we have not yet reached the end-all lab on a chip, microfluidics can still be used effectively for specific applications.}, author = {Merrin, Jack}, issn = {23065354}, journal = {Bioengineering}, number = {4}, publisher = {MDPI}, title = {{Frontiers in microfluidics, a teaching resource review}}, doi = {10.3390/bioengineering6040109}, volume = {6}, year = {2019}, } @article{7406, abstract = {Background Synaptic vesicles (SVs) are an integral part of the neurotransmission machinery, and isolation of SVs from their host neuron is necessary to reveal their most fundamental biochemical and functional properties in in vitro assays. Isolated SVs from neurons that have been genetically engineered, e.g. to introduce genetically encoded indicators, are not readily available but would permit new insights into SV structure and function. Furthermore, it is unclear if cultured neurons can provide sufficient starting material for SV isolation procedures. New method Here, we demonstrate an efficient ex vivo procedure to obtain functional SVs from cultured rat cortical neurons after genetic engineering with a lentivirus. Results We show that ∼108 plated cortical neurons allow isolation of suitable SV amounts for functional analysis and imaging. We found that SVs isolated from cultured neurons have neurotransmitter uptake comparable to that of SVs isolated from intact cortex. Using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, we visualized an exogenous SV-targeted marker protein and demonstrated the high efficiency of SV modification. Comparison with existing methods Obtaining SVs from genetically engineered neurons currently generally requires the availability of transgenic animals, which is constrained by technical (e.g. cost and time) and biological (e.g. developmental defects and lethality) limitations. Conclusions These results demonstrate the modification and isolation of functional SVs using cultured neurons and viral transduction. The ability to readily obtain SVs from genetically engineered neurons will permit linking in situ studies to in vitro experiments in a variety of genetic contexts.}, author = {Mckenzie, Catherine and Spanova, Miroslava and Johnson, Alexander J and Kainrath, Stephanie and Zheden, Vanessa and Sitte, Harald H. and Janovjak, Harald L}, issn = {0165-0270}, journal = {Journal of Neuroscience Methods}, pages = {114--121}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Isolation of synaptic vesicles from genetically engineered cultured neurons}}, doi = {10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.11.018}, volume = {312}, 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{6093, abstract = {Blebs are cellular protrusions observed in migrating cells and in cells undergoing spreading, cytokinesis, and apoptosis. Here we investigate the flow of cytoplasm during bleb formation and the concurrent changes in cell volume using zebrafish primordial germ cells (PGCs) as an in vivo model. We show that bleb inflation occurs concomitantly with cytoplasmic inflow into it and that during this process the total cell volume does not change. We thus show that bleb formation in primordial germ cells results primarily from redistribution of material within the cell rather than being driven by flow of water from an external source.}, author = {Goudarzi, Mohammad and Boquet-Pujadas, Aleix and Olivo-Marin, Jean Christophe and Raz, Erez}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, number = {2}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {{Fluid dynamics during bleb formation in migrating cells in vivo}}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0212699}, volume = {14}, year = {2019}, }