2023
Cilia function as calcium-mediated mechanosensors that instruct left-right asymmetry
Djenoune L, Mahamdeh M, Truong T, Nguyen C, Fraser S, Brueckner M, Howard J, Yuan S. Cilia function as calcium-mediated mechanosensors that instruct left-right asymmetry. Science 2023, 379: 71-78. PMID: 36603098, PMCID: PMC9939240, DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7317.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
The narrowing of dendrite branches across nodes follows a well-defined scaling law
Liao M, Liang X, Howard J. The narrowing of dendrite branches across nodes follows a well-defined scaling law. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2022395118. PMID: 34215693, PMCID: PMC8271565, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022395118.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Cutting, Amplifying, and Aligning Microtubules with Severing Enzymes
Kuo YW, Howard J. Cutting, Amplifying, and Aligning Microtubules with Severing Enzymes. Trends In Cell Biology 2020, 31: 50-61. PMID: 33183955, PMCID: PMC7749064, DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.10.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAAA ATPasesTissue morphogenesisCellular processesMicrotubule cytoskeletonCell divisionGrowth promotionBiophysical advancesSevering enzymesMicrotubule networkMolecular mechanismsStrong promoterMicrotubule growthNeuronal developmentShort filamentsMicrotubulesSpastinEnzymeSeveringFidgetinKataninCytoskeletonMorphogenesisPromoterProteinRecent work
2019
Spastin is a dual-function enzyme that severs microtubules and promotes their regrowth to increase the number and mass of microtubules
Kuo YW, Trottier O, Mahamdeh M, Howard J. Spastin is a dual-function enzyme that severs microtubules and promotes their regrowth to increase the number and mass of microtubules. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2019, 116: 5533-5541. PMID: 30837315, PMCID: PMC6431158, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818824116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDual-function enzymeMicrotubule dynamicsMass of microtubulesMicrotubule cytoskeletonDynamic cellular processesCellular processesMicrotubule regrowthNeuronal morphogenesisSevering activityVivo phenotypeMicrotubule assaysMicrotubulesNumber of microtubulesSpastinMicrotubule fragmentsRescue frequencyShort fragmentsCytoskeletonMicrotubule massObserved exponential increaseEnzymeRemodelersFidgetinKataninCiliogenesis
2018
Label‐free high‐speed wide‐field imaging of single microtubules using interference reflection microscopy
MAHAMDEH M, SIMMERT S, LUCHNIAK A, SCHÄFFER E, HOWARD J. Label‐free high‐speed wide‐field imaging of single microtubules using interference reflection microscopy. Journal Of Microscopy 2018, 272: 60-66. PMID: 30044498, PMCID: PMC6486835, DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12744.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDifferential interference contrastReflection microscopyInterference contrastCostly optical componentsWide-field imagingLabel-free imagingHollow cylindrical beamsDark-field condenserInterference contrast imagesDifferential interference contrast (DIC) imagesEfficient fluorescent labelingOptical componentsInterference reflection microscopyOptical misalignmentMicroscope modificationsProtein building blocksNomarski prismOptical qualityHigh-speed imagingNumber of drawbacksFree imagingLight interferenceCylindrical beamsContrast imagesHigh contrast
2016
A force-generating machinery maintains the spindle at the cell center during mitosis
Garzon-Coral C, Fantana HA, Howard J. A force-generating machinery maintains the spindle at the cell center during mitosis. Science 2016, 352: 1124-1127. PMID: 27230381, PMCID: PMC6535051, DOI: 10.1126/science.aad9745.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsForce-generating machineryMitotic spindleAsymmetric divisionDaughter cellsCell centerIntact cellsMagnetic tweezersCorrect localizationNumber of microtubulesMachinerySpindleForce generatorCellsCaenorhabditisAnaphaseLocalizationAccurate partitionsMitosisEmbryosMicrotubulesCytoplasmMetaphasePrecise localizationSmall cellsDivision
2008
XMAP215 Is a Processive Microtubule Polymerase
Brouhard GJ, Stear JH, Noetzel TL, Al-Bassam J, Kinoshita K, Harrison SC, Howard J, Hyman AA. XMAP215 Is a Processive Microtubule Polymerase. Cell 2008, 132: 79-88. PMID: 18191222, PMCID: PMC2311386, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.11.043.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBinding SitesBiological AssayCatalytic DomainCell DifferentiationCell EnlargementCell LineCytoskeletonDiffusionDimerizationFetal ProteinsForminsGreen Fluorescent ProteinsMicrofilament ProteinsMicroscopy, FluorescenceMicrotubule-Associated ProteinsMicrotubulesNuclear ProteinsPolymersProtein BindingProtein Structure, TertiaryProtein TransportSpodopteraSus scrofaTubulinXenopus laevisXenopus ProteinsConceptsFamily of proteinsSingle-molecule assaysActin polymerasesMicrotubule cytoskeletonProcessive polymeraseTubulin subunit additionDynamic microtubulesMicrotubule polymeraseMicrotubule growthCytoskeletal polymersXMAP215Plus endsMicrotubule latticePolymeraseSubunit additionCell proliferationFree tubulinTubulin dimersMicrotubulesCommon mechanismFast growthTip trackingGrowthCytoskeletonRapid assembly
2006
Yeast kinesin-8 depolymerizes microtubules in a length-dependent manner
Varga V, Helenius J, Tanaka K, Hyman AA, Tanaka TU, Howard J. Yeast kinesin-8 depolymerizes microtubules in a length-dependent manner. Nature Cell Biology 2006, 8: 957-962. PMID: 16906145, DOI: 10.1038/ncb1462.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKinesin-8 proteinsLength-dependent depolymerizationYeast kinesin-8Length-dependent mannerMetazoan cellsMicrotubule cytoskeletonMitotic spindleDisassemble microtubulesSpindle lengthKinesin-8Kinesin-13Kip3pPlus endsMicrotubulesConstituent microtubulesLong microtubulesNew mechanismCytoskeletonFungiKinesinProteinSpindleCells
2005
A Self-Organized Vortex Array of Hydrodynamically Entrained Sperm Cells
Riedel IH, Kruse K, Howard J. A Self-Organized Vortex Array of Hydrodynamically Entrained Sperm Cells. Science 2005, 309: 300-303. PMID: 16002619, DOI: 10.1126/science.1110329.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
1994
The force exerted by a single kinesin molecule against a viscous load
Hunt AJ, Gittes F, Howard J. The force exerted by a single kinesin molecule against a viscous load. Biophysical Journal 1994, 67: 766-781. PMID: 7948690, PMCID: PMC1225420, DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3495(94)80537-5.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
1988
Compliance of the hair bundle associated with gating of mechanoelectrical transduction channels in the Bullfrog's saccular hair cell
Howard J, Hudspeth AJ. Compliance of the hair bundle associated with gating of mechanoelectrical transduction channels in the Bullfrog's saccular hair cell. Neuron 1988, 1: 189-199. PMID: 2483095, DOI: 10.1016/0896-6273(88)90139-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransduction channelsSaccular hair cellsHair bundlesHair cellsMechanoelectrical transduction channelsGating springMolecular basisBullfrog saccular hair cellsChannel gateGating complianceConformational changesMechanoelectrical transductionCellsMechanical stimuliTransductionSpringMechanical stimulationGating
1987
The intracellular pupil mechanism and photoreceptor signal: noise ratios in the fly Lucilia cuprina
Howard J, Blakeslee B, Laughlin S. The intracellular pupil mechanism and photoreceptor signal: noise ratios in the fly Lucilia cuprina. Proceedings Of The Royal Society B 1987, 231: 415-435. PMID: 2892201, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1987.0053.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMechanical relaxation of the hair bundle mediates adaptation in mechanoelectrical transduction by the bullfrog's saccular hair cell.
Howard J, Hudspeth AJ. Mechanical relaxation of the hair bundle mediates adaptation in mechanoelectrical transduction by the bullfrog's saccular hair cell. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 1987, 84: 3064-3068. PMID: 3495007, PMCID: PMC304803, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.84.9.3064.Peer-Reviewed Original Research